Webinar: Towards the implementation of the International Code of Conduct for the Sustainable Use and Management of Fertilizers (Fertilizer Code). Zineb Bazza (GSP Secretariat

1. Towards the
implementation of the
Fertilizer Code at the
global level
Zineb Bazza
GSP Secretariat

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?

10. The issues – what’s included?

11. What has agriculture got to do
with ozone depletion?
Africa,
2,401
Americas,
17,563
Asia,
39,632
Europe,
19,231
Oceania,
818
Sum N2O emissions from fertilizers by continent
1961-2017
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
19611968197519821989199620032010
Source: FAOSTAT 2019 http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data
Nitrogen fertilizer consumption
(million tonnes)

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

13. 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.

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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);

17. 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).

18. • To be launched in mid-June 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

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

20. Thank you for your
attention
Zineb.Bazza@fao.org
GSP-Secretariat@fao.org