Interview with Ms. Alzbeta Klein, CEO & Director General, International Fertilizer Association

08 Jan Interview with Ms. Alzbeta Klein, CEO & Director General, International Fertilizer Association

How is the International Fertilizer Association (IFA) guiding the industry’s role in strengthening global food security as demand rises toward feeding 9.7 billion people by 2050?

The International Fertilizer Association is one of the world’s oldest industry organizations, founded in 1927. Today, we represent more than 500 members, including virtually all major fertilizer producers across nitrogen, phosphate and potash, as well as traders, investors, researchers, universities and others involved in the agricultural value chain. Our mission is clear: to help feed the world sustainably.

Around half of all food produced globally relies on plant nutrients, so fertilizers play a critical role in global food security. At the same time, fertilizer production is energy-intensive and carries a significant carbon footprint. Part of our work is ensuring that the industry adopts the most sustainable production practices possible, balancing the needs of food production with environmental responsibility.

What do you see as the most urgent steps to build resilience in fertilizer supply chains amid geopolitical tensions and energy-market volatility?

It wasn’t until 2022, with the start of the Russia–Ukraine war, that many realized how dependent the world is on fertilizers and how closely food prices are tied to energy prices. Nitrogen fertilizers are produced mainly from fossil fuels and about 70% of their production cost is the cost of energy needed to produce them — in most cases natural gas. This makes fertilizers the key link between energy and food. The war and resulting shortages exposed this dependency and highlighted how energy, food and fertilizers are deeply interconnected.

How is the fertilizer sector transitioning from traditional production toward low-carbon and climate-smart technologies such as lower carbon ammonia?

Plants need key nutrients to grow — much like we need vitamins. The three essential macronutrients are nitrogen, phosphate and potash. They also require micronutrients such as zinc and magnesium, but the first three are the foundation of plant nutrition. Nitrogen has the highest carbon footprint because, although it is abundant in the air, plants cannot use it directly. It must be converted into ammonia through an energy-intensive process. If that energy comes from fossil fuels, we get conventional nitrogen fertilizers. If it comes from renewable energy, we produce green ammonia. And if fossil fuels are used but the CO₂ is captured and stored, we get blue ammonia. In short, the industry already knows how to produce low-carbon fertilizers — either by using renewable energy or by capturing carbon during production.

The main challenge today is cost. Producing green ammonia is still significantly more expensive, often several times the cost of conventional “gray” ammonia. Farmers, whether in Europe, Africa or North America, cannot simply pay double or triple for fertilizer. While the industry can produce low-carbon fertilizers, the real question is who will cover the price difference. The demand model is not yet clear. For potash and phosphate, the carbon issue is less relevant. They are mined commodities, so their carbon footprint is relatively limited compared to nitrogen, which is energy-intensive to produce. When people say fertilizers are highly polluting, they are mostly referring to nitrogen because of the enormous energy required to make it. The only way to lower its footprint in production is to change the energy source — using renewables or other low-carbon feedstocks.

What role does IFA play in promoting global cooperation and policies that ensure farmers, especially in emerging markets, have reliable, affordable access to fertilizers?

Fertilizer use varies widely around the world. Some regions apply the right amount, some use too much and others — like much of Sub-Saharan Africa — use far too little. Each crop takes nutrients from the soil, so if we don’t replenish them, soil fertility declines. The challenge is that many farmers either lack access, cannot afford fertilizers or simply don’t know how to apply them correctly.

Access depends on basic infrastructure — moving fertilizer from ports to warehouses and then to farms. Affordability requires financing so farmers can buy inputs and repay after harvest. Knowledge is essential: knowing what nutrients to apply, in what amounts and at what time. The IFA is working on all three fronts. For example, our Sustainable Fertilizer Academy provides e-learning tools to universities and trainers across Africa to help them teach farmers how to use fertilizers effectively, efficiently and safely.

In 2022, when global shortages hit, we helped launch Sustain Africa, an initiative that delivered fertilizers to 1.7 million farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa. To address affordability, financial institutions across the continent are working to expand credit for smallholders so they can access the inputs they need. Each region faces different challenges: some countries need to use less fertilizer and use it more efficiently, others need to use more and many simply need better practices. In Sub-Saharan Africa, the priority is product access and financing; elsewhere, the needs vary.

