Nutrients and our world

The human population is expected to increase by more than two billion people by 2040. Feeding the planet will depend on a proportionate increase in the availability of nutritious food. Yet in 30 years there will likely be less arable land on which to grow the food we need. Can we reasonably expect each acre of cropland to yield even more than it does today?

Thanks to plant and crop nutrients, we can.

What are plant and crop nutrients?

Plant nutrients are as essential to the production of nutritious foods as soil, water and air. They are the building blocks on which all plants and animals rely for healthy growth. A balanced supply of naturally occurring nutrients—especially nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and sulphur—helps ensure healthy soils. When we take care of our soils, we help sustain vibrant green spaces. More importantly, we bolster food security by improving the production of basic nutritional elements that a growing population demands.

Why nutrients matter

Healthy food begins in the soil. Through the cycle of growing and harvesting, crops extract nutrients from the soil and pass them on to us in the foods we eat. If these nutrients are not replaced, the soil becomes depleted and unable to support new growth. Mineral fertilizers, manures and compost deliver the nutrients needed to replenish soils and support the production of a wide variety of plants and foods.

Strengthening the world's food security

There is no one solution to the problem of feeding the world's hungry and poor; however, plant and crop nutrients offer considerable promise—especially in places like sub-Saharan Africa, where farmers use a fraction of the nutrients applied by their counterparts in North America and Asia.

Caring for the environment

Environmental stewardship is central to the production of safe, nutritious and abundant food. The greater care we extend to the world around us, the more it will nourish us. For example, increased North American farm productivity in the past 40 years is largely the result of science-based best-management practices (BMPs) that balance production and environmental responsibilities by guiding the precise application of soil nutrients.

Learning is key

At Nutrients for Life, we believe education is key to building awareness of soil science and agricultural sustainability. That’s why we focus on the creation and dissemination of high-quality educational content. Our goal is to ensure new generations of Canadians understand how nutrients increase the health and quality of our soil, improve