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Presented at the

IPI Golden Jubilee Congress

October 8-10, 2002, in Basel, Switzerland

IPI in retrospect and prospect
a continuing need for knowledge transfer

by Dr. A. Krauss, Director, International Potash Institute, POB 1609, CH-4001 Basel, Switzerland;
tel. +41 61 261 29 22; fax +41 61 261 29 25; e-mail: ipi@ipipotash.org; web: www.ipipotash.org

Contents

Nutrition of plants, mysteries in the past

The systematic cultivation of land to produce food started in China more than 6000 years ago. These early farmers used organic material and soil eroded from the hills to "fertilize" the crops (ZITONG et al., 2002). In Europe, almost 2000 years ago, the Roman author Lucius Junius Moderatur Columella stressed the need to apply "fertilizers" because "the soil will not be tired and doesn’t age when it receives fertilizers" and the farmer "can have a higher yield when the soil is supported by frequent and appropriate fertilization" (from MORGENTHALER & SIEMES, 1987).

An eye opener with respect to soil fertility in the medivial Europe was Antoine Laurent de Lavoisier (1743-1794). His fundamental discovery that fermentation is a chemical reaction helped scientists and philosophers to realize that also soil fertilty lay in physical and chemical processes. He quickly recognized that famines in Europe, fairly common during that days, was linked to lack of fertilizers. By using animal manure, yields doubled and he clearly demonstrated that the manure had contributed to the fertility of the soil.

The idea of using animal and human excrements and organic waste as sources of humus was discussed in Europe systematically and promoted by German, Austrian and French scientists during the 18th and 19th centuries. However, in the early years of the 19th century it was discovered first by Sprengel and then by Liebig that it was not the humus as such but the mineral nutrients it contained that nourished the plants. This led to systematic field trials, like those done by Lawes and Gilbert in Rothamsted, UK, on the nutrient requirements of crops, and the production of mineral fertilizers, like single superphosphate from bones by Lawes and Gilbert (JOHNSTON, 1994) and "Patentdünger", as developed by Liebig (MENGEL, 2000).

Liebig showed that potassium is one of the major essential plant nutrients. It had, however, been long known as potash, because it was extracted from the ash left in iron pots after burning wood. The early use of potassium was for soap and glass manufacturing. With the discovery of importance of potassium in crop nutrition the demand increased, but its production from wood ash could not cope with the requirement. However, by coincidence in 1856 potash deposits were discovered in Germany and, after various technical problems were solved large scale production of potash was possible by mining these sedimentary deposits.

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Potash research comes into picture

By 1860, some 140 years ago, the first results from potash field trials were published in Germany and a few years later, in 1891, the German potash industry founded the first agricultural research and advisory institution in Stassfurt. The aim of this institution was to conduct and initiate research on the importance of potassium in crop nutrition and to inform and popularizise the use of potassium, especially to farmers, through publications, leaflets and exhibitions at fairs and farmers meetings. By 1910, almost 100 years ago, some 32'000 field trials on potash had been conducted, half of them outside of Germany.

Also in France, as in Germany, there was intensive promotion of potash during the 1920ies and 1930ies, long before the 2nd World War. After the war, when fertilizer promotion was resumpted, both, the French and German producers were convinced that is was essential to promote the importance of potassium in crop production not only in their home markets but also in countries outside of Europe. This led to the foundation of the International Potash Institute in 1952 with its headquarters in Berne, Switzerland.

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The global crop production at the begin of IPI

When IPI was founded, the total population on the globe was about 2.5 billion people, two-thirds of whom were in developing countries, mainly in rural areas. Cereal yields were fairly low, less than 1.2 t/ha in developing countries, but there was still a reasonable amount of land available to cultivate the crops.

The situation changed rapidly during the consecutive years. When IPI celebrated its 25th Anniversary in 1978, the global population almost doubled to 4.4 billion inhabitants, the developing countries shared about ¾ of it. Still, most of the people in developing yountries lived in the rural area (70%) but the share of urban population increased steadily. Availablity of arable land declined to 0.55 ha and 0.2 ha per capita in developed and developing countries, respectively. A remarkable yield increase of cereals by more than 60 % compensated by and large the reduced land availability, the grain output increased by 77 % during that period, and the per capita cereal production rose by 24 % in developing and 37 % in developed countries.

