IFA Notebook

DEC

Highlights from the IFA Virtual High- Level Forum

Sustainable plant nutrition, food security and human nutrition: Lessons of the Covid-19 crisis for greater resilience

JUN

A Tribute to IFA Norman Borlaug Winner Professor Alfredo Scheid Lopes

IFA is saddened to hear of the recent loss of Prof. Alfredo Scheid Lopes who was awarded the IFA Award in 1995 for his work on the management of the infertile soils of the Cerrado region of Brazil which contributed significantly to the impressive agricultural development of the vast region and helped to protect the Amazon rainforest. His research led to a significant improvement in mineral fertilizer use efficiency at the farm level and sustainable soil fertility management.

APR

The Fertilizer Industry Creates Digital Innovations to Overcome COVID-19

Over the last few years the fertilizer industry has increasingly embraced digitalization. Connected plants are helping to make fertilizer production more sustainable while digital tools monitor and efficiently supply plants’ nutrient needs, reducing losses and improving crop yields and food security. But digital technologies are now also playing important new roles during the current COVID-19 pandemic.

APR

IFA Members Around the World Step Up to Battle COVID-19

As the world fights the Coronavirus pandemic, fertilizer companies everywhere are stepping up to the plate to play their part by contributing much needed resources to support healthcare systems, farmers and the disadvantaged. Here’s a look at some of the contributions that have already been made by IFA members.

APR

South Asian IFA Members Provide Community Support in the Fight Against COVID-19

During the ongoing challenges of the Coronavirus pandemic, the fertilizer industry in South Asia is not only working hard to ensure the continued supply of vital fertilizers but also support farmers and the wider community during this critical time of need.

APR

Coronavirus Fertilizer Production Disruptions and Support Measures: Lessons learned from China

By providing precise and consistent nutrients to plants, fertilizers are crucial for increasing yields on existing farmland, improving soil carbon sequestration, protecting wild ecosystems and ensuring global food security.

APR

Government Measures to Safeguard Fertilizers and Support Agriculture in the face of COVID-19

As the world enters a crucial period of agricultural production amid ongoing COVID-19 travel, trade and economic disruptions, it is vitally important that farmers can continue to produce enough food.

MAR

Promoting Gender Equality in the Fertilizer Industry for International Women’s Day

Sunday, March 8 is International Women’s Day! This year’s theme, #EachforEqual, focusses on the need to take action for a more gender equal and enabled world.

DEC

IFA and Members successfully promote Fertilizer Best Management Practices at nutrient focused COP25

IFA and Members from Yara, BASF, TFI and Fertilizer Canada attended COP25 on December 1-8 in Madrid, to follow the progress of the Koronivia Joint Work on Agriculture and participate in its workshop on “Improved nutrient use and manure management towards sustainable and resilient agricultural systems”.

OCT

IFA Promotes Plant Nutrition Agtech at the Ag Innovation Showcase

Having been the main sponsor of last year’s event with 10 members, IFA, alongside members OCP and Mosaic, once again sponsored the Ag Innovation Showcase.

JUL

IFA and Member Companies Meet Member States and UN Leaders

IFA and Member Companies Meet Member States and UN Leaders While Highlighting the Important Role of Fertilizers at the HLPF in Rome.

JUL

IFA raises the fertilizer industry’s profile at the UN Climate Change Conference in Bonn

IFA attended the UN Climate Change Conference in Bonn on 17-22 June, where the UNFCCC’s (UN Framework Convention on Climate Change) Subsidiary Bodies for Implementation (SBI) and Scientific and Technical Advice (SBSTA) met to advance their multiple work programs ahead of COP25 (December 2019, in Chile).

MAY

Introducing the Plant Nutrition Startup Showcase

Agrifood tech start-ups are attracting ever higher levels of investment. According to AgFunder, AgTech startups operating all the way from farm-to-fork raised $16.9 billion in 2018, a 43% year-over-year increase!

