FAO and International Fertilizer Association Renew Partnership to Support Sustainable Agriculture
IFA CEO Alzbeta Klein and FAO Deputy Director-General Beth Bechdol renew the partnership between the two organizations.
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the International Fertilizer Association (IFA) have signed a renewed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), deepening a decades-long partnership on sustainable agriculture, responsible plant nutrition and global food security.
Signed in Rome on 25 May by FAO Deputy Director-General Beth Bechdol and IFA Director General/CEO Alzbeta Klein, the agreement is the third MoU between the two organizations and reaffirms a shared commitment to sustainable nutrient management and evidence-based policy.
Under the renewed partnership, FAO and IFA will continue joint work on the International Code of Conduct for the Sustainable Use and Management of Fertilizers (Fertilizer Code), fertilizer statistics, nutrient use efficiency, soil health and sustainable agrifood systems. The two organizations will also cooperate on innovation, farmer outreach, capacity building, and the development of data and tools — including FAOSTAT and IFASTAT — to strengthen the transparency, consistency and evidence base behind global policy decisions.
FAO Deputy Director-General Beth Bechdol said:
“Fertilizers are not simply another agricultural input. They sit at the center of one of the most important questions facing agrifood systems today… how do we continue producing more food, for more people, with greater efficiency, resilience and sustainability?
“The answer depends not only on access to fertilizers, but on how effectively they are used. Through our partnership with IFA, FAO is helping strengthen the data, evidence and technical cooperation needed to improve nutrient use efficiency, support soil health and build more sustainable agrifood systems.”
IFA Director General/CEO Alzbeta Klein said:
“More than half the food on the world’s plates today is grown with mineral fertilizers. The challenge is feeding the world while protecting soil health and the climate — and that’s the work this renewed partnership with FAO will accelerate. IFA is bringing the global expertise of our industry to a shared mission: responsible nutrient use, healthier soils, and resilient agrifood systems.
“The partnership will also advance work on nutrient stewardship, climate resilience, biodiversity and circular approaches to nutrient management, while fostering dialogue among governments, researchers, farmers and industry.”
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