The 1960ies and 1970ies were also the years when fertilizer consumption emerged rapidly. The global N consumption rose within 20 years from 11 to 61 million t in 1980, use of phosphate from 11 to 32 and of potash from 9 to 24 million tons of nutrients. At the silver jubilee of IPI, developed countries used more than half of the total N, 69 % of the total P and 83 % of the total K. This was the time when use of mineral fertilizers helped to build up considerable soil fertility in developed countries, whereas use of mineral fertilizers in developing countries covered only a fraction of nutrients, which have been removed by crops with the harvest. Use of N fertilizers for instance covered 74 % of N and use of potash only 12 % of K removed by crops.

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IPI activities around the silver jubilee

The rapidly growing global population and its demand for food and fibre, and the corresponding need to improve the productivity of the cultivated land stimulated worldwide research in how to increase yields. Research on potassium in soil and plant gained particular attention because K behaved in soil and plant fairly different than other nutients.

In the soil, K is partitioned between several fractions which are interrelated to each other through exchange processes. Of agronomic importance are the fraction of the so-called non-exchangeable or slowly available K, and the fraction of exchangeable or readily available K. The first can be considered as K reserves, the latter fraction is the immediate source of K dissolved in soil solution from which plants take up the nutrients. K is released from the pool of exchangeable K when the solute concentration decreases at K uptake, and K is retainded by the exchange sites after fertilizer application and/or release of K in decaying organic residues. These dynamic exchange processes are difficult to control, but they affect the assessment of soil K availability and ultimately, the recommendation whether and how much potash fertilizers are required.

In the plant, K is a very versatile nutrient, highly mobile and, unlike N or P, is not incorporated into organic compounds. K stimulates a wide range of enzymatic reactions, it is involved in nitrate transfer and N metabolism and is an integral part in the regulation of the water household of plants. The K content of plants, leaves, fruits, roots and tuber in particular is rather high, K uptake by plants exceeds usually the uptake of N. Use of adequate potash has a positive effect on the quality of the crops and its products, and improves the resistance of the plants to pests and diseases as well as to climatic and soil borne stress. However, the response of the plants to potash application is very often not easily recognizable and omission of potash will not show an immediate effect on the crop because the soil acts as a buffer. The "discreet" action of K tempt to sacrifizes potash use first in times of economic constraints.

The particular behaviour of K in soils and its multiple function in plants attracted by that time many researchers to study this nutrient. Specialised institutions like the Büntehof Agricultural Research Station in Hanover, Germany, the Research Station Aspach-la-Bas in Alsace, France, national research institutes like Rothamsted in UK, or university departments of soils science, soil fertility or plant nutrition in numerous countries conducted basic research on K. Guided by its Scientific Board, which consisted of 16 members from 14 different European countries, IPI established close contacts to scientists and sponsored to a large extend research in potassium.

Fueled by favourable economic conditions for the fertilizer industry by that time, IPI enjoyed a pleasant financial support from the whole of the European and Near East potash industry. This allowed the Institute, starting in 1954, to conduct till the Silver Jubilee eleven inernational Congresses and Symposia and forteen Colloquia. The subjects covered ranged from K in the soil and in living organisms (Zurich, 1954), K in relation to problems of water (Madrid, 1958), K and the quality (Brussels, 1966), K in biochemistry and physiology (Uppsala, 1971), K in tropical soils (Abidjan, 1973) to fertilizer use and plant health (Izmir, 1976), to name only few.

Proceedings of Congresses and Colloquia, the Potash Review, the Green Bulletin, the International Fertilizer Correspondent, ifc, together with crop specific Bulletins as well as the Research Topics aimed to provide scientists with references, students with basic knowledge, advisors and farmers with informations.

Very early, IPI also looked beyond the borders of Europe and established missions around the world, either on its own responsibility or in collaboration with what is now the Potash and Phosphate Institute, PPI/PPIC. The most comprehensive mission was the POTASCHEME in India, 1957-62, which had both expatriates and a large number of local staff. Other missions were founded in subsequent years in Argentina, Brazil, Peru, Uruguay, East Africa, South Africa, former Rhodesia, Hong Kong, Iran, Japan, Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, and in Montpellier, France for the Mediterranean Region.

