IFDC is proud to release its new Strategy 2026‑2035, a bold, science‑driven framework designed to address urgent global challenges in food security, soil health, and sustainable agriculture.
The new strategy outlines how IFDC will lead the next decade of fertilizer innovation, farmer‑centered impact, and systems‑level transformation to meet the accelerating pressures of climate change, land degradation, and rising hunger.
“Building on more than 90 years of global fertilizer innovation, IFDC continues to advance soil fertility solutions for smallholder farmers across sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.”
Henk van Duijn, IFDC President and CEO
With climate shocks intensifying, official development assistance declining, and food insecurity reaching record levels, IFDC’s Strategy 2026‑2035 arrives at a critical moment. It provides a clear, actionable framework for restoring soil health, improving farmer livelihoods, and strengthening global food and nutrition security for future generations.
IFDC’s Strategy 2026‑2035 responds to a world where over one‑third of global soils are degraded, food insecurity is on the rise, and farmers—particularly those in sub‑Saharan Africa and South Asia—face compounding challenges that threaten their productivity and livelihoods.
Our innovative science-driven approach will leverage IFDC’s Global Network of Fertilizer Innovation Centers (GNFIC), which serves as a global platform for applied research, innovation, and knowledge exchange. Through this collaborative network, researchers, policymakers, and industry leaders work together to co-create solutions that are scientifically rigorous, locally relevant, and ready to scale across diverse agricultural contexts.
“Building on more than 90 years of global fertilizer innovation, IFDC continues to advance soil fertility solutions for smallholder farmers across sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Our Strategy 2026–2035 carries this legacy forward, taking a holistic approach to scale soil and fertilizer innovations that improve soil health, strengthen farmer livelihoods, and create more resilient food systems,” said Henk van Duijn, IFDC President and CEO.
The strategy reaffirms IFDC’s mission to innovate soil and fertilizer solutions to nourish people and protect the planet while advancing its vision of a world where farmers thrive on healthy soils and produce abundant, nutritious food for all.
IFDC’s ambition is clear: to empower millions of smallholder farmers to regenerate soils and boost productivity, reducing pressure to expand farmland, cutting greenhouse gas emissions, and sustainably achieving global food and nutrition security.
We achieve this through our approach in innovation, applied research, and strategic partnerships that connect science, policy, and markets with farmers’ needs on the ground.
Additionally, our new Theory of Change strengthens our strategic direction by uniting three interlinked elements: explicitly connecting scientific research to farmer impact through a Product Life Cycle (PLC) approach, deepening and leveraging diverse partnerships, and prioritizing localized, inclusive pathways that elevate women, youth, and marginalized groups.
IFDC’s Strategy 2026‑2035 is structured around three interconnected strategic goals:
• Fertilizer Innovation: Advancing science‑based, climate‑smart fertilizers and soil health solutions.
• Farmer Impact at Scale: Empowering farmers, especially women and youth, to adopt sustainable and profitable agricultural practices.
• Sustainable Systems Transformation: Strengthening markets, policies, and institutions that enable long‑term adoption and resilience.
Rooted in IFDC’s core values of collaboration, innovation, inclusion, and integrity, the strategy elevates the organization’s long‑standing commitment to building strong, complementary partnerships that drive lasting change across food systems.
By working as One IFDC with global, regional, national, and community allies, the organization is reinforcing its role as a unifying, science‑driven partner—deepening coordination, expanding collective impact, and ensuring that innovative soil and fertilizer solutions reach the farmers and institutions that need them most.
