Timeline of IFDC’s Third Decade
1998
1995
IFDC provides fertilizer
for NASA Space Shuttle
missions. One of several
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration
(NASA) space shuttle
missions that used IFDCdeveloped fertilizer for
research, the mission
explored the relationship
between plants that require
no synthetic fertilizers and
those that do.
ISFM introduced in West
Africa. Integrated soil fertility
management (ISFM) was
introduced in West Africa
through a two-phase project
that ultimately benefited
over 2,500 smallholder farm
families.
2 | IFDC Magazine
IFDC helps Venezuela
privatize its fertilizer
sector. Through 1999 IFDC
aided Petroquimica de
Venezuela S.A.’s overhaul
of its facilities, increasing
production and efficiency
through extensive training of
its staff.
1997
IFDC and AFADA lobby to
ease fertilizer importation
restrictions in Albania.
IFDC, working with the
Albanian Fertilizer and
Agribusiness Dealers
Association (AFADA) and
the Albanian government,
advocated the passage of
sweeping fertilizer import
legislation that halved the
tariffs and value-added taxes
on 11 key agricultural inputs.
USAID appoints team to
review IFDC operations.
The team’s report noted,
“IFDC is the only nonprofit,
international organization
that can mobilize the whole
range of fertilizer, agronomic
and agribusiness knowledge
and experience to achieve its
goals. Its activities span from
the characterization of raw
materials to the manufacture
of fertilizers, to problems and
issues of nutrient management
for crop production and
soil fertility – and finally,
environmental protection.”
1999
IFDC celebrates its 25th
anniversary. Summarizing
IFDC’s impact over its first
25 years, Dr. Nyle Brady,
Emeritus Professor at Cornell
University and former
director general of the
International Rice Research
Institute (IRRI) noted, “IFDC
... has helped farmers and
their national and
international compatriots
gain a better understanding
of the critical role of
plant nutrients in helping
the world feed itself
… the international
accomplishments of this
Center have clearly shown
that this is an institution with
a global mandate and with a
truly global impact.”
IFDC recognized for its
work as 20th century comes
to an end. In the Special
Millennium Issue of Farm
Chemicals International, IFDC
was recognized as “one of
the top ten organizations that
shaped the world during the
past century.”
IFDC helps reduce
Bangladeshi agriculture
trade tariffs. Through the
United States Agency for
International Development
(USAID)-funded Agro-based
Industries and Technology
Development Project
(ATDP), IFDC advocated
legislation that reduced
tariffs in 25 categories related
to agribusiness.