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IPI towards its Golden Jubilee

In the spirit of the progress made in fertilizer use during the 1970ies, UNIDEP (1976) prognosticated an increase in N consumption from 54 Mt at the time of the IPI Silver Jubilee to 145 Mt N in 2000, means today. Phosphate use should more than double from 30 Mt to 76 Mt P2O5, and potash from 25 Mt to 67 Mt K2O.

However, clouds came soon, especially for potassium. The energy crisis, large set-a-side programs and financial constraints in the early 1980ies depressed considerably the growth in consumption of potash and phosphate fertilizers. Use of nitrogen was less affected.

The situation on the global fertilizer market depreciated further when fertilizer use in the Former Soviet Union, FSU, and in Central/Eastern Europe, CEE, almost collapsed after the economic reform. Between 1988, the peak of the global fertilizer use and five years later, 1993, N use declined by 9 %, P use by 24 % but K use plunged by 39 %. Lack of funds, no credit facilities, unclear land titles, no market structures, redistribution of land to unexperienced former owners, lack of knowledge and, last but not least, no promotion and education are some of the reasons of the breakdown of fertilizer use in the former command systems of FSU and CEE. In the western world, financial constraints, another round of set-a-side programs, growing ecological concerns, but also better utilization of organic manure, higher fertilizer use efficiency, better nutrient management started a steady decline in use of mineral fertilizers. Use of potash, again, was hit most. As an example, potash use plunged in FSU from 7 Mt 1988 to currently 0.7 Mt K2O. In CEE, potash use decreased from 2.7 Mt to 0.6 Mt, and Western Europe, WE, from 5.9 Mt to currently 3.6 Mt K2O, a decline of almost 40 %. Nitrogen in contrast was again the winner, N use in the FSU lowered only from 11.3 to 9.3 Mt, in CEE from 4.6 to 2.3 Mt, and in WE from 11.3 Mt to currently 9.3 Mt N, i.e. a decrease of less than 20 %. The differences in demand for N and K fertilizers reflects what has been said earlier, that in times of economic constraints the farmers prefer nitrogen for its immediate effect to the expenses of potash.

The evolution of the use of mineral fertilizers in developing countries was different from the rest of the world. From 1978, when IPI celebrated its Silver Jubilee till now fertilizer use increased almost steadily from 21 Mt to 55 Mt N, from 8 Mt to 22 Mt of P2O5 and from 3 to 12 Mt of K2O. The drastic change can also be characterized by the following comparison: in 1978, the share of developing countries in the global N use increased from 38 % to 67 %, P2O5 from 25 % to 67 %, and K2O from 13 % to 53 %.

However, in spite of this obvious progress in fertilizer use in the developing world the problem of soil K mining remained or even aggravated. Currently, use of N fertilizers are in the same order of magnitude as the N removal by crops, like in developed countries. To the contrary, use of potash in developing countries covers only 20 % of the K removed by crops, or in other words, K removal by crops in this region is about 45 Mt K2O higher than what is applied with potash fertilizers. China for instance has a deficit of 14 Mt K2O in its nutrient balance, India a deficit of 8 Mt K2O and subsaharan Africa more than 4 Mt K2O. Interestingly, also the developed countries show in the meantime an annual deficit of almost 4 Mt K2O. The P balance is also negative but to a lesser extend than K.

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How did IPI respond to soil K mining

The following factors had a considerable impact on the structure and activities of IPI:

the sponsors of IPI, the European and Near East potash industry were also seriously hit by the substantially decline in the global potash demand end of the 1980ies, less funds were made available and IPI had to be reorganized. The Head Office of IPI was transferred 1990 to Basel for logistic reasons

the rapidly emerging deficit in the K balance in developing countries and the deriving consequences for the sustainability of soil fertility asked for re-orientation of the regional activities of IPI towards developing countries.

Research in plant nutrition in West Europe was also re-oriented towards environmental issues related to fertilizer use with focus on nitrogen and phosphorus. Potassium is per se not considered as a potential polluter and consequently, it went out of consideration. Of course, it should not be overlooked that soil K mining at inadequate potash use becomes an environmental problem if the imbalance in fertilizer use remains because of decreasing efficiency of inputs like N fertilizers.

