Fertilizers are essential agricultural inputs that support crop development and help maintain or improve soil fertility. However, their misuse and overuse can pose risks to the environment, contribute to climate change, and negatively affect both animal and human health. A key component supporting sustainable fertilizer use is the rigorous assessment of fertilizer quality and safety. Fertilizer Quality and Safety Assessment (FQSA) help to ensure that fertilizers deliver the intended nutrient content, thereby contributing to efficient nutrient use and supporting optimal crop yield and quality. It also promotes a balanced and reliable nutrient supply, reducing the risk of the use of ineffective or overpriced products and helping safeguard farmers’ investments. Moreover, FQSA evaluates the physical properties of fertilizers to support even application, which is essential for uniform crop growth and minimizing nutrient losses. Environmental protection is also supported, as FQSA reduces the risk of nutrient runoff and pollution. Monitoring trace elements such as heavy metals and other hazardous substances helps reduce the risk of soil contamination and adverse impacts on soil health, ecosystems and human well-being. 

In this context, the FAO Global Soil Partnership (GSP) addresses these challenges through the International Network on Soil Fertility and Fertilizers (INSOILFER). INSOILFER promotes sustainable soil fertility management, and supports efforts to reduce the underuse, misuse and overuse of fertilizers, and thereby limiting the environmental and health impacts of unsustainable fertilizer use. INSOILFER facilitates fertilizer evaluation and monitoring, which are key measures for reducing potential risks to environmental quality, soil health, and human and animal well-being. The design and implementation of effective solutions to prevent nutrient losses to soil, water and the atmosphere remain challenging, as recovery can be complex, costly or not feasible. Therefore, preventive approaches are essential to improve nutrient management practices, including decisions on the type, timing and method of soil amendments.  

Through Working Group 3 (WG3) on fertilizer safety and quality assessment, INSOILFER works to monitor and improve the quality and safety of conventional (organic and mineral) and innovative nutrient sources (biofertilizers, biostimulants, and recycled nutrient sources). WG3 also supports capacity development in fertilizer analysis and promotes the harmonization of fertilizer quality standards. 

By aligning with FAO's One Health approach, which promotes agrifood system transformation for the health of people, animals, plants, and the environment, INSOILFER contributes to a holistic strategy that addresses sustainable agriculture. The network supports collective action and the implementation of the International Code of Conduct for the Sustainable Use and Management of Fertilizers. The work of INSOILFER also supports the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. 

Webinar structure 

Fertilizer quality and safety assessment is a crosscutting issue with far reaching implications across multiple dimensions beyond the farm, including environmental protection, market integrity and compliance, regional and technical cooperation, capacity development, and the generation of reliable indicators, standards and analytical data on quality and safety. 

This webinar is structured in two complementary parts. In the first part, leading global experts will guide participants through the core dimensions of FQSA, with focused discussions on environmental impacts, market dynamics, and experiences from technical and regional cooperation initiatives. The second part of the webinar series, to be held in the last quarter of the year, will build on these discussions by further addressing capacity development needs and analytical approaches to fertilizer quality and safety assessment, drawing on the expertise of leading practitioners and laboratories worldwide. 

Objectives 

This webinar aims to address the simple but fundamental question of what fertilizer quality and safety assessment is and why it matters, by introducing the key indicators used to assess fertilizer quality and safety, presenting an overview of the current global landscape, and discussing the main challenges and practical strategies for strengthening fertilizer quality and safety testing systems. 

Agenda 

Moderator: Vinisa Saynes Santillan, FAO

Join INSOILFER 

INSOILFER is in the ongoing construction process based on an inclusive and diverse community with various stakeholders with different perspectives on soil fertility and fertilizer management. The network welcomes participation from academia, government, farmers and farmers' associations, industry and private sector, laboratories, extensionists, and technicians. Membership in INSOILFER is free of charge, and active and voluntary participation from each member is encouraged. Please click HERE to join the network.