MAR

IFA Prepares for UNEA-4

IFA Organizes Major Sustainable Food Systems and Soil Pollution Events with UNEP, the FAO and the WHO at UNEA-4

MAR

Calling for Innovative Plant Nutrition Solutions!

IFA and Larta Organize World’s First Plant Nutrition Startup Showcase at the IFA Annual General Meeting

FEV

2019 IFA Annual Communications & Agriculture Meeting in Rome

IFA Explores Environmental Stewardship, Climate Change and Innovation at the Annual Communications & Agriculture Meeting in Rome

JAN

2018: A Year in Review

2018 was an important year for IFA. It was a year of new beginnings, with the launch of IFASTAT in July and the new websites in October, but also of conclusions, with our strategic exercise IFA2030 coming to an end at the Strategic Forum in Beijing. The conclusion of IFA2030, however, also represents the start of a new period for our industry: armed with our Four Scenarios, we now have insight into the important trends that will shape our future and will be able to make informed decisions for our industry.

DEC

Successful Launch of the “Farmers’ Driven Climate Change Agenda” at COP24

Over 100 delegates gathered to attend the launch of the “Farmers’ Driven Climate Change Agenda” on 5 December at the COP24 in Katowice, Poland.

DEC

The “Farmers Driven Climate Change Agenda” About to be Launched at the UNFCCC COP24

On Wednesday, December 5th, at 11:30 am in the Pieniny Room - G Area, UNFCCC COP 24 will host the launch of “THE CLIMAKERS. Farmers Driven Climate Change Agenda”, a key event to advance the global political dialogue on agriculture and climate change, promoting farmers’ contribution to the Paris Climate Agreement.

OCT

IFA and Members Attend the 45th Committee on World Food Security (CFS) in Rome

IFA led a delegation of five Members at the 45th Committee on World Food Security in Rome on 15-19 October, composed of Mr. Otmane Bennani-Smires (OCP), Ms. Meriem El Asraoui (OCP), Mr. Mohammed El Harrak (OCP), Mr. Marwane Arrassen (OCP), and Mr. Tip O’Neill (IRM), the Convenor of IFA’s outreach to the UN.

SEP

Putting a Spotlight on Plant Nutrition Solutions

IFA Co-Organizes the 2018 Ag Innovation Showcase with the Larta Institute and the Danforth Plant Science Center.

AUG

IFA and Members Attended the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) 2018 in New York

The UN High-Level Political Forum on SDG implementation kicked off its Annual Conference in July with a powerful reminder from the UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, that soil erosion, desertification and water scarcity remained a hardship and stress to societies, and that over 1.3 billion people are still trapped on degrading agricultural land.

JUN

IFA Participates in the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum and World Farmers Organization Meeting in Russia

On 24th May IFA took part in the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. Held annually since 1997 and under the auspices of the Russian President since 2005.

MAY

IFA Attends the Climate Change Conference in Bonn

IFA attended the 48th meeting session of the UNFCCC’s Subsidiary Bodies, the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI) and the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technical Advice (SBSTA), held in Bonn from 30 April to 10 May.

MAY

Record Participation for IFA’s Webinar on Clean Water

Nearly 100 participants tuned in on April 18 to watch IFA’s and IPNI (The Int. Plant Nutrition Institute)’s webinar “Reducing losses to water: how fertilizer best management practices help achieve SDG Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation”.

APR

IFA Takes Part in the 2nd International Symposium on Agroecology in Rome

From April 3 to 6, IFA’s Director of Communications and Public Affairs, Yvonne Harz-Pitre, attended the 2nd International Symposium on Agroecology held at the FAO headquarters in Rome.

APR

IFA Takes Part in African Fertilizer Conference amid Record IFA Africa Forum Attendance

From the 26th to the 28th of February Patrick Heffer, IFA’s Agricultural Service Senior Director, attended the Argus Africa Fertilizer Conference held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

FEV

The IFA Agriculture and Communications and Public Affairs Committees Hold Successful Meeting in Rome

Over 80 IFA Members and external experts gathered in Rome on 29-31 January 2018 for the annual IFA Joint Agricultural and Communications Meeting.