Foreword
Meeting human needs within the
ecological limits of our planet calls
for continuous reflection on and
redesigning
of
our
agricultural
practices. Growing ecological insights,
technological innovations and societal
changes have caused transformations
that drastically changed the course of
agriculture over the past century. These
megatrends include dramatic increases
in yields, reduced labor requirement,
optimized use efficiency of inputs,
aligned chain actors and logistics and
spatial integration of agricultural and
natural functions within the landscape.2
The discovery and use of mineral
fertilizers has, undeniably, been one of
the driving forces for increased crop
yield and agricultural productivity.
However, we challenge commonly
accepted projections that increasing
NPK fertilizer use is required to meet
the expected 60% increase in global
food demand by 2050 due to rising
population and income levels. Instead,
we argue for moving from “high
volume–low value” fertilizer products to
“low volume–high value” products.3
Unintended side effects of fertilizer
overuse contributing to eutrophication
and climate change are undesirable.
Conversely, underuse leads to soil
degradation, poverty and hunger.
Moreover, the use of unbalanced
fertilizers not containing micronutrients
foregoes the opportunity to contribute
to resolving human malnutrition. They
have also not been a very economically
effective production factor to lift many
poor farmers out of poverty, especially
in African countries. Our increased
awareness about the need to secure
farm livelihood and safeguard our
ecosystems that provide services to
agriculture, and the need for balanced
fertilizers that improve soil, plant and
human health, call for reflection on the
roles, functionality and form of current
fertilizer products.4
For revisiting fertilizers in order to
develop fertilizers and fertilization
strategies that better serve societal
needs within the planetary boundaries,
the Virtual Fertilizer Research Center
(VFRC) developed its VFRC cockpit.
It contains the components for a
VFRC conceptual framework based
on review studies of the most recent
publications as the scientific backbone.
VFRC advanced these insights along
with findings in on-farm field trials by
IFDC to target the need for balanced
fertilizers emphasizing micronutrients.
1
Rudy Rabbinge
Chair, VFRC Board of Advisors