On November 5, members of more than 50 organizations representing the agrifood value chain gathered at the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) headquarters in El Batán, Texcoco, Mexico, for a Fertilizer Innovation Center (FIC) learning and planning workshop event entitled Innovation, Climate Finance, and Circular Economy: Opportunities for Industry Collaboration, hosted by IFDC.
The gathering marked an important step in advancing the Mexico and Central America FIC, a collaborative initiative between IFDC and CIMMYT designed to connect scientific research, private sector investment, and producer needs.
The center provides a platform for public-private-producer collaboration, combining IFDC’s global expertise in fertilizer science, laboratory capabilities, and pilot plant infrastructure with CIMMYT’s extensive research networks and established relationships with farmers across the region.
Through the FIC, IFDC and CIMMYT are working to create opportunities for partners and organizations to collaborate on practical, science-based solutions that strengthen fertilizer systems…and support agricultural resilience.
Building a Global Network of Fertilizer Innovation Centers
The Mexico and Central America FIC is part of a broader effort to establish a Global Network of Fertilizer Innovation Centers (GNFIC). Centers are being developed in the United States, as well as India, Brazil, Kenya, and the United Arab Emirates, each addressing the specific soil conditions, agricultural residues, and market opportunities of its region while operating within a shared scientific framework and validation standards.
Mexico and Central America will serve as an important starting point for demonstrating how regional partnerships can translate scientific research into practical solutions for farmers and the fertilizer sector.
Advancing Regional Nutrient Sovereignty through Innovation
A central theme of the event was the opportunity to strengthen regional nutrient sovereignty by reducing dependence on imported fertilizers, expanding domestic nutrient production, and making better use of locally available resources.
Mexico currently imports an estimated 60‑80% of its fertilizers, while nutrient use efficiency remains at approximately 30‑50%. Additionally, an estimated 40% of the country’s arable land is degraded. These challenges underscore the need for solutions that improve nutrient availability, strengthen soil health, and support more efficient and sustainable agricultural production.
The Mexico and Central America FIC seeks to address these challenges by advancing locally developed fertilizer products, including organo-mineral fertilizers that combine organic and mineral nutrient sources.
These innovations will be evaluated through a science-based process extending from laboratory research and greenhouse testing to pilot plant production and field validation. Testing across Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, and Nicaragua will help ensure that solutions are adapted to local soils, climates, and farming systems.
The initiative will also explore opportunities to mobilize carbon and climate finance to support the transition toward more sustainable nutrient management practices.
Establishing Priorities for Industry Collaboration
Discussions during the November 5 event identified several priorities for moving the initiative forward:
- Strengthening Institutional Partnerships: Finalize a memorandum of understanding among CIMMYT, IFDC, and Siembra – a sugarcane company – to establish an initial pathway for FIC collaboration in the region.
- Advancing Science-Based Fertilizer Solutions: Develop the organo-mineral fertilizer industry through research, product development, and soil-specific formulations.
- Expanding Circular Economy Opportunities: Work with industry partners to advance residue-based organo-minerals, including from barley, wheat bran, bagasse, vinasse, and urban organic materials.
- Mobilizing Climate Finance: Launch two to three carbon farming demonstration programs with Siembra, YARA, and Biofabrica, and advance a pilot with Mexico’s Secretariat of Agriculture and Rural Development (SADER) focused on plant nutrient management, smallholder farmers, and carbon incentives.
- Scaling the FIC Model: Build on the Mexico and Central America experience to strengthen the GNFIC and expand opportunities for collaboration.
Bringing Partners Together to Accelerate Impact
The event was made possible through the collaboration and contributions of partners across the agrifood sector. IFDC recognizes CIMMYT Director General Dr. Bram Govaerts and Chief Transformation Officer A.J. Poncin for hosting and convening the gathering, IFDC President and CEO Henk van Duijn for highlighting the importance of connecting scientific innovation with farmer needs, IFDC’s Dr. Zachary Stewart and Dr. Yashpal Saharawat for leading the technical discussions, and IFDC’s Dr. Padma Shanthi Jagadabhi for guiding conversations on carbon markets.
Through the FIC, IFDC and CIMMYT are working to create opportunities for partners and organizations to collaborate on practical, science-based solutions that strengthen fertilizer systems, improve soil health, and support agricultural resilience.
The FIC platform remains open to additional partners interested in advancing fertilizer innovation, circular economy solutions, and sustainable nutrient management.
