Fertilizer, soil health, and economic shocks: Policy lessons learned from recent events

IFPRI Policy Seminar Fertilizer, soil health, and economic shocks: Policy lessons learned from recent events Organized by IFPRI, Food Policy, and the CGIAR Science Program on Policy Innovations June 11, 2025

Join us for a discussion of key findings from a recent special issue of Food Policy exploring the complex interactions between fertilizer use, soil health management, and economic shocks in various agricultural systems. Governments around the world have long implemented policies to enhance agricultural productivity through inorganic fertilizer application and soil management, yet recent global disruptions, from the 2020–2022 food, fuel, and fertilizer price crisis to ongoing climatic uncertainties, have challenged the effectiveness of these interventions.

Authors and editors of the special issue will present evidence on the medium-term effects of rising fertilizer prices and their implications for global demand, highlighting the disproportionate effects on smallholder farmers in low- and middle-income countries. The discussion will also cover issues related to the role of targeted subsidy programs, integrated soil fertility management, and site-specific nutrient approaches.

A panel of fertilizer experts will discuss how these insights can support policymakers seeking to mitigate price volatility, strengthen soil health, and ensure resilience in agricultural production, particularly during adverse weather events and economic shocks. This seminar offers critical perspectives for researchers, policymakers, and agribusiness leaders working to build more sustainable and equitable food systems in an increasingly uncertain world.

Introduction and Opening Remarks Ruth Hill, Director, Markets, Trade, and Institutions, IFPRI Christopher Barrett, Stephen B. and Janice G. Ashley Professor of Applied Economics and Management, Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY

A synthesis of recent evidence on the policy dimensions of fertilizer, soil health, and economic shocks Kibrom Abay, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI

Country and cross-country policy experience: A conversation with the authors Moderated by David J. Spielman, Director, Innovation Policy and Scaling, IFPRI Akuffo Amankwah, Senior Economist, World Bank Catherine Ragasa, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI Jaweriah Hazrana, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Arizona State University Pauline Chivenge, Senior Scientist, International Rice Research Institute (IRRI)

Panel Discussion: How do we build resilience to future shocks in international and domestic fertilizer markets? Moderated by Charlotte Hebebrand, Director, Communications and Public Affairs, IFPRI Peter Odhiambo Owoko, Head, Policy Coordination, Directorate of Agricultural Policy Research and Regulations, State Department for Crop Development & Agricultural Research, Kenya Latha Nagarajan, Director, Sustainable Opportunities for Improving Livelihoods with Soils (SOILS) Consortium, International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC) Shamie Zingore, Director of Research and Development, African Plant Nutrition Institute (APNI) Avinash Kishore, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI

Closing Remarks Ruth Hill, Director, Markets, Trade, and Institutions, IFPRI

Links:

More about this Event: https://www.ifpri.org/event/fertilizer-soil-health-and-economic-shocks-policy-lessons-learned-from-recent-events/

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