The Micronutrient Initiative
Based on the review studies33 that set the
scientific foundation for the broad scope,
VFRC has moved forward to identify practically
applicable fertilizer solutions. Along with the
findings in hundreds/thousands of on-farm trials
by IFDC in Eastern African countries,34 VFRC,
in consultation with its partners, decided to
accentuate the role of micronutrients. It will place
particular emphasis on the African continent
but would take a global perspective due to the
growing evidence for the need for balanced
fertilizers worldwide. Balanced fertilizers and
fertilization strategies involving micronutrients
have the potential to serve multiple societal
needs. To reap these opportunities, VFRC has
developed a global “Micronutrient Initiative”
to catalyze collective action. While emphasizing
the role of micronutrients, this initiative pursues
a comprehensive approach that integrates
various auxiliary R&D areas from the VFRC
cockpit to arrive at effective and efficient
micronutrient interventions.
The VFRC envisions a significant
opportunity through the addition of
micronutrients to fertilizers
to help increase food availability, fight
hidden hunger, mitigate climate change,
enhance agricultural resilience
and raise farm incomes.
Figure 11. The multiple benefits of micronutrient (MN)-containing fertilizers. Clockwise from upper left: wasting,
stunting and underweight as symptoms of malnutrition; crop growth response to micronutrient supply; reduced
progression of disease in crops with micronutrient treatment; progressive yield increase with micronutrients;
increased uptake of NPK with micronutrients and increase seed nutrient content with micronutrient fertilizers in the
form of (conventional) salts or nanoparticles.
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