March 11, 2024 — Muscle Shoals, Alabama —The International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC) is pleased to announce its upcoming Open House event at its Muscle Shoals headquarters on April 19-20, showcasing how the Shoals has been helping feed the world for 50 years.
The Open House event will provide a unique opportunity for the Shoals community to explore IFDC’s facilities, engage with scientists and agricultural experts, enjoy cultural exhibitions from Africa, and learn about groundbreaking research and projects aimed at addressing global challenges faced by smallholder farmers in Africa and Asia.
From advanced agronomic studies to breakthroughs in fertilizer technology, IFDC’s research facilities are shaping a more resilient and efficient future for farmers around the world. At the Open House event, participants will be able to tour facilities such as:
- Pilot Plant Complex: IFDC’s one-of-a-kind fertilizer Pilot Plant Complex helps determine the technical and financial feasibility of manufacturing and blending new fertilizer products at varying production scales.
- Greenhouses: IFDC has greenhouse facilities used to analyze and evaluate fertilizer product quality, measuring nitrogen loss of various combinations of fertilizer technologies and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
- Laboratories: IFDC’s analytical laboratories have a wide variety of laboratory equipment to formulate, measure, and analyze fertilizer products. Additionally, our laboratories also analyze plant and soil samples.
On April 19, IFDC invites local schools to learn about the history of IFDC, tour its facilities, and explore careers in the fertilizer, agriculture, and international development industries. Activities will be hosted from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Schools interested in attending should contact Lisa Darnell for registration.
On April 20 from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., IFDC invites our friends and neighbors from the Shoals area for guided tours, exhibits and demonstrations, and interactive sessions on the fertilizer industry. Tours start every half hour. No registration is required in advance.
All participants who wish to tour the facilities are asked to wear closed-toe shoes.
We are excited to open our doors to the public and share the incredible work being done at IFDC to transform agriculture and improve livelihoods around the world. This Open House event underscores our commitment to fostering collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and innovation in agricultural development. Join us to discover how we are shaping the future of agriculture through innovation and sustainable practices.
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Contact: Lisa Darnell (Community Engagement and Event Organizer; 256-381-6600 ext. 206; ldarnell@ifdc.org)
About IFDC: The International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC) began in 1974 with the mission to improve soil fertility and crop nutrition in tropical regions. Since then, IFDC has grown to encompass an array of agricultural solutions — market development, policy advocacy, fertilizer technology development, project implementation in the field, farm mechanization, and micronutrient research. For more information, visit www.ifdc.org
