Join Us for an Insightful Webinar on Fertilizer Innovations for sustainable farming.

The language of the Webinar is English.

The INSOILFER Working Group 2 on Soil Fertility and Fertilizer Management invites you to an engaging virtual event on fertilizer innovations.

With nearly half the world's population relying on synthetic fertilizers for food production, improving fertilizer efficiency is more critical than ever. Right now, much of what’s applied to fields—especially nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium—goes to waste, leading to environmental issues and economic losses. But fertilizer innovations like enhanced efficiency fertilizers, biofertilizers, and nano-fertilizers are changing the game by increasing crop yields while reducing environmental impact.

This webinar brings together top experts from science and industry to explore cutting-edge advancements in fertilizer innovations and the real-world impact of these innovations. Don’t miss this opportunity to deepen your understanding of the future of fertilizers and their role in building a greener tomorrow.

AGENDA

Our panelist

Achim Dobermann

As Chief Scientist, Achim provides strategic scientific advice to IFA and its members on promoting responsible plant nutrition and enhancing nutrient stewardship worldwide. He served as Director & CEO of Rothamsted Research in the UK (2014-2019), Deputy Director General of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI, 2008-2014), Professor of Soil Science and Nutrient Management at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, USA (2000-2007), and as a Soil Nutrient Specialist at IRRI (1992-2000). He received his MSc in Tropical Agriculture and PhD in Soil Science from the University of Leipzig in Germany. Dr. Dobermann has over 35 years of field experience working in every region of the world on science and technology for sustainable farming, with particular emphasis on soil science, plant nutrition and agronomy. He has published on a wide range of agricultural issues and serves on the boards of iSDA.Ltd and Agrimetrics.Ltd, two startups working on data-driven solutions for agronomy and farming, as well as on several scientific advisory bodies worldwide.

Leonardus Vergütz

Leonardus is a Chief Scientific Officer at OCP Nutricrops. He is an agronomist with MSc and DSc in Soil Science and Plant Nutrition and has great experience with the highly weathered and acidic soils commonly found in the tropics. Before arriving in Morocco, he was a professor for 7 years at Universidade Federal de Viçosa – Brazil. He has more than 50 peer reviewed publications and is interested in understanding the mechanisms controlling the fate and behavior of elements in the soil-plant-human continuum aiming to build more sustainable and productive agricultural systems. He was part of the advisory group commissioned by the European Commission that wrote the policy paper that should guide the R&I cooperation between Africa and Europe for the Green Transition in Africa. This paper was released early 2022 during the AU-EU Summit and brings soil security to the core of the Green Transition in Africa.

Weifeng Zhang

Weifeng is a professor at China Agricultural University. His research focuses on agricultural green development strategy, fertilizer technology innovation, and agricultural technology service system.  He established the first national fertilizer data aggregation platform, developed the "science and technology backyard" model, and build a policy reform framework to support zero growth of fertilizer use in China. He published over 100 research papers on top journals such as Nature and PNAS, He received the Norman Borlaug Award in 2018.

Ehsan Toosi

Ehsan is Director of R&D at True Organic Products. He has been working in the agriculture industry in California over the past 10 years, focusing on practical aspects of regenerative agriculture, i.e.  carbon and nutrient circularity towards improving soil health, enhancing nutrient use efficiency, and integrated nutrient-pest management across cropping systems. Prior to joining the ag industry, Ehsan was a Research Scientist at Michigan State University where he led research on lowering the environmental footprints of agriculture via buildup of organic matter in soil, reducing nitrogen leaching and GHG emissions in intensive cropping systems. Ehsan holds a PhD in Soil Biogeochemistry.

Our guest farmer

Yakubu Musa

Yakubu Musa is a former banker who switched to becoming a farmer. He has a large expanse of land and the capacity to expand but focuses on paddy rice production and sells it to his off-takers, who process the rice. Yakubu has done well in the last three years, farming rice on several acres of land leased to him by his community in Bida, Niger State. Bida has a vast expanse of land for anyone willing to farm rice. Yakubu is one of the few people who consistently make money from farming. He even plants and harvests twice a year. Despite making a lot of money in a short period, he still seems to be losing money by doing little. Yakubu will give his perspective on how using innovative fertilizers have helped him in his farming journey.