With this trend in agricultural research, IPI lost its scientific backstopping in West Europe, on top of that, major scientific supporter, namely the Büntehof Research Station in Germany and Aspach-la-Bas Research Station in France had to be closed for economic reasons or ceased research in potassium.

In response to this new environment, IPI adopted a decentralized approach:

regional activities were focussed on China, SE-Asia, India, Near East and North Africa, Latin America, but also on Central/Eastern Europe and FSU

agronomists from member companies were commissioned as IPI Co-ordinators to conduct the regional activities on behalf of IPI

cooperations with agricultural research institutions in the region were established to get scientific support, like with ISSAS in China, ICAR in India, EMBRAPA in Brazil, SWRI in Iran, RISSA in Romania, just to name few

the structure of international events were also changed, more regional workshops and seminars instead of an annual large conference – last year IPI conducted together with the local co-operator workshops and symposia in Argentina, China, Czech Rep., Belarus, Bulgaria, Hungary, India, Jordan, Poland, Romania, Russia, Ukraine

closer contacts were created with the ultimate client, the farmer through on-farm trials, field days and training courses like for fertigation

IPI publications are released in more than 20 languages to address not only higher educated persons but also local advisors and farmers

And last but least, IPI uses also uptodate information transfer, its website www.ipipotash.org is well received, a Chinese version is in progress, a Spanish version under consideration

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What comes next, the challenges

Have we done our homework to advise farmers or is there still a need for knowledge transfer in spite of the past intensive promotional activities of IPI, the other fertilizer associations and companies? If yes, what are the challenges?

Global population still grows but at shrinking resources
 

When IPI celebrates its 75th anniversary the global population may have reached some 8 billion inhabitants, more than 80 % of it living in developing countries. And more people need more food. ROSEGRANT et al. (1995) expects an increase of cereal output from currently 2 bn t to about 2.64 bn t by the year 2020. However, taking into account an increasing conversion of cereals into meat, the virtual demand is expected to reach 3.4 bn t in 2020. But if the cereal production since 1950 is extrapolated to 2020, the resulting output of around 2.4 bn t is far below the requirement unless yields and therefore the production can be increased substantially in future.

Following the trend from the past, in the year 2030 developed countries may still have 0.41 ha/capita, developing countries only 0.12 ha/capita, a size, which is already reality in China. And the quality of land likely to remain available for agriculture due to severe competition from urbanisation, industrialisation and civic needs will be poor.

What has been said about the trend in land availability refers also to water. Between the foundation of IPI and now the global water use has almost quadrupled. Asia for instance increased water use from 865 km3 in 1950 to 3,187 km3 in 2000. At the same time the per capita water availability in Asia decreased from 9,600 to 3,300 cubic meters (ROSEGRANT 1997). PINSTRUP-ANDERSEN et al. (1997) estimates that withdrawal of water in developing countries will increase by 43 % between now and the year 2020, from which the demand for domestic and industrial purposes will double, reducing the supply for agriculture.

Numerous field trials around the world show repeatedly that when fertilizers are applied in a balanced manner according to the requirement of the plants and site specific conditions, substantial yield increases can be achieved. Rice in Vietnam yielded at the same level of N fertilizer either 4 or 5.5 t/ha, depending whether K was omitted or applied.

However, there is still widespread lack of knowledge, but also ignorance, misinterpretation of soil test results, economic constraints that prevents application of balanced fertilization, that is adequate potash use in concert with the other nutrients.

Rice soils are one of the problems to be solved. Urea is the predominant source of nutrients, N use efficiency is low, and alternating water logging and drying out of the soil creates conditions, which renders fertilizer recommendations more difficult. IPI is part of a multinational research program, co-sponsored by IFA, PPI/PPIC and SDC and conducted by IRRI, which studies the nutrient dynamics in rice soils. The results achieved so far show that balanced fertilization increases not only yields and improves the quality, it also improves the N use efficiency. We still need results from basic research to understand the nutrients in problem soils and, at the same time to improve the advice for the farmers.

Another problem to be solved is the assessment of nutrient stocks in soils. As mentioned, soil K mining reached a dimension, which questioned seriously the sustainability of soil fertility. It can be assumed that at the same level of initial soil fertility a high deficit in the nutrient balance will deplete the nutrient reserves faster than a moderate deficit. In the first case, the farmer looses opportunity yield earlier than in the latter case. Still, we lack of indicators at which level of stock depletion the farmer operates, we have hardly information on the rate of decline of the stock because, especially in potassium, the dynamics of exchange processes in the soil debar from establishing simple models. We need more basic research to understand and to manage nutrient stocks.

