The role of special fertilizer products was the focus of IFA’s recent Strategic Forum held in Zürich in November last year. The record attendance, leading industry speakers, and stimulating debates reflected the growing interest and excitement around the sector. But what exactly are special products and why use them?

Despite impressive gains in per-acre productivity over the last 50 years, environmental, economic and social challenges are increasingly forcing US farmers and land managers to shift toward more integrated practices that prioritize soil health.

In the last few decades Brazil has emerged as one of the world’s major agricultural powerhouses. The country's increasingly efficient agricultural production has made it the number one producer of orange juice, sugar, coffee, meat and cellulose. There are some challenges to overcome for the country to achieve further sustainable increases, however.

Biofuels could play an important part in helping Brazil to reduce its emissions by 43% by 2030 in line with the Paris Agreement. To achieve this, though, there is an urgent need to ensure the sustainability of the country’s sugarcane-based biofuel production. The problem has been central to the work of the 2017 IFA Norman Borlaug Award winner, Dr. Heitor Cantarella.

Dr. Rashid’s cutting-edge work has brought forward scientific knowledge of micronutrients, developed tailored fertilizer practices for farmers in Pakistan, and made significant contributions to crop and soil management worldwide.