The Feed

Ever wonder how the fruits, veggies, and grains that feed our nation get the nutrients they need? The answer lies in fertilizers. But have you thought about how these crucial substances get to where they're needed safely and efficiently? This week on the Fertilizer 101 Podcast, we're shifting tracks to focus on an issue that impacts us all: Railway Safety.

Chemistry is essential to food, clothing, shelter, healthcare, and energy. Chemistry provides new solutions to challenges, including cleaner air, water, and energy consumption. Without chemistry, the smartphones that keep us all connected would not exist. And as it pertains to food, we would be without the roughly 50% of crop yields that are directly attributable to chemical fertilizers. Hence, chemistry’s importance to farmers and food security.

Biostimulants are growing in popularity in the agronomic market as innovative new products to optimize crop production and quality. Biostimulants, by definition, are substances or microorganisms that promote plant growth, nutrient uptake, crop quality or yield, and/or stress tolerance. Interest in biostimulant products has increased, especially in regards to sustainable agriculture as they may improve nutrient use efficiency.

The world is facing a serious food shortage crisis. With the global population of 8 billion expected to grow by at least 30% over the next few decades, we need more food than ever before. Food security is a crucial issue for governments around the world—a growing population means more people need more food, but the amount of arable land available is not increasing. The United Nations states that there is currently a world food crisis in which over 1 billion people are facing starvation.