Pursell honors IFDC contributions to industry with donation of EPA/USDA Next Gen Fertilizer Innovation Challenge Moonshot Award prize money
Sylacauga, AL, October 10, 2021 — Pursell recently recognized its long-standing strategic partner, the International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC), for its significant role in advancing the fertilizer industry and providing sustainable agricultural solutions that help improve soil health, food security and livelihoods around the world.
Taylor Pursell, Chairman of Pursell Agri-Tech, LLC, thanked IFDC for its decades-long support of Pursell Agri-Tech and its predecessor companies, and shared a few remarks during a check presentation ceremony on September 30th.
“Very few people in the fertilizer industry know that approximately 70% of all fertilizer technologies in the world were developed in Muscle Shoals, Ala., by IFDC and its predecessor the National Fertilizer Development Center (NFDC),” said Pursell. “We are humbled to receive the Next Gen Fertilizer Innovation Challenge award of the Joint EPA-USDA Partnership and want to acknowledge, with this donation, our great appreciation for all that IFDC has done for the fertilizer industry and the world’s farmers.”
The novel Pursell technology selected for the Innovation Challenge award addresses the global need for Nutrient Use Efficiency (NUE) and improved soil health. The coating technology allows controlled-release fertilizer manufacturing plants to fortify urea with a core designed to be formulated specifically to a region based on the soil, crop, nutrient needs, soil health, and human health needs.
Coated fertilizers can bridge the gap to the development of truly novel fertilizer products. Coating and nutrient core technologies can take current products and enhance their efficiency by controlling the release of nutrients in synchrony with crop demand, resulting in reduced losses and improved soil health.
“IFDC was pleased to welcome Pursell Agri-Tech to our headquarters and to receive the company’s generous donation,” said Albin Hubscher, IFDC President & CEO. “We are ever grateful for Pursell Agri-Tech’s decades-long commitment not simply to IFDC but to improving global agriculture. Achieving zero hunger through efficient food systems and technologies is our common goal.”
According to IFDC Deputy Director, Headquarters Research, Upendra Singh, Ph.D., a 60% higher food demand is expected globally by 2050, which will require production of more food while using less resources. Innovation in fertilizers to increase yields while safeguarding the environment is a large part of the solution for a food-secure world.
“We continually work with IFDC and our industry partners to develop and introduce new technology and improved farming practices that increase nutrient use efficiency and positively impact soils,” said Tim Holt, Pursell Agri-Tech Director of Research and Development. “Technologies like the one recognized by the Joint EPA-UDSA Partnership will provide the optimum opportunity to produce higher yields while also avoiding negative environmental impacts caused by nutrient losses to the air and groundwater.”