In context with the growing scarcity of water for agriculture, micro irrigation systems have been developed, and its acceptance increased rapidly. Since the 1980ies the area with micro irrigation increased from 0.4 million ha to currently 3 million ha and will grow further. The technique is available, but we observe widespread lack of knowledge, how to manage the nutrients. Broadcasting fertilizers, as before at flood irrigation would leave most of the nutrients ineffective because with micro irrigation only a fraction of the soil is wetted. With training courses, specialised publications on fertigation, IPI utilizes results and experiences from applied research in order to inform farmers how best to manage nutrients with the new technology.

Urbanization and changing food habit
 

With increasing income the food habit changes from subsistence food to fruits, vegetable and animal protein. Simultaneously, the quality of food becomes an important criterion at the market. Thirdly, there is a growing concern about the safety of food, and fourthly, functional food in order to increase the intake of vitamins or anti-oxidants gains importance.

Transfer of food from the rural into the urban areas means also transfer of nutrients contained in the food. Assuming an urbanisation rate of almost 50 %, its population consumes at least half of the globally produced food, this is equivalent with a transfer of about 85 million tons N+P2O5+K2O into the towns, where the nutrients are usually being dumped. EFMA estimates that only 2 % of nutrients applied in the agriculture of the European Union derive from recycled urban waste.

Concerning the growing demand for quality food, a farmer, who does not produce quality, loses his competitiveness at the market. Furthermore, critical limits of residues from agrochemicals, used to protect crops from pests and diseases, play an increasing role as non-tariff barrier in the export markets.

Consequently, there is still need to demonstrate in the farmer’s field that balanced fertilization benefits crop quality. Adopting balanced fertilization, the farmer becomes competitive at the market. Appropriate quality management also builds up confidence of the customer, it opens new markets and gets easier access to credits.

Balanced fertilization also improves the resistance of crops to pests and diseases, which could reduce the need for pest control and thus, lower the risk of residue levels above critical limits. And thirdly, decision-makers should be made aware on the risks involved in the nutrient transfer from the rural to urban areas or across regional or national borders if the nutrient cycle is not closed with adequate inputs of mineral fertilizers.

Another aspect linked to the changing food habit is the corresponding change in the crop spectrum. During the last 25 years the increase in acreage and production of fruits, vegetables and oilseeds, soybean in particular, outnumbered by far the growth in cereal production. With the change of the crop spectrum the nutrient requirement changes as well. Cereals for instance can exploit the soil K much better than vegetables or soybean because of its much larger root system. On the other hand, K removal with leafy vegetables is a multiple of K removed with cereal grains.

Organic movement
 

The uncertainty of consumer about the safety of food is one of the driving forces of the organic movement. The market volume of organic food is steadily increasing, governments like in Germany plan to convert up to 20 % of the agricultural area into organic farming. The recent food scandals in Europe fuel indeed the suspicion of the consumers. On the other hand, till now measurable differences in the quality of food produced in organic systems and on conventional farms could not been detected provided the conventional farmer applies nutrients according to site and crop specific requirements.

There is nothing wrong to encourage farmers to use organic manure and to recycle as much as possible organic residues in order to reduce nutrient losses. However, recycling alone cannot close the gap in nutrient supply caused by sold products. Calculations from India show that even if all potential sources of organic manure and waste are returned to the field the balance for K remains highly negative in contrast to N. The latter benefits from the N fixation of leguminous crops. Nutrient balances of organic farms in UK show the same trend, positive balance for N and negative balance for K. Also the introduction of agro-forestry in order to return leached nutrients with deep rooting species and recycling their leaves cannot compensate the loss of nutrients removed with the harvested crops

It is our obligation to convince farmers, especially in developing countries, but also our politicians and decision-makers that production of safe and healthy food is not the privilege of organic farming, it can also be achieved on conventional farms as long as they manage the nutrients in appropriate manner. This secures income of conventional farms and prevents a two classes system in food supply.

