Main activities

  Addressing phosphate fertilizer use: A global challenge

IMPHOS commitment to increased and more efficient use of phosphate fertilizers compelled it to undertake several activities aimed at promoting higher global food production to meet the needs of an ever growing population, to develop new industrial uses of phosphates, and to help mitigate their environmental impacts.

Intensification and diversification of agriculture in Asia
This was the main focus of IMPHOS pursuits in Asia, where the institute developed a series of activities that demonstrated the key role of phosphate fertilizers in enhancement of lowland cereal yield, namely rice and wheat. Increased use of P fertilizer as part of a balanced fertilization package can boost farmers' income in most countries of Southeast Asia.
Hundred millions hectares of upland soils in Asia have inherently low fertility, are acidic and very poor in plant nutrients, phosphorus in particular. Harnessing the potential of these large land areas was a major challenge to IMPHOS. By designing appropriate technologies for improving soil and crop productivity, it helped rehabilitate the abandoned lands to provide high yields of maize, soybean, groundnut and upland rice. The use of reactive phosphate rocks was at the heart of this technology. A one-time application of one tonne of reactive phosphate rock resulted in better crop yields in most countries where this application was tested. By developing this technology, IMPHOS contributed to identifying ways for Asia to produce more meat, vegetables and fruits, helping it meet its agriculture diversification goals, raise its population incomes and respond to changes in population diets.

Increasing per capita food production in sub-Saharan Africa
Several activities were carried out by IMPHOS in Sub-Saharan Africa, home of millions small-holding farmers who lack the capital and support to grow more food for their basic needs. Such undertakings were geared to improving food production and ensuring food security in this region. They included enhancement of soil phosphorus fertility, development of tools to better assess crop nutrient requirements and to develop more accurate fertilizer recommendations, and investments in the restoration of degraded lands. These activities demonstrated that the small family farms in sub-Saharan Africa could produce a sizable surplus of food grains such as maize, sorghum, cowpea and soybean through good management of plant nutrients, especially phosphorus and nitrogen.

Harnessing limited amount of soil water for increased crop production in WANA
West Asia and North Africa and face increasing water shortages that often compromise crop production in several parts of that region. Developing tools and crop management technologies to improve water use efficiency of rainfed crops and increase crop yield captured much of IMPHOS attention. The Institute conducted studies and projects on phosphate fertilizer and water use efficiency in several countries within the region.
Phosphate fertilizer applications improve crop root development that results in increased crop yields and higher water use efficiency under rainfed conditions.

Developing phosphate fertilizer management strategies in Western Europe for profitable and environmentally sustainable crop production
Increasing environmental concerns and economic pressure resulted in the provision of advises to farmers to withhold P applications as most soils in West Europe have been enriched with regular phosphorus applications over several decades. Under some production systems, the withholding advice appeared to lack the kind of field experiment data to fully support them. To contribute to the promotion of appropriate P fertilizer management, IMPHOS conducted several surveys and laboratory and field experiments, firstly, to assess the effects of withholding P fertilizer on crop yields and plant available P in various West European soils and, secondly, to provide strong scientific arguments for maintenance of optimal soil fertility and crop productivity.

In its effort to address the probable risk associated with the use of P fertilizers in West Europe, IMPHOS undertook considerable research work to find ways to mitigate the potential damage resulting from cadmium in phosphate fertilizers. Its activities focused mainly on the development of a cost-effective technology for the elimination of cadmium from processed phosphates.

Working on cleaner technology and new industrial uses of phosphates
Early in its life IMPHOS supported a number of technical researches into new phosphate industrial applications on a commercial scale, for example, the chemical recovery of elements in phosphates (Sulfur, Fluorine, Uranium, etc) for of large-scale production.
Some breakthroughs could be realized: Synthesis of New Polychlorophosphazines was crowned with a new IMPHOS patent - Development of New Fire Retardants polymers was equally rewarded with a new IMPHOS patent - the production of Sulfur from phosphogypsum by microbial reduction - and a comprehensive review of the recovery and neutralization of fluorine gas emissions during the manufacture and concentration of phosphoric acid.