Science
The scientific work of the International Fertilizer Association is managed by the Scientific Panel on Responsible Plant Nutrition.
Our Vision
Responsible plant nutrition nourishes plants in a sustainable manner that enhances earth’s capacity to support healthy life.
Our Mission
Provide a sound scientific basis for principles and practices of responsible plant nutrition in farming systems.
Our Objectives
Provide science-based knowledge to IFA and other stakeholders involved in food and agriculture on global issues of responsible plant nutrition.
Core functions.
Advise IFA on the development of nutrient stewardship related programs, plant nutrition performance indicators, long-term fertilizer demand projections, etc.
- Advise IFA and its members on best ways to promote and implement nutrient stewardship and guidance on “responsible market development” – providing fertilizers based on soil- and site-specific nutrient requirements with the aim of enhanced nutrient use efficiency and effectiveness. Help IFA develop and maintain nutrient stewardship commitments, codes of practice, etc. to be used by IFA members.
- Provide guidance and science-based knowledge to IFA and its members on the role of fertilizers in nutrition-sensitive agriculture.
- Provide advice on how to develop and/or improve and disseminate tools which the industry and others engaged in outreach to farmers can utilize and engage in evaluation of progress based on data from such tools.
- Help IFA develop and maintain metrics of performance for responsible plant nutrition.
- Provide guidance to IFA and/or validate protocols developed by IFA for developing long-term fertilizer demand projections, or agro-econometric models.
- Provide guidance on the possible maintenance and updating of international databases.
Core functions.
Assist with IFA outreach efforts
- Author or review position or issue papers for international scientific/policy fora.
- Provide advice on possible industry initiatives and the availability of research findings and data in relation to new policy debates.
- Identify individual Panel members and/or additional experts to join advisory or scientific committees of UN or other international initiatives.
- Advise IFA on the establishment of dialogues, partnerships, research projects, etc.
- Help IFA to prioritize investments in responsible plant nutrition research and/or extension projects, which should be used to leverage funding from other sources, both within and external to the industry (advisable to increase this budget line).
Core functions.
Select award recipients
- Review and propose amendments as needed to the IFA Norman Borlaug Award nomination and selection process, and help the Expert Panel select the annual IFA Norman Borlaug award winner.
- Advise on a possible new plant nutrition scholarship award, in close consultation with organizations granting similar awards.