Maxim Kuznetsov, Executive Director of the Russian Fertilizer Producers Association (RFPA), took part in a roundtable discussion with journalists from leading African publications, at which he noted the more than doubling of Russian fertilizer supplies to the continent over the past 5 years.

During the roundtable, organized at the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry by the Federal Agency for CIS Affairs, Compatriots Living Abroad and International Humanitarian Cooperation (Rossotrudnichestvo), Maxim Kuznetsov emphasized that Russia is the world’s largest exporter of mineral fertilizers and ranks second globally in terms of fertilizer production, having surpassed the USA and India in recent years. The country makes an important contribution to global food security: food grown with the use of Russian fertilizers is consumed by 1.5 billion people worldwide.

“In 2023, Russia produced 59 million tonnes of mineral fertilizers in physical weight. Over the past 10 years, mineral fertilizer production in our country has increased by 50%. Such rapid growth is the result of large-scale investment in the development of the industry, which exceeded RUB 1.8 trillion over that period. In 2023, under difficult geopolitical conditions, our industry was able to reorient cargo flows and strengthen our status as the world’s leading exporter of fertilizers, with a market share of 18%. We have increased exports by a quarter compared to 2022. Among the friendly countries to which shipments have been reoriented are our African partners. Over the past 5 years, Russia has more than doubled its mineral fertilizer supplies to African countries – from 772,000 tonnes in physical weight in 2018 to 1.7 million tonnes in 2023,” said Maxim Kuznetsov.

In addition to increasing supplies, Russian fertilizer producers are also constantly expanding their product range. For example, companies are creating new types of fertilizers with minimal acidifying effects, which is particularly important in Africa due to high soil acidity levels. Fertilizers with high granule dissolution rates have been developed, as well as liquid droplet formulations that maintain nutrient availability without water, which is crucial in arid climates. There are also fertilizers with additional calcium, magnesium, sulphur, and trace elements such as zinc and boron.

Russian producers are focused on expanding cooperation with African partners, given the urgent need for increased agricultural production on the continent, added the Executive Director of RAFP. This issue can be tackled through the use of environmentally friendly mineral fertilizers.

“According to UN statistics, 40% of land in Africa suffers from degradation. The main cause is contamination by pollutants, primarily cadmium, from fertilizers used by local farmers. Toxic substances end up in the agricultural crops grown, ultimately accumulating in the human body and causing serious diseases. Our products do not contain dangerous concentrations of cadmium and other toxic substances that are hazardous to human health and soils. Russian fertilizers are the key to the health of African soils and the safety of agricultural products,” concluded Maxim Kuznetsov.

Commenting on the outcome of the roundtable, Andrey Guryev, the head of the RFPA, stressed the following: “The priority objective for African countries in the 21st century is to realize their own vast potential. Today, only a third of the continent’s agricultural land is being cultivated. Russian fertilizer producers are prepared to serve as a key partner to help those states that have friendly relations with our country build up their food sovereignty. With this in mind, our industry aims to double the amount of environmentally friendly agrochemicals produced in Russia and shipped to African countries and to expand its supply network. At the same time, industry leaders are carrying out free training programmes for African farmers and students on responsible agricultural practices and the use of advanced agricultural technologies, developing fertilizers and biologicals adapted to local climatic conditions and the crops grown by African farmers, and introducing agricultural consulting and customer support services. Our shared mission is to continue to develop the historically close ties that Russia has had with African countries in order to ensure food security for future generations. I have no doubt that we can do this!”