FAO training on Technological Innovations in Soil Science for Nigeria Institute of Soil Science. 3 November 2020, Zoom platform Yuxin Tong

1. Towards the
implementation of the
Fertilizer Code at the
global level
Yuxin Tong
GSP Secretariat
Climate Smart Agricultural Technologies to the Soil Science
Community in Nigeria

3. We should not underestimate the importance of having healthy soils - soils rich in
nutrients and poor in pollutants and other toxic substances.

4. Food production today and soils
• Food availability
• Nutritious food
• Food safety
• Low environmental
footprint
• Biodiversity
• Adaptation to
climate change
Crop yield
Macro and micronutrients
Crops free of contaminants
If sustainably managed
Soil biodiversity, crop diversity
Healthy soils are resilient

5. Status of the World’s Soil Resources
• Main threats to soil function:
1. Soil erosion
2. Organic carbon change
3. Nutrient imbalance
4. Salinization and sodification
5. Soil sealing and land take
6. Loss of soil biodiversity
7. Contamination
8. Acidification
9. Compaction
10.Water Logging
More details in the Status of
the World’s Soil Resources
report, (FAO and ITPS,
2015) http://www.fao.org/3/a-
i5199e.pdf )

6. The International Code of Conduct for the
Sustainable Use and Management of Fertilizers
• A vehicle for the implementation of the Voluntary
Guidelines for Sustainable Soil Management

7. The International Code of Conduct for the
Sustainable Use and Management of
Fertilizers
• The aim of the Fertilizer Code is to promote the
responsible and judicious use of fertilizers to
prevent misuse, underuse and overuse.
• The aim is to assist member countries design
policies and regulatory frameworks for the
sustainable use of fertilizers.

8. The issues - Why this Code?
Large increase in the production and use of
fertilizers in the last century
• Greenhouse gas emissions;
• Nutrient excess;
• Heavy metals and other contaminants.
Increased food production

9. The issues – what’s included?
• Fertilizer underuse and overuse.
• Misuse of fertilizers (other than quantity).
Example: Asia vs Africa

10. The issues – what’s included?
Additional feedback from stakeholders:
• Expensive/ inaccessible;
• Poor quality/ not labelled properly;
• Need for sustainable soil and nutrient
management;
• Fertilizer supply chain.

11. Fertilizer Code - Scope
Set out roles, responsibilities and actions of:
• Governments
• Fertilizer and nutrient recycling industry
• Agricultural extension and advisory services
• Research and Academia
• Farmers and other end users
For production, trade, policy regulation and use of:
• Synthetic and mineral fertilizers
• Organic fertilizers
• Reused and Recycled nutrients
http://www.fao.org/3/ca5253en/ca5253en.pdf

12. Fertilizer Code - Implementation
• Disseminate the Fertilizer Code at the global
level and raise awareness on the issues and
principles mentioned in the Code.
• Capacity development for the
implementation of the sustainable
management of fertilizers
• Holistic approach to sustainable soil
management and nutrient management
(focus on ecosystem services as per the SSM
definition)
• Strengthening of policy environment through
regular frameworks

13. Implementation at the national
level
• Assess national capacities on soil fertility
management and fertilizer use;
• National trainings on the sustainable use and
management of fertilizers (extension services,
government staff etc.);
• Implementation of the Global Soil Doctors
programme, a farmer-to-farmer training
programme, as a way to train farmers on
sustainable fertilizer usage;
• Offer trainings to retailers and agro-dealers on
sustainable use and management of fertilizers;
• Harmonization of methods and data on soil
fertility (GLOSOLAN);

14. Implementation at the national
level - continued
• Balanced/ precision fertilization
recommendations are development and
strengthened using country conditions and data;
• Pilot sites can be implemented to test the
implementation of the Fertilizer Code’s
principles;
• Review and/or development of national policies
for best fertilizer use and management practices
(this can include recommendations on fertilizer
subsidy schemes, efficiency and cost
optimization in the supply chain).

15. 0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
450
Fertilizer (NPK) use per area of cropland (kg/ha)
Regions NPK Input (kg/ha)
Middle Africa 6
Western Africa 13.3
Eastern Africa 17.2
Central Asia 34.3
Eastern Europe 49.1
Southern Africa 57.5
Northern Africa 60.6
Australia and New Zealand 68.1
Western Asia 82.2
Central America 96.8
Southern Europe 112.5
South-Eastern Asia 119.8
Northern America 122.6
World 122.7
Southern Asia 145.7
Northern Europe 159.3
South America 168.3
Western Europe 172.1
Eastern Asia 382.6
Source: FAOSTAT 2019 http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data
Unbalanced fertilizer input between regions
The issues – in Africa?

16. The issues – in Africa?

17. Actions in Africa
http://www.fao.org/global-soil-
partnership/pillars-action/2-awareness-
raising/soil-doctor/en/
Global Soil Doctors Program

18. Actions in Africa
Nutrition-based agriculture: Project GCP/GLO/730/GER
Sustainable soil management for nutrition-based agriculture in Sub-Saharan
Africa and East Asia
First results:
• Important deficiencies of Zinc and Selenium in acid
soils
• Field trials on biofortified varieties, organic matter
management and crop association
• Field trials on the application of micronutrients, by
foliar and root
• Measurements in plant material
Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata)
cultivation in Burkina Faso

19. Actions in Africa
Sustentable Soil Management: Project GCP/GLO/730/GER
South-South Cooperation Assistance Fund (SSCAF)
Capacity Development on Sustainable Soil Management for Uganda and Rwanda
Activities:
• Provide equipment for efficient laboratory soil testing
• Soil and fertilizer data collection and analysis
• Field experiments and demonstrations of fertilizer use
• Develop online education platform courses (EduSOILS)
• Training and Meetings for the implementation of the Fertilizer Code.

20. • To be launched on 8 to 10 of December 2020. Main
objectives of the meeting:
• Define the international role and the specific objectives of INFA.
• Develop the INFA work plan
• Identify international organizations and other partners that INFA
should work with (identification of cooperation opportunities)
• All stakeholders working in the field of fertilizers quality
assessment are invited to complete the questionnaire at
https://forms.gle/Z5kYUpH5f6rpn6zUA. These inputs will be used
to open the discussion at the launch meeting of INFA.
International network on fertilizers
quality assessment (INFA)
For more information on this activity and INFA or to get involved, please
contact Lucrezia.caon@fao.org

21. We would like to hear from you
regarding how this Code can be
implemented and useful

22. Thank you for your
attention
Yuxin.tong@fao.org
GSP-Secretariat@fao.org