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Unlocking the multiple public good services from balanced fertilizers

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Abstract

Fertilizers produce over half of the world’s food and permit less encroachment into pristine lands. Yet, the low uptake efficiency by crop plants causes nutrient losses that drive global change. Mitigating measures have been insufficient to address the problems, and policy interventions, NGO involvement, and R&D investments have been too insignificant to transform the fertilizer sector. Here, we discuss the contribution of balanced mineral fertilizers to increasing the nutritional value of crop produce to improve human nutrition and health; healthier plants to reduce biocide use; plant robustness to enhance tolerance to abiotic stresses; and increased metabolite production to improve taste and shelf-life. We reflect on raising awareness about these multiple fertilizer-based public good services for realizing several Sustainable Development Goals which can be achieved through a comprehensive nutrient assessment to catalyze transformation in research, policy and industry.

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Article Open access 15 February 2016

Eric A. Davidson, Rachel L. Nifong, … Jill S. Baron

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Acknowledgements

This work was partially supported by funding from USAID’s Feed the Future Soil Fertility Technology Adoption, Policy Reform and Knowledge Management Project and by USDA grant 2016-67021-24985.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. European-Netherlands Office of International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC), P.O. Box 2040, Muscle Shoals, AL, 35662, USA

    Prem S. Bindraban

  2. IFDC, P.O. Box 2040, Muscle Shoals, AL, 35662, USA

    Christian O. Dimkpa & Scott Angle

  3. Wageningen University and Research, 6708 PB, Wageningen, The Netherlands

    Rudy Rabbinge

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  1. Prem S. Bindraban
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Correspondence to Prem S. Bindraban.

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Bindraban, P.S., Dimkpa, C.O., Angle, S. et al. Unlocking the multiple public good services from balanced fertilizers. Food Sec. 10, 273–285 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12571-018-0769-4

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