Dr. Ir. Prem Bindraban is developing a global research network to design and produce Innovative Fertilizers and Application Technologies (IFAT) using biological processes and advanced bio-nano-chemistry as entry points for these fertilizers to improve crop yield and food quality while reducing environmental effects.
Bindraban leads the FERARI research and implementation program in Ghana, which builds public-private partnerships for the development of fertilizer value chain actors to supply farmers with appropriate fertilizers for improving food and nutrition security. The on-the-ground implementation activities will integrate scientific evidence from transdisciplinary research by five PhD- and two postdoctoral-level researchers.
Formerly, Bindraban was Director of ISRIC – World Soil Information and Team Leader of Natural Resources at Wageningen University and Research. He served as a Researcher at two CGIAR centers – CIMMYT and IRRI. As Associate Director, he contributed to a Strategic Plan for Agricultural Development in Africa at the request of former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan. Bindraban has developed university courses related to food security at Wageningen University and the University of Amsterdam, taught Theoretical Production Ecology for soil-crop modeling at the University of Sao Paulo, supervised many Ph.D. candidates and M.Sc. students, and published more than 200 research documents.
Selected Publications
Aremu, T., C.Y. Freeman, A. Laamari, Y. Iddrisu, W.K. Atakora, and P.S. Bindraban. 2020. “Toward Establishing a Ghana Multi-Stakeholder Fertilizer Platform: Insights from Stakeholder and Network Analysis,” IFDC FERARI Policy Brief 1. https://ifdc.soutronglobal.net/Library/Catalogues/Controls/Download.aspx?id=606
Bationo, A., U. Singh, E. Dossa, J. Wendt, S. Agyin-Birikorang, F. Lompo, and P. Bindraban. 2020. “Improving Soil Fertility through Fertilizer Management in Sub-Saharan Africa,” IN Soil and Fertilizers: Managing the Environmental Footprint, Rattan Lal (Ed.), pp. 67‑102, CRC Press.
Bua, S., K. El Mejahed, D. MacCarthy, D.S. Adogoba, I.N. Kissiedu, W.K. Atakora, M. Fosu, and P.S. Bindraban. 2020. “Yield Responses of Maize to Fertilizers in Ghana,” IFDC FERARI Policy Brief No. 2. https://ifdc.soutronglobal.net/Library/Catalogues/Controls/Download.aspx?id=607
Dimpka, C.O., J. Andrews, J. Fugice, U. Singh, P.S. Bindraban, W.H. Elmer, J.L. Gardea-Torresdey, and J.C. White. 2020. “Facile Coating of Urea with Low-Dose ZnO Nanoparticles Promotes Wheat Performance and Enhances Zn Uptake Under Drought Stress,” Frontiers in Plant Science, 11. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2020.00168
Dimpka, C.O., J. Andrews, J. Sanabria, P.S. Bindraban, U. Singh, W.H. Elmer, J.L. Gardea-Torresdey, and J.C. White. 2020. “Interactive Effects of Drought, Organic Fertilizer, and Zinc Oxide Nanoscale and Bulk Particles on Wheat Performance and Grain Nutrient Accumulation,” Science of the Total Environment, 722:137808. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.137808
Iddrisu, Y., T.B. Aremu, W.K. Atakora, R. Wheeler, P. Annequin, F. Gyasi, C.Y. Freeman, and P.S. Bindraban. 2020. “Stakeholders in Ghana Discuss How a National Fertilizer Platform Could Address Fertilizer Sector Issue,” IFDC FERARI Policy Brief No. 3. https://ifdc.soutronglobal.net/Library/Catalogues/Controls/Download.aspx?id=608
Malhotra, H., R. Pandey, S. Sharma, and P.S. Bindraban. 2020. “Foliar Fertilization: Possible Routes of Iron Transport from Leaf Surface to Cell Organelles,” Archives of Agronomy and Soil Science, 66:3, 279-300, https://doi.org/10.1080/03650340.2019.1616288
Odionye, N., S. Dittoh, A. Laamari, W. Adzawla, K. Idongesit, E. Afimia, W.K. Atakora, M. Jemo, and P.S. Bindraban. 2020. “Cost Components in the Fertilizer Value Chain and Implications for Accessibility by Farmers in Ghana,” IFDC FERARI Policy Brief No. 4.
Bindraban, P.S., Dimkpa, C.O., White, J.C., Franklin, F.A., Melse-Boonstra, A., Koele, N., Pandey, R., Rodenburg, J., Senthilkumar, K. Demokritou, P., Schmidt, S. (2020) Safeguarding human and planetary health demands a fertilizer sector transformation. Plants, People Planet. DOI: 10.1002/ppp3.10098. https://doi.org/10.1002/ppp3.10098
Prem S. Bindraban, Christian O. Dimkpa, Renu Pandey, 2020. Exploring phosphorus fertilizers and fertilization strategies for improved human and environmental health. Biology and Fertility of Soils. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00374-019-01430-2
Prem S. Bindraban, Christian Dimkpa, Scott Angle, Rudy Rabbinge, 2018. Unlocking the multiple public good services from balanced fertilizers. Food Security 10: 273–285. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12571-018-0769-4
Dimkpa, C., Bindraban, P.S., 2016. Micronutrients fortification for efficient agronomic production. Agronomy for Sustainable Development 36:1-26. DOI: 10.1007/s13593-015-0346-6f
Bindraban, P.S., Dimkpa, C., Nagarajan, L., Roy, A., Rabbinge, R., 2015. Revisiting Fertilisers and Fertilisation Strategies for Improved Nutrient Uptake by Plants. Biology and Fertility of Soils, Vol. 51, Issue 8, pp 897-911. http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00374-015-1039-7.