IFA represents over 500 companies. How do you engage with them internationally?

We now have members from 81 countries. We support them in three main ways. First, we provide comprehensive market data on global fertilizer supply and demand. Much of it is available on our website and LinkedIn. Second, we help drive sustainability. We run task forces and working groups focused on ways to reduce emissions both from production and use of fertilizers. Our seminal work with Systemiq a couple of years ago addressed — for the first time — Scope 3 farm-level emissions. Together with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the International Energy Agency, we published the Ammonia Technology Roadmap to guide the decarbonization of nitrogen fertilizers. Our e-learning platform, the Sustainable Fertilizer Academy, is another part of this effort. Third, we host five to seven industry events each year — covering sustainability, market intelligence and regional events, for example in Asia, one of the largest fertilizer markets. These gatherings help companies connect and collaborate.

Another key area is science and innovation. We employ chief scientists at IFA and also host a Science Council which conducts research on topics such as nutrient use efficiency — how to get the maximum benefit from each kilogram of fertilizer while minimizing losses to the environment. The scientists also study soil carbon and carbon sequestration, which are increasingly important for climate goals.

We support innovation through our startup program, launched a couple of years ago. Some 25 startups are currently on our platform and we work with many more. We run innovation challenges to highlight new technologies that make fertilizer safer, more efficient and more sustainable. Water is one of the biggest limiting factors in agriculture. Without water, plants cannot absorb nutrients, no matter how much fertilizer is applied. This is why many countries are turning to fertigation — delivering water and nutrients together through drip irrigation systems. These thin lines supply water drop by drop, with fertilizers mixed in to ensure efficient uptake. Water management is therefore a central issue for our industry.
This continuous engagement is why members stay with us. As we approach our 100th anniversary in 2027, our mission remains the same: to provide data, science, innovation and practical support to the global fertilizer industry.

How are digital agriculture, nutrient-use efficiency tools and data-driven farming reshaping the fertilizer industry’s value proposition to growers?

Technology will shape the future of agriculture, just as it has transformed other industries. The key trend is precision farming. Instead of treating an entire field the same, farmers can test soil in small sections — every acre or even every half-acre — to understand exactly which nutrients are present and which are missing. It’s like an annual health check-up for the soil. With today’s tools, farmers can add only the nutrients needed for each crop, whether it’s corn, soybeans or avocados.

AI will take this even further. Much of agricultural research sits in researchers’ drawers after field trials. We support a company that collects this data globally so AI can analyze it and generate better recommendations for growing crops. AI has the potential to transform farming decisions, plant nutrition and productivity. However, even before AI, basic digitization and mechanization — like GPS-guided tractors and modern seeding tools — are already advancing agriculture. The sector will continue moving toward more technology, more data and eventually AI-driven decision-making.

Another major opportunity is giving farmers instant access to knowledge through their phones. New tools like handheld spectrometers can analyze soil on the spot — no need to wait two weeks for lab results. In fact, our recent IFA Norman Borlaug science prize went to a researcher who developed one of these devices. A farmer could test the soil, get immediate results and then use an app to receive a precise fertilizer recommendation based on soil composition, crop type — papaya, corn, anything — and even local climate conditions. This kind of real-time, tailored guidance is the future of farming.

What is your vision for the IFA’s leadership in driving sustainable, inclusive and innovation-driven growth across the global fertilizer ecosystem?

Our role is growing because fertilizers sit at the intersection of food, energy, development and climate. Once a quiet B2B industry, we are now central to major global debates. First, fertilizers link energy prices to food prices. Second, consumers increasingly want to know how their food is grown and its environmental impact. Third, the world cannot expand farmland much further — protecting forests like the Amazon and Congo is essential for the climate. The only way to feed a growing population is to produce more food on the land we already have, which requires efficient, well-nourished soils. This makes our industry more important than ever.

Yes, nitrogen fertilizers have a significant carbon footprint — but we are also part of the solution. Beyond agriculture, ammonia is emerging as a cleaner fuel for shipping and a tool for reducing emissions in coal-fired power generation. Green and blue ammonia can help decarbonize both food production and energy systems. We aim to be part of this transition — supporting sustainable food production while contributing to the evolving energy landscape. Our industry helps feed the world and it can also help power it.