Foro Global sobre Seguridad Alimentaria y Nutrición (Foro FSN)

Is an International Code of Conduct for the Use and Management of Fertilizers beneficial and useful? To whom, and why?

It is beneficial and useful to decision makers, technicians and farmers, because most of them don’t know a lot about fertilizer kinds, nutrients, pollution and fertilizers management

Does this Fertilizer Code of Conduct address all aspects necessary to ensure the responsible use of fertilizers, optimizing benefits while minimizing risks?

I think that, and it is so important to minimize the soil pollution.

Are there any topics or subject matter missing from this Fertilizer Code of Conduct? If so, what are they?

It is necessary to add some source of nutrient such biogas manure

Are there redundancies or unnecessary items or subjects within this Code of Conduct? If so, what are they?

All of them are necessary

Do you have any other suggestions or comments not covered in the above questions? If so, please elaborate.

I think it is important and necessary to add a paragraph contain fertilizer alternatives in case of lack of fertilizers, poverty, crises and war.

Questions

Comments

Is an International Code of Conduct for the Use and Management of Fertilizers beneficial and useful? To whom, and why?

Yes, it is important especially to policy makers, public institutions such as agricultural/Environment regulatory authorities and many countries especially those in developing may depend on the framework to address some of the fertilizer related emerging issues. Countries developing fertilizer related laws and regulations may make reference to the code. The code may also contribute to harmonized regional and even global trade in fertilizers, this will in turn increase access to the agro-input.

Does this Fertilizer Code of Conduct address all aspects necessary to ensure the responsible use of fertilizers, optimizing benefits while minimizing risks?

Yes, it does but the role of public sector is more pronounced than the other key players such as manufacturers and dealers. Private sector’s roles and responsibilities should also be captured for greater ownership, compliance and positive impact.

Are there any topics or subject matter missing from this Fertilizer Code of Conduct? If so, what are they?

Soil conditioners and bio-fertilizers

Are there redundancies or unnecessary items or subjects within this Code of Conduct? If so, what are they?

Yes, highlighted in the text in tracked changes.

Do you have any other suggestions or comments not covered in the above questions? If so, please elaborate.

Fertilizer quality and safety is quite an issue to traders,  farmers and consumers of the resultant crop yields in many developing countries; The code could bring out some focus on quality assurance and international trade (import/export),

Questions

Comments

Is an International Code of Conduct for the Use and Management of Fertilizers beneficial and useful? To whom, and why?
Yes, it is useful to all professionals in agriculture fields

Does this Fertilizer Code of Conduct address all aspects necessary to ensure the responsible use of fertilizers, optimizing benefits while minimizing risks?
No

Are there any topics or subject matter missing from this Fertilizer Code of Conduct? If so, what are they?

I feel you missed or purposely escaped the term Biochar  which is “pri-stabilized’ organic matter or fertilizer.    I said fertilizer because it absorbs plant nutrients and supply C, P, K, Mg and enhance the C sequestration in the soil. Many European as well as other nations are trying to embark or already working on this issue. You can communicate Dr Saran Sohi off Edenbourg University, England

The other point probably you need to add plant nutrients thresh hold as an important indicator.

Are there redundancies or unnecessary items or subjects within this Code of Conduct? If so, what are they?
I feel Advertizing in the term and definition may not be necessary.

Do you have any other suggestions or comments not covered in the abov6e questions? If so, please elaborate.
Please try to put something about fertilizer Adulteration which mostly fertilizer importing countries problem.

It is a very important, complete and useful document that must be approved. First let me express that in the document, both, fertilizers and pesticides, are considered “agrochemicals”. I do not like that expression because fertilizers are for “feeding” plants, but pesticides, for “killing” plants.

In the other hand, some persons consider that concrete Safety Regulations go against Fertilizer Industry. On the contrary, those regulations not only are important for farmers but also protect Fertilizer Industry. It is the case of Cadmium (Cd) content on Rock Phosphate and Phosphorus fertilizers like TSP and others that is one of the most frequent sources of Cd in agriculture. I propose that must be included an Annex of these Safety Standards and Permissible Limits.

Besides, I propose that the document must be more explicit in relation to regulations of fertilizers storage and transportation.

Olegario Muniz

Soil Institute, Havana, Cuba

Question
Comment

Is an International Code of Conduct for the Use and Management of Fertilizers beneficial and useful? To whom, and why?

I am supportive of the initiative. How far the code of conduct will penetrate beyond governments and the fertilizer industry remains to be seen.

Does this Fertilizer Code of Conduct address all aspects necessary to ensure the responsible use of fertilizers, optimizing benefits while minimizing risks?

This is a comprehensive document that covers the key issues surrounding fertilizer use.  I though the document was stronger on optimizing benefits than on minimizing risks (see below).

Are there any topics or subject matter missing from this Fertilizer Code of Conduct? If so, what are they?

There is very little in the document about minimizing risks associated with fertilizer applications.  Looses of Ammonia following manure and slurry applications are hardly mentioned, yet atmospheric emissions of ammonia from agriculture are a significant global problem. Careful management of manures and fertilizers will have an important role to play in minimizing these emissions.

Water pollution is touched on. But there are significant issues associated with the pollution of ground and surface waters. This is addressed by mentioning the need not to overfertilize with P, but the same must also be true of N. A section should be inserted reflecting this.

Recycling of ‘waste’ to land will be increasing important and necessary for a variety of reasons. However, a note of caution should be introduced into the document asking governments to set appropriate legal standards for such materials. We do not want materials, such as struvite, being added to soils if they also contain contaminants.

Are there redundancies or unnecessary items or subjects within this Code of Conduct? If so, what are they?

The code is very long, perhaps necessarily so.  Could a shortened version covering the key points be published alongside it?

Dear Rob Blakemore,

Thanks for your contribution. Indeed, there are a lot of nutrients going to waste and reuse and recycling should be high on the global agenda. We did hope to highlight this in the Fertilizer Code, however perhaps it could be strengthened? We will certainly consider adding vermicomposting to the revised draft along with other suggestions we receive in regards to recycling methods and technologies and thank you for pointing out where to include it in the document.

Dear Mhammad Asef Ghyasi,

Thank you for your comments in regards to the effects of fertilizers on food safety, human and animal health, and the environment. These are certainly the kinds of issues we are trying to address with the Fertilizer Code and your feedback is extremely valuable and welcome. 

Best regards, Debra  

Question response from R.J. Blakemore PhD [email protected] FAO-GSP, IUCN-SSC

Is an International Code of Conduct for the Use and Management of Fertilizers beneficial and useful? To whom, and why?

Yes and NO. It is important to curtail the excess use of NPK that are poisoning soil, air and water but, unless a viable alternative is offered it is pointless.  The C of C mainly helps industry, yet Rockstrom et al. (2009) identified excess Nitrogen fertilizers as the greatest hazard to the planet after species extinctions (partly caused by N fertilizers). They recommended an immediate reduction by 25% but offered no replacement. The obvious replacement is to recycle organic ‘wastes’ via earthworms as vermicomposts.

Does this Fertilizer Code of Conduct address all aspects necessary to ensure the responsible use of fertilizers, optimizing benefits while minimizing risks?

No – it is too synthetic chemical industry biased.  I believe we need to reduce NPK and to rely on recycling and natural mineralization to fertilize forests, crops and pastures.

Are there any topics or subject matter missing from this Fertilizer Code of Conduct? If so, what are they?

Vermicomposts are not mentioned yet they are the most natural and proven solution (e.g. Indore). Essentially free and completely scaleable (from under kitchen sink to nationwide) they can be utilized by individuals, schools, farmers and organizations.  When Soviet Union collapsed and with the continued US embargo, Cuba relied on vermicomposting and organiponicos to supply its food.  It now has one of the lowest cancer rates.

Are there redundancies or unnecessary items or subjects within this Code of Conduct? If so, what are they?

Why mention biochar?  This is a minor amendment – not a fertilizer – that it over-hyped by biocharlatans that offers no benefit whatsoever over traditional and proven composts.  It is a needless distraction!

Do you have any other suggestions or comments not covered in the above questions? If so, please elaborate.

Since the first world war, 100 years ago, there has been excess nitrogen from munitions.  The disposal of this has diverted research and funding from more natural N-fixation and re-cycling.

Rothamsted Research in UK have the longest running LTE in the world at 175 years.  In all this time they have been unable to prove that synthetic NPK offers any benefit over FYM in terms of soil health, yield or costs.  Surely it is time to reconsider and to restore natural production.

A recent summary paper is: http://www.mdpi.com/2571-8789/2/2/33 .

Question

Comments

Is an International Code of Conduct for the Use and Management of Fertilizers beneficial and useful? To whom, and why?

 It is beneficial for the food users, for the reduction and of risks and other harms.

Does this Fertilizer Code of Conduct address all aspects necessary to ensure the responsible use of fertilizers, optimizing benefits while minimizing risks?

 I think no, we need to do for each type of fertilizers separate investigation on human being and other animals to know detail benefits and harms and respectably know the management of advantages and disadvantages of the fertilizers.

Are there any topics or subject matter missing from this Fertilizer Code of Conduct? If so, what are they?

 Dose the fertilizers change the genetic of the foods or products? If a cow is eating the product and then we are using the milk of this cow dose there is any harm?

What is the relationship of fertilizers and such diseases like diabetes, cancer, deformities in new born children ?

Are there redundancies or unnecessary items or subjects within this Code of Conduct? If so, what are they?

Do you have any other suggestions or comments not covered in the above questions? If so, please elaborate.

 We need to know the effect of the fertilizers in environment, air, living animals, foods, plants, and human? The life of the different animals are necessary for each other, if in some way we are killing them directly or indirectly , it will effects the life change of many elements like water, soil, air……?

In order to have enough food for all population other ways or mechanisms have to be seek not just fertilizers? Like control of population.