Industry Recognition of Yara Expertise
In December 2007, Dr Kevin Moran of Yara was appointed to the position of Convenor of a new IFA Task Force on 'Fertilizer Use and Human Health' by Mostafa Terrab of the Agriculture Committee.
The Task Force will focus upon building a scientifically sound body of evidence to support agronomic bio-fortification of food crops using fertilizer applications to increase important quality characteristics such as their protein, mineral and micronutrient contents and therefore their dietary contribution to improving human health and well-being.
'This approach of agronomic bio-fortification through fertilizer applications is practically possible today, as exemplified by the current use of selenium-enriched NPK's in Finland, though some nutrients will require further research and refinement which is one of the main objectives of the Task Force to establish… What we know, guess and do not know!' explains Dr Moran.
'For me, this appointment is a significant step forward in developing the 'Farming for Health' initiative put forward in 2005 by Yara's CEO and President, Dr Thorleif Enger, and is a broader recognition that appropriate fertilizer applications have a valuable role to play in increasing essential dietary nutrient levels in food crops' continues Dr Moran.
Focus so far has been more toward a genetic approach to food bio-fortification. Programs like 'HarvestPlus', funded by the Gates Foundation, look to biotechnology which means a period of years before benefits can be applied in the field. This approach has other implications too.
'Furthermore breeding might improve a crop's ability to take up and concentrate more nutrients but these must then be replenished through higher fertilizer applications to avoid nutrient-mining and soil depletion!'
'This is a very significant development in itself and has come at an encouraging time for the new IFA Task Force knowing that global attention is now tangibly shifting to the agronomic route as a 'here-and-now' way forward for increasing agricultural production to defeat hunger and mal-nutrition.
'Finally as a Task Force Convenor, Dr Moran now also represents Yara on the Strategic Advisory Team to IFA's Agriculture Committeewhich is a role that… 'was automatically given but nevertheless I am taking very seriously and with a strong commitment to making it work well for Yara!' says Dr Moran.
Author: James Craske, Global
Published: February 2008