The Nature Conservancy and The Fertilizer Institute announced a new partnership in support of farm practices that result in clean water. The two groups signed a memo of understanding to help ensure agriculture has access to tool to use fertilizer with the maximum environmental and economic efficiency.
Source: AgriMarketing, June 16, 2016.
The agreement lays out a framework for leveraging the organizations’ respective strengths in pursuit of the following mutual goals:
- Increase scientific understanding of the benefits of nutrient best management practices to both the farmer and the environment.
- Communicate and demonstrate the economic, environmental, and social value of nutrient management to the broader agriculture and conservation communities.
- Develop and promote outreach activities that advance 4R nutrient management strategies (right source, rate, timing, and placement).
- Establish metrics that reinforce increased collaboration and cooperation.
“The science of sustainable agriculture has come a long way in the last decade. Through this partnership, we will share proven science-based approaches to nutrient management with the farming community and provide technical tools to improve crop production while reducing nutrient runoff into our waterways,” said Larry Clemens, director of The Nature Conservancy’s North America Agriculture Program. “Together, TFI and the Conservancy can make a lasting impact on our farms and our environment.”
INSIGHTS: Animal health professionals need to be confident that science is still being deployed. Consumer pressure often suggests that agriculture, including the animal health industry, is too focused on production and economics, not stewardship.