Farmers’ fertilizer focus is changing

European farmers are moving away from blanket fertilizer use and toward more efficient, sustainable and crop-specific nutrition strategies. Insights from ICL Growing Solutions’ Ferti-Tour show growing demand for precision fertilizers, biostimulants and solutions that reduce environmental impact while improving yields and return on investment.

Efficiency, sustainability and environmental concerns are driving farmers to examine their choice of fertilizer more closely. That’s according to feedback from a multi-national tour of farm events by ICL Growing Solutions.

Following the successful launch of the company’s Ferti-Tour in France in 2023, this year saw it roll the initiative out across France, Spain, Italy, and Portugal. Utilising cutting-edge technology like virtual reality, the tour sought to improve farmers’ understanding of how new fertilizers and biostimulants work, and to learn more about agricultural challenges in each region.

“We visited more than 50 events over the course of 24 months, speaking to thousands of farmers and supply chain partners,” said Tal Sadeh, Global Marketing Manager at ICL Growing solutions.  “In total, our Ferti-Tour vehicles covered thousands of miles and reached farmers managing enormous number of hectares.”

The feedback from farmers was remarkably similar in each region: Nutrient use efficiencies, carbon footprints, product sustainability and water efficiencies were common issues raised. “There is a growing global interest in organic crops and sustainable agricultural products, driven by consumer demand, environmental concerns, and policy goals,” said Mr Sadeh.

This meant there was considerable interest in ICL’s range of water-soluble fertilizers, controlled release fertilizers with biodegradable coatings, and biostimulants – which improve the crop’s response to nutrition while also combating abiotic stress.

“We used novel interactive technology to help farmers to visualize how these products physically work in the soil and plant at a cellular level,” explained Mr Sadeh. “Farmers also appreciated one-to-one meetings with our local agronomists to discuss tailored solutions to suit their farm, budget, and expected return on investment.”

Exploring smarter fertilization through immersive virtual reality at the ICL Growing Solutions Ferti-Tour.

Clearly, different crops and regions have different needs, so the tour covered everything from grape growing in Abruzzo to kiwis, rice, and tomatoes in other parts of Italy. In Portugal crops included grapes, maize, citrus, and avocados, while in Spain they covered forestry, olives, peppers, courgettes, and asparagus. In France, more field crops are grown, so here the tour focused on maize, wheat, oilseed rape, and potatoes.

“The days of blanket fertilizer applications are long gone,” said Mr Sadeh. “Now, farmers are using a combination of scientifically proven biostimulants and novel fertilizer products to improve plant health, yields, and quality.

“Ferti-Tour is a unique way to disseminate our latest innovations, designed to empower farmers to make informed decisions, maximize productivity, and contribute to a more sustainable and resilient food chain.”