IFA Outreach in New York, 23rd-27th March

A delegation of fertilizer industry leaders from across the globe was present in New York during the week of the 23rd to 27th March for the latest session of negotiations surrounding the post-2015 Sustainable Development Goals. These goals are meant to follow on from the Millennium Development goals, which are to be realized in 2015, and will play a large role in setting the agenda for worldwide development policies in the near future.

It is with this in mind that the delegation of the International Fertilizer Industry Association (IFA) conducted bilateral meetings with representatives from over a dozen United Nations bodies and national delegations. These proved to be an excellent opportunity for a frank exchange of views concerning the central importance of agriculture for sustainable development, and the role that private sector actors can play in alleviating poverty and achieving food security. The IFA delegates were able to have honest and rewarding conversations with those at the heart of the negotiations, and to establish and strengthen relationships that will be useful for a wide range of activities.

Hopefully, these efforts will prove to be a solid link in the chain pulling the world towards a more food secure future. This future cannot be forged by government actors alone, and it is vital that the private sector be able to engage with them in order to achieve sustainable agricultural intensification to meet the planet’s growing food and nutrition needs.