Continuous soil K mining and rural development
 

The deficit in the K balance in developing countries is steadily increasing, the K balance also in developed countries changed to the negative. The loss in opportunity yield and quality at declining soil K status has been mentioned earlier. Decreasing yield, poorer crop quality, higher incidences of pests and diseases, higher susceptibility to climatic stress will be observed in the course of depleting soil potassium. Less income and higher production costs at declining soil fertility prevent to re-invest in soil fertility, and depreciation of soil fertility continuous until the farmer ends in the poverty trap.

On the other hand, numerous on-farm field trials repeatedly proved that re-investing in soil fertility, i.e. in balanced fertilization is profitable, field trials in India showed returns of 4-18 rupees per rupee invested in potash. We have to continue to reverse the trend by demonstrating in the farmer’s field the benefits of balanced fertilization, which prevents him to fall into the poverty trap. With better income the farmer is inclined to purchase more non-ag products, which in turn attracts other business, creates jobs and by that, contributes to the rural development.

Resources and environment
 

The competition for shrinking natural resources becomes tougher in future, which puts more pressure on agriculture to increase the productivity of the remaining land, water and energy. How effective balanced fertilization can contribute has been shown with field trials in Hungary. Using sugar beets low in quality as observed at unbalanced fertilization requires about 5 t beets more to be transported and crushed to produce one ton of white sugar than with beets high in sugar content at balanced fertilization.

Another example how to contribute to safeguard resources and to protect the environment has been experienced in China. With farmer’s practice some 140 kg/ha NO3 remained after harvest of cabbage in the soil prone to be leached into the groundwater or escape after reduction into the atmosphere. With adequate K application, the residual nitrate in the rooting zone decreased down to 35 kg/ha.

And thirdly, if China’s cereal yields would have remained at the low level when fertilizer use was introduced, China would need an additional 350 million ha arable land to have the same output as achieved today after increasing substantially the use of mineral fertilizers.

Globalization, WTO…
 

With opening the markets the competition will increase as well. Without fulfilling quality standards set by the world market, the farmers are not competitive. Quality can be expressed in terms of the nutritive properties, appearance, freedom from pests, diseases and residues, content of a particular constituent, but also whether the crop has been produced in context with the environment. Adequate K supply is a key factor in the management of crop quality, therefore research and on-farm demonstrations to document the positive effect of balanced fertilization on the different quality parameters should remain an integral part of IPI’s regional activities.

Furthermore, export of food and crop products means also transfer of nutrients. Asia for instance exports around 230’000 t K and Latin America about 1.1 Mt K contained in oilseeds and oilseed meal cake. The European Union in contrast imports some 1.26 Mt K with oilseeds and oilseed meal cake. We have to watch this development and inform decision-makers on the consequences.

Biotechnology, GMOs …
 

High yielding varieties, hybrids, gene modified organisms, biotechnology are without doubt the inputs in concert with fertilization necessary to feed future generations. The area with GMOs is extending although there is still stiff opposition, especially in Europe to use GMOs as food and feed.

Irrespective to the present political row about GMOs, with increasing the yield potential the demand for nutrients is increasing as well. This affects in particular potassium because its uptake is restricted to a rather short period of time during the intensive vegetative growth. Daily uptake rates of up to 10 kg/ha K are not uncommon. Only soils that are well supplied with K are in the position to meet this high demand. Fertilizer recommendations have to be adjusted accordingly.

Furthermore, by breeding varieties, resistant to pests, diseases and climatic stress, the yield probability improves, which may convince farmers to re-invest in soil fertility because of better income security. He has to get the correct information on how to improve soil fertility.

Multifunctionality
 

Farms not only produce food and feed but also serve to maintain the landscape and to safeguard the environment. YOSHIDA (2001) estimated the economic value of the multifunctional role of agriculture in Japan with US$68.8 billion. He took into consideration flood prevention, conservation of water resources, prevention of erosion and landslides, organic waste disposal, air purification, climate mitigation and preserving amenities for recreation and relaxation.

Indeed, plants adequately supplied with nutrients are in a much better position to anchor the soil and thus, reduce runoff and erosion. Still, farmers are not yet compensated for this role. Nevertheless, we have to educate the farmers how best they can integrate crop production into this multifunctional role and to which extend fertilizer use can support this effort. At the same time the decision-makers and politicians have to be informed on this particular service given by the farming community.

