Biofertilizers and other technologies available to address the fertilizer Crisis In The Latin American And Caribbean Region

 

Fertilizer prices have risen in recent months due to several factors, such as high energy prices. On the other hand, major exporters, including China, Russia and Egypt, have reduced exports to safeguard their domestic supply. Russia exports 12.6% of total fertilizers, so it can be expected that prices further increase as the Russian-Ukrainian conflict adds to fears of global shortages.  Disruption in the production or distribution of fertilizers could affect their availability and consequently, global food production.

An increase in fertilizer prices is projected at least untilmid-2022, therefore, accelerating innovations (such as the use of biofertilizers and other technologies) and policies in response to this rapid cost rise and discussing ways to mitigate the effects of increasing food and input price on the region, is part of what is meant by "better production", which can help Latin America and the Caribbean to consolidate its role as the world's largest net exporter of food.

II. About the webinar

The event aims at presenting different options, good practices and lessons learned on the use and management of biofertilizers and other technological alternatives for the agricultural sector, which are currently available in order to face the crisis of high fertilizer prices.

III. Objectives of the webinar

1. Raise awareness about the importance of biofertilizers and other technologies to face the rise in fertilizer prices and as part of a better production strategy.
2. Socialize experiences on biofertilizers use and other alternatives available in the region.
3. Identify catalysts and/ or barriers, from the private – public sphere, that influence the positioning and scaling of the use of biofertilizers and other technological alternatives.

It is expected that at the end of the webinar, attendees will have a holistic picture of the context, the different options, and their potential application in the agricultural sector at the national and local levels. Also, that they will comprehend the different processes of planning and definition of public policies that are currently carried out by different regional initiatives and by strategic partners.

IV. Participants

It is expected to have a wide participation of professionals from the Ministries of Agriculture of the Latin American and Caribbean (RLC) region, as well as different stakeholders from research institutes, members of the RLC soil community of practice, producers’ associations and regional or global networks.

V. Webinar methodology

This webinar will be guided by a moderator and the dynamics of the event contemplate two blocks:

• First block: experiences on biofertilizers and other alternatives to the fertilizer crisis in the Region.
• Second block: catalysts and barriers from the public-private sphere for the positioning and scaling of the use of biofertilizers and other technological alternatives.

The event will be broadcast by zoom, with simultaneous translation into English and Spanish. It can be accessed by invitation.

In addition, the first block will be broadcast through FAO's open channels, the www.fao.org/americas  website, FAO's YouTube  and regional Twitter @FAOAmericas.

Towards the end of each block, questions from the public will be collected (through the corresponding channels: YouTube, Twitter and / or Zoom) and will be answered by panelists and organizers, as appropriate.

VI. Panelists

Panelist name	Institution
Julio Berdegué	FAO
Juan Gonzalo Botero	Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Colombia
Mohamed Eida	FAO
Mariangela Hungria da Cunha	EMBRAPA, Brazil
Gaius Eudoxie	University of the West Indies (UWI)
Juan Hirzel	INIA Quilamapu, Chile
Teodardo Calles	FAO
Francis Reyes	BIOEM SAC, Peru
Federico Pognante	Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries of the Nation of Argentina
Marcus Peixoto	Federal Senate of Brazil
Edna Espinosa	Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Colombia