WORLD FOOD FORUM 2022 Global Assessment and Solutions for the Fertilizer Crisis Opening Remarks
by Dr QU Dongyu, FAO Director-General
20/10/2022
WORLD FOOD FORUM 2022
Global Assessment and Solutions for the Fertilizer Crisis
Opening Remarks
By
Dr QU Dongyu, FAO Director-General
20 October 2022
Excellences,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
1. Today I want to give you a different message from last time when I spoke on how to use fertilizers properly and efficiently, through the improvement of soil, including soil fertility and soil erosion.
2. Now, I want to focus on fertilizer trade, that is: fertilizer availability and accessibility.
3. This is an important issue currently, but also prior to the pandemic due to international inflation and international interruption of the supply chain, among others, which are driving the high prices of these commodities.
4. We need more fertilizers for agriculture, this we know. So what must we do?
5. One, produce more.
6. Nobody is willing to produce more, but it is critical that countries around the world increase their production of fertilizer.
7. In Nigeria, for example, the World Bank, sponsored a company that produces fertilizers - now it is important to keep that production in Africa first.
8. It is a question of availability.
9. There is political will globally, economic subsidies and environmental considerations that enable increased production.
10. Second, we need to keep international trade in fertilizers operating smoothly and effectively.
11. For this, we need collaboration among all Members, and solidarity with farmers, to ensure efficient global food production in the coming months or years.
12. Last but not least, what can we do as FAO?
13. We will use our big data to monitor and assess global accessibility,
14. And we will continue to encourage Ministers for Agriculture to implement technical innovations to improve fertilizer efficiency.
15. In light of all these consideration, I look forward to your concrete recommendations arising from your discussions during this session.
16. Thank you.