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Conclusion

After fifty years of promotion of balanced fertilization in many parts of the world we have to ask ourselves, is there still need to continue regional activities in view of an obvious easy access to information through publications, seminars, internet, etc.

Definitely, there is still need for knowledge transfer. We still have to create awareness amongst the shareholders in food production on the risks and consequences of soil nutrient mining, especially related to potassium.

Still, the bulk of farmers in developing countries doesn’t have access to information and prefer learning by seeing. The direct contact with him creates an atmosphere of confidence and he is open to follow the advice provided the benefit of balanced fertilization can be demonstrated in his field. The farmer should be aware on the long-term consequences of soil nutrient mining. He needs the correct advice how to leave the vicious circle of declining soil fertility and failing re-investment, but he also needs the correct economic frame to reverse the trend.

Extension workers and fertilizer advisors should be aware on the problem and consequences of soil nutrient mining. However, very often extension workers in developing countries lack of means and knowledge to address correctly the farmers. We, the fertilizer associations should continue to take part in further education of the extension services.

We still need the support from research, especially to understand and to manage the nutrient stocks in the soil. Following the philosophy “from the land to the lab and from the lab to the land” we can be the catalyst to initiate corresponding research and transfer the knowledge back into the farmer’s field.

The decision-makers should be aware on the consequences of soil nutrient mining. Increasing the yields, improving the quality and stress resistance with adequate fertilizer use contributes to rural development, to food security and to safeguarding natural resources together with protecting the environment.

And finally, the fertilizer industry should continue its support to tackle soil nutrient mining. Promotion is a part of market development. The customer will honour the service given by the fertilizer industry, at the same time it improves the image of an industry, which is in the focus of ecologists and environmentalists. Assisting the farmer to have a transparent crop production will be also to the benefit of the fertilizer industry.

With this view I am looking very optimist into the future of IPI.

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References

Anonymous (1976): World wide study of the fertiliser industry, 1975-2000, United Nations Industrial Development Organisation, Vienna (redrawn from T. Walsh, 1978: Twenty-five years on – the achievements and the challenges. In: Proceed. Of the 11th Congress of IPI, September 4-8, 1978 in Berne, Switzerland)

FAO (2002): Food and Agriculture Organisation Rome, Italy; web FAOSTAT.

Johnston, A.E. (1994): The Rothamsted Classical Experiments. In: R.A. Leigh and A.E. Johnston (Eds.) Long-term Experiments in Agricultural and Ecological Sciences, CAB International, Wallingford, pp. 9-37.

Johnston, A.E., Barraclough, P.B., Poulton, P.R. and Dawson, C.J. (1998): Assessment of some spatially variable factors limiting crop yield. Proceedings No. 419, The International Fertiliser Society, York, UK.

Johnston, A.E., Poulton, P.R. and Syers, J.K. (2001): Phosphorus, potassium and sulphur cycles in agricultural soils. Proceedings No. 465, The International Fertiliser Society, York, UK, 44 pp.

Kern, M. (2000): Future of agriculture. Global dialogue EXPO 2000, the role of the village in the 21st Century: crops, jobs and livelihood. 15-17 Aug. 2000, Hanover, Germany.

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Morgenthaler, J. and Siemes, J. (1987): Die Kali-Industrie im dienste der Landwirtschaft. Kali-Briefe (Büntehof) 18 (8), p. 577-584.

Pinstrup-Andersen, P., Pandya-Lorch, R., and Rosegrant, M.W. (1997): The world food situation: recent developments, emerging issues, and long-term prospects. Food policy report, IFPRI, Washington DC, USA

Rosegrant M.W., 1997: Water resources in the twenty-first century: challenges and implications for actions. Food, agriculture and the environment discussion paper 20. IFPRI, Washington DC, USA

Rosegrant M.W., Agcaoili-Sombilla, M. and Perez, N.D. (1995): Global food projections to 2020: Implications for investment. IFPRI, Washington DC, USA

Yoshida K., 2001: An economic evaluation of the multifunctional roles of agriculture and rural areas in Japan. FFTC Technical Bulletin 154, Taipeh, Taiwan

Zitong Gong, Zhang Ganlin and Zhang Xuelei (2002): Antropogenic soils in China. 17th World Congress of Soil Science, Bangkok, Thailand, 14-21 August 2002.

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