Smart Fertilizers for Sustainable Agriculture

Introduction

A talk from the Chemicals Summit - Agrochemical Symposium

Presented by Dr. Syed Ismail, Head of the Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry at Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Agricultural University. This talk gives a high level overview of the issues and problems of traditional fertilizer usage, especially in the context of high population growth, decreasing farm land, and increasing food demand in regions such as India. It discusses how new scientific innovations in ‘smart’ slow-release urea fertilizers are helping minimize nutrient loss, increase yields, lower salt concentration and toxicity and prevent unwanted leaching. Dr. Ismail examines the application of nano-particles in agriculture to support future sustainability by increasing productivity, improving soil quality, stimulating plant growth, and allowing for smart monitoring by farmers.