In her recent column, Western Plant Health President & CEO Renee Pinel
sets the record straight on fertilizers and their role in modern agriculture.
Despite claims that fertilizers pose environmental risks, the truth is that they
are essential for soil health, food security, and sustainable farming.
Pinel emphasizes how fertilizers enable farmers to produce more food on
less land, protecting over a billion hectares of forests and natural habitats
since 1961. Far from damaging soil, fertilizers replenish essential nutrients
like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium—elements that most soils lack.
Without these nutrients, yields would plummet, resulting in food shortages
and environmental stress from land conversion.
On climate, fertilizers are powerful tools in the fight against carbon
emissions. Healthier plants grow faster, pulling more carbon from the
atmosphere. Precision application has drastically reduced emissions, and
nitrogen-based fertilizers have been refined to minimize environmental
impact. Meanwhile, California’s regulators have recognized that limiting and
restricting fertilizers would provide minimal benefit, and industry
investments in smarter practices continue.
Pinel urges policymakers to prioritize science over fear. Fertilizers are
essential—they play a crucial role in sustainably feeding a growing
population. The agricultural strength of California, its environmental health,
and the well-being of its communities rely on the continued use of these
vital tools.
You can read it HERE
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