International partnership will strengthen innovation in fertilizers

Representatives from the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture (MAPA) were recently in the United States on a mission focused on the development of fertilizer technologies. The highlight of the technical visit was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC) in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. The partnership brings together Embrapa, Mapa and representatives from Brazilian research and universities, such as USP and UFV, in addition to Petrobras, aiming at innovation and sustainability in the sector.

The MoU establishes a strategic collaboration between the institutions to explore technologies that increase fertilizer efficiency and promote sustainable agricultural practices. Founded in 1974, IFDC is a global reference in solutions for food security and reducing environmental impact, operating in more than 100 countries. This cooperation strengthens Brazil’s National Fertilizer Plan (PNF) by reducing external dependence and promoting sustainable practices in agricultural cultivation.

During the mission, the Brazilian delegation participated in several meetings with the Indian delegation, including representatives of Indian fertilizer companies and innovation sectors, promoting the exchange of knowledge and technologies. The delegation was composed of the deputy executive secretary, Cleber Soares; the secretary of Agricultural Policy of MAPA, Guilherme Campos; the advisor to the executive secretariat, José Carlos Polidoro; the coordinator of the Labex program of Embrapa in the USA, Alexandre Varela; and the agricultural attaché in the United States, Ana Lúcia Viana.

In addition to signing the MoU, the mission included visits to IFDC’s laboratories and innovation facilities, where new approaches to increasing fertilizer efficiency were discussed and the capabilities of the institute’s pilot plant were examined. The program included lectures on food security and international collaboration, with the participation of Indian companies and IFDC.

“The partnership with IFDC is an essential step towards strengthening innovation in fertilizers and boosting Brazilian agriculture in a sustainable way. This advancement reinforces our commitment to food security and reducing external dependence, placing Brazil at the forefront of modern and sustainable agricultural practices,” highlighted Deputy Executive Secretary Cleber Soares.

Meeting at the Embassy

The mission concluded on October 30 with a panel entitled "Global Collaboration for Sustainable Food Security: An Integrated Pathway to Environmental Preservation", held in the auditorium of the Brazilian Embassy in Washington, D.C. Moderated by agricultural attaché Ana Lucia Viana, the event brought together representatives from MAPA, Embrapa, IFDC, USDA and Petrobras, who discussed policies for more efficient and sustainable agriculture, aligned with environmental preservation. Among the topics discussed were environmental preservation policies integrated with food security and the importance of international collaboration to mitigate environmental impacts on agricultural production.

In the previous meeting with the Brazilian Ambassador to the United States, Maria Luiza Viotti, relevant topics for cooperation between MAPA, EMBRAPA and IFDC were discussed. The dialogue focused on initiatives aimed at sustainability, including the program for the recovery of degraded pastures and the role of Petrobras in the development of sustainable technologies for agriculture. The importance of tropical agriculture for the global scenario was also highlighted, reinforcing Brazil's commitment to sustainable agricultural practices and to advancing food security in the world.