The Feed

WASHINGTON, D.C., (October 22, 2014) – Alan Jones and his crew run a farming operation that includes more than 3,600 acres of crops and even more where he runs cattle. Keeping the soil healthy ensures that high-quality potatoes, green beans and citrus continue to be part of our food supply.

With the 2014 World Fertilizer Conference right around the corner, I thought it was a good time to revisit the global nature of our industry. With the world’s population expected to top 9 billion by 2050, food security is one of humanity’s greatest challenges. With only a finite amount of arable land on the planet, farmers will have to boost crop production in areas already being cultivated.

Food security goes beyond just having enough food. For people around the world to be truly healthy, they need access to a balanced diet that includes all of the essential nutrients – primary, secondary and micronutrients. We get the majority of our nutrients from the food we eat. Our food, in turn, gets its nutrients from the soil, but often what’s in the soil simply isn’t enough. That’s where fertilizer comes in.

Over the past few weeks, we’ve explored the various nutrients that boost plant production and keep people all over the world fed and healthy, including the Big 3 and enhanced efficiency fertilizers. This week, let’s take a look at the third category of essential crop nutrients: micronutrients. Micronutrients play a supporting role in overall plant health and development.