Canpotex helping to increase global food supply
“Zero Hunger” is one of 17 sustainable development goals established by the United Nations to transform our world.
Ending hunger and achieving food security isn’t just an ideal. It’s crucial to survival. It is estimated that by 2050, the earth’s population will exceed 9 billion people. “A profound change of the global food and agriculture system is needed if we are to nourish today’s 795 million hungry and the additional 2 billion people expected by 2050,” states the U.N.
One way to meet the rising global demand for food is to increase crop production by replenishing nutrients in the soil through balanced fertilization. Potash, mined in Saskatchewan, is the source of an essential plant nutrient – potassium (K) – vital to the healthy growth and reproduction of plants.
“Potash brings a lot of benefits, not just to yield, but also quality,” said Ken Seitz, President and CEO of Canpotex, the world’s leading potash exporter.
Canpotex sells and delivers over 20 grades of potash exclusively into overseas markets on behalf of its three shareholders: Potash-Corporation of Saskatchewan Inc., The Mosaic Company and Agrium Inc. This year, Canpotex is on track to export 11 million tonnes of Saskatchewan potash around the world.
“Potash (K) is one of the three main nutrients for soil, in addition to nitrogen (N) and phosphate (P). When applied to the soil in the right ratio, these nutrients lead to better yields, better disease resistance and higher quality crops,” said Seitz.
Canpotex exports potash to over 40 countries around the world, spanning Latin America, North Asia, Southeast Asia, Oceania and Europe. “Our biggest markets are Brazil, China, India, Indonesia and Malaysia,” said Seitz.
Markets served by Canpotex are home to 60 per cent of the earth’s population of 7.2 billion. China feeds approximately 20 per cent of the world’s population. Farmers there are producing up to three crops a year on a limited and declining arable land base. India is home to 17 per cent of the world’s population, with just 11 per cent of the world’s arable land. Canpotex potash is helping farmers in these and other nations improve crop production to meet their ever-increasing food requirements.
“There is a diverse mix of crops all over the planet that rely on potash as a fertilizer,” added Seitz. Just one example is Brazil, the world’s largest importer of potash. Here, the nutrient is used to produce key crops including soybeans, sugar cane, coffee and corn.
Malaysia and Indonesia are the world’s primary producers of crude palm oil, an edible oil that is also used to manufacture biofuels, soaps and personal care products. For over 40 years, Canpotex has been the potash supplier of choice to agricultural customers in these markets.
Canpotex doesn’t just export Saskatchewan potash to these global markets. They have also invested significantly in programs that help to educate farmers around the world about best agricultural practices, including balanced fertilization.
“Over the years, we have invested about $45 million in these programs. We touch farmers in a number of different ways,” said Seitz.
Among the organizations that Canpotex works with to deliver farmer education programs is the International Plant Nutrient Institute (IPNI). “This is an industry-funded organization that works with farmers in the field, educating them, doing test plots demonstrating the difference between unfertilized soil and soil with balanced fertilization. With IPNI and other partners, we organize seminars, symposiums, conferences and meetings with farmers. We’re working with local agronomists and agrologists to do soil testing and research what the soil needs are. It’s a multi-faceted approach to farmer education, all in the spirit of achieving global food security,” said Seitz.
Soil testing is a common practice among agriculture producers here at home, but it’s a new concept for many farmers in developing nations. “We’re trying to educate farmers on the benefits of soil testing in developing regions. When you analyze soil samples, you can really tell what’s required with respect to crop nutrients. This impacts the application rate – the rate at which you are going to apply potash, for example. It also determines the correct balance between the different nutrients (N, P and K) to achieve better yields, higher quality and greater disease resistance,” said Seitz.
The farmer education programs supported by Canpotex are generating positive results. “If we look at all of the work that has been done to date, there is strong proof that farmer education and balanced fertilization is leading to greater yields and greater quality. We have a lot more work to do in that regard,” said Seitz.
“There are probably 100 million farmers in India. To connect with those farmers and explain the benefits of balanced fertilization is a huge undertaking.”
Headquartered in Saskatoon, Canpotex also has offices in Singapore, Tokyo and Shanghai. In the New Year, Canpotex will open an office in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
“We have people who spend their lives on airplanes and in the field talking to people in the agriculture industry. It’s important to us to maintain those relationships we have forged around the world over the past 45 years and also to establish new relationships and work with folks towards achieving the goal of global food security,” said Seitz.
In September of this year, Canpotex introduced a new fertilizer management program that saw 25 agricultural customers from the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Malaysia, China, Japan, Australia and New Zealand visit its Saskatoon headquarters.
“They came to Canada and spent two weeks with us, touring potash mines as well as phosphate and nitrogen facilities. They spent time at the University of Saskatchewan with international experts from the College of Agriculture, talking about balanced fertilization and the benefits associated with the appropriate application rates of crop nutrients. We took them to see our supply chain – how potash is collected and then transported by Canpotex by rail and ships to our customers around the world,” said Seitz.
“It’s an intensive twoweek program that we’re planning to offer every year. The inaugural program was an overwhelming success.”
Canpotex doesn’t just look at the big global picture when focusing on food security. It’s also a concern that strikes home. “We talk a lot about the markets we’re in and the farmers we’re touching in these 40 countries overseas. But we at Canpotex also have our own corporate social responsibility program, with the goal of helping to eliminate child hunger in our community,” said Seitz.
“There are 10,000 hungry children in Saskatoon – an unbelievable number. We’re doing as much as we can to support initiatives like the Food Bank’s Milk for Children program, both in terms of corporate giving as well as volunteering our own time to help out. We know that our contribution is modest and there’s lots of work to be done, but we’re proud to play our part.”