ROUND TABLE - THE CURRENT MARKET SITUATION FOR FERTILIZERS AND VIABLE ALTERNATIVES FOR COTTON PRODUCTION

In recent months, the production and trade of fertilizers have been severely impacted due to energy constraints (soaring prices and insufficient offer of natural gas) coupled with supply-chain disruptions. These are likely to affect the upcoming planting seasons and subsequent harvests where cotton will be no exception. Facing this scenario, a factual and evidence-based discussion focused on cotton production will enable to: 1) better understand the amplitude and impact of fertilizers' availability and affordability to cotton producers in developing countries; and 2) explore ongoing initiatives, results from targeted research, and experience from on-the-ground projects, including alternatives for helping farmers to mitigate the negative market conditions for fertilizers. A panel composed by seasoned experts will aim to respond to questions on how to strike a balance of maintaining and even increasing cotton yields in future seasons while ensuring that markets' demands for cotton are timely and fully met, including consumers' preferences related to sustainability.

1. Introductory Remarks – DDG Jean-Marie Paugam, Chairperson

Setting the Scene:

• Latest developments on the fertilizer markets: examining the availability and affordability globally by Mr. David Laborde and Mr. Fousseini Traoré from the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)
  Presentation
• Rejuvenating soil health for better cotton production – the use of fertilizers and other practices by Dr. Keshav Kranthi from the International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC)
  Presentation

Global Market Data on Fertilizers:

• The FAO Fertilizers Tracking Tool by Mr. Josef Schmidhuber from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
  Presentation

Regional Focus on West Africa and Ongoing Projects:

• Cotton fertilizers in West Africaby Mr. Patrice Annequin from Feed the Future Enhancing Growth through Regional Agricultural Input Systems - EnGRAIS Project at the International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC)
  Presentation
• Input crisis and cotton production in West Africaby Mr. Michael Sudarkasa and Ms. Nana-Aisha Mohammed from the African Fertilizer and Agribusiness Partnership (AFAP)
  Presentation

Environmental-friendly alternatives – The Sustainable angle:

• Organic fertilization in cotton – Insights about the advantages and challenges from research and practice by Ms. Eva Goldmann from the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL)
  Presentation

Questions & Answers session