Argus Added Value Fertilizers Africa

Join a group of your peers for some informal discussions to kick off the event. This is a great way to meet people if you are a first-time attendee and to hear other perspectives on timely issues.

1. Overcoming logistical and financial barriers to growth in Kenya - Wesley Rotich, Director, Paksons Enterprises
2. How to showcase added value fertilizers, with product performance trials - Reinder van der Meer, Director Marketing & Business Development, Cropnuts
3. Exploring the role of specialty fertilizers in improving crop yields and quality in Kenya - Henry Ogola, Managing Director, Chemagro
4. Identifying micronutrient needs and promoting the most balanced solutions to small farmers in Africa - Mohamed El-Fouly, Head of the Agricultural and Biological Research Division, National Research Centre (NRC), Cairo 

• Considering the macro-economic factors driving demand for agricultural products in Africa
• Assessing current agricultural production trends by crop type and region
• Examining high value crop production in East Africa and the need for specialty fertilizer solutions

• Defining sources of nitrogen loss
• What causes nitrogen loss
• Protecting your nitrogen from loss
• Increasing fields, increasing profits

• A look at fertilizer consumption trends: how does it differ between commercial farmers and small-holder farmers?
• Fertilizer demand in relation to crop type and environmental conditions
• Considering regulatory developments, subsidies and impact on the market
• Assessing current transport and storage infrastructure
  

• Assessing nutrient deficiencies with the latest soil analysis tools to develop efficient and effective fertilizer solutions
• How can specialty products meet nutritional requirements and improve crop health and yields?
• How can balanced fertilizer be promoted at scale?

• Why are agro-dealers so important?
• What role do they play in promoting products and educating farmers?
• What challenges do they face in meeting the requirements of small holder farmers?

• Consumption trends and demand drivers for fertilizers from flower production
• How important are tailored fertilizer solutions to the expanding flower production sector in Kenya?
• What lessons have been learnt and can be shared with fertilizer suppliers and other sectors?

• Sharing lessons learnt from open field application of CRFs in Africa
• CRF products as an alternative when irrigation equipment is not available
• The application of CRFs in East Africa – examples and case studies

• Regional soil mapping showing gaps
• Fertilizer trials to validate recommendations
• Crop suitability and requirements
• A data driven approach to meet region & crop specific needs
• (Specialty) fertilizers filling the nutrient and health gaps
  

Your chance to talk through shared issues and exchange knowledge with colleagues working in the same field. Choose a topic, which is relevant to you, and join in the moderated discussion with a round table leader:

1. Micronutrients and potentials for agronomic biofortification in SSA - Job Kihara, Soil Fertility Expert, International Centre for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT)
2. The impact of soil acidity on crop productivity and soil nutrient availability - Shamie Zingore, Director,  APNI
3. Assessing the current use of water soluble fertilizers and foliar and irrigation application - Lilian Wanjiru Mbuthia, Chief Agronomist, Africa, ICL Fertilizers
4. Training of fertilizer handlers, agro-dealers and growers about AVFs  - James Mutonyi, Managing Director, AGMARK

• Evaluating and mapping micronutrient deficiencies and assessing the reasons for low responses and variations among crops
• Blending micronutrients with primary nutrients to ensure a balanced approach
• Next steps for increasing micronutrient use in sub-Saharan Africa
• The need for policy support for further research into the deficiencies and current use of micronutrients

• Opportunities to greatly enhance phosphate efficiency compared to traditional sources, particularly in drip and other irrigation systems
• Unique technologies allowing for the elimination of phosphate soil tie-up
• Market differentiation and value-add opportunity with a globally unique liquid phosphate product
• Can we enhance the efficiency of dry phosphates such as MAP/DAP/SSP?

• Soil acidity – what causes it and why is it important to address?
• The importance of soil analysis as a means of identifying the problem and of determining lime and gypsum requirements
• Using GPS and computer mapping techniques to manage variability in soil acidity and other soil fertility factors