Next Topic
Select SDGs to find out how we are taking action in support of the UN Substinable Development Goals
ICL guarantees the quality of its products from the manufacturing process to the field by taking stringent control and test measures.
As the global population continues to rise, farmers worldwide are confronted by the constant need to increase yields while facing climate change and other environmental hardships. They must also adapt to increasing regulatory changes.
Mineral fertilizers are responsible for over half of the world’s food production.
ICL offers a broad variety of solutions to help farmers overcome agricultural challenges by facilitating increased crop yields on existing agricultural land and preventing excess conversion of natural habitats into agricultural land. ICL’s products enable farmers to enhance yields and improve crop quality, increase nutrient use efficiency (more fertilizer is taken up by crops), reduce water consumption (H2Flo), protect the environment by minimizing losses (leaching and volatilization) of nutrients and reach data-based decisions through precision agriculture.
ICL is a member of the Cool Farm Alliance, an industry platform for sustainable agriculture metric development and use. The mission of the Cool Farm Alliance is to enable millions of growers globally to make more informed on-farm decisions that reduce their environmental impact. The Cool Farm Tool (CFT) helps to assess and quantify GHGs, water, biodiversity and food loss and waste in the food supply chain. Crops such as tomatoes, onions, parsley, carrots and many more are screened with the CFT for their GHG footprint. The CFT is used to understand GHG & water emission hotspots on-farm, and to model different reduction strategies. It supports the sustainability targets of companies.
Land degradation as well as new regulations (such as the EU’s Nitrate Directive and China’s policy of Zero Nutrient Use Growth from 2020) are increasing the challenge of feeding the growing world population. As a result, the need for efficient farming techniques has grown as well. To facilitate increased crop yields on existing agricultural land, it is important to promote the correct use of fertilizers. ICL accomplishes this through engagement, education and sharing information about effective and sustainable fertilization methods.
For this purpose, ICL has instituted a worldwide customer instruction and training program to promote safe and responsible use of fertilizers. ICL agronomists engage and train farmers on effective and balanced fertilization practices. This includes the application of plant nutrients in optimum ratios and adequate amounts to achieve increased yields and improved quality, while maintaining soil fertility for future generations and preventing the conversion of nature to agricultural land.
Nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K), are the three essential nutrients required for plant growth. Although these three nutrients are present in the soil, the continued use of soil for agricultural cultivation depletes the concentration of these fundamental elements. Over time, this can result in a decline in crop yields and create the need to replenish nutrients by use of fertilizers.
Each of the three nutrients plays a different role in plant development. Without these nutrients, crops cannot achieve their growth potential. Potassium increases the yield and quality of agricultural produce, improves plant resistance to disease and pests, increases the plant’s tolerance to drought and cold, regulates plant water levels, contributes to the development of a strong and healthy root system and improves the durability of agricultural produce in storage and transportation. Potassium increases the efficiency of use of nitrogen and other nutrients. Therefore, the use of potassium results in better utilization of nitrogen fertilizer and prevents it from leaching to groundwater or volatilizing.
There are no artificial substitutes for phosphorus and potassium. These are the nutrients that are the basis of ICL’s supply chain and that are mined in ICL mines worldwide.
In addition to the minerals mentioned, ICL has a variety of products to best suit its clients. ICL’s speciality fertilizers include diverse micronutrients compositions. Polysulphate fertilizers include multiple vital nutrients such as S, Mg and Ca.
Growing more food is one aspect of food security. The other is making food available to consumers.
Protein Alternatives
ICL is developing products that enable its clients to replace meat protein with plant based proteins. Plant based proteins require much less resources than meat-based proteins. ICL’s products enable companies to make endless food products that are based on alternative proteins. It has developed proprietary technology to produce vegetable-based proteins that are virtually indistinguishable from traditional meat products. This portfolio, known as the ROVITARIS® System, transforms proteins to fibrous textures, as well as, textures and emulsions.
Increasing Shelf Life and Reducing Food Waste
ICL markets a line of products that can be used for the safe consumption of foods with a longer shelf life. In many countries, proper refrigeration is not available, as a result, preservation of products, such as dairy products, is limited.
