Global Forum on Food Security and Nutrition (FSN Forum)

This member contributed to:

    • The European Consortium for the Organic-Based Fertilizer Industry (ECOFI) welcomes the development of the International Code of Conduct for the Use and Management of Fertilizers and the inclusion of organic fertilizers in the zero draft. However, considering the importance of the Code’s topic, and the fact that it merits additional reflection, discussion and consultation before being launched, ECOFI calls for the adoption of the Code of Conduct to be delayed until the Committee on Agriculture of the Food and Agriculture Organization (COAG) 2020, instead of 2018. This would thus leave the FAO, ITPS, and all relevant stakeholders adequate time for appropriate consideration of the draft.

      Specific points for further discussion (see attached document) include:

      • The excessive emphasis on mineral fertilizers, with all other technologies cast as corrective measures or in a secondary role rather than essential parts of integrated soil fertility and plant nutrient management
      • e.g. according to its current inappropriate definition of contaminants, the carbon in an organic fertilizer would be considered a contaminant;
      • organo-mineral fertilizers are not mentioned in the text
      • The circular economy and industrial symbiosis
      • Mitigation of and adaptation to climate change
      • The need to revise several of the terms and definitions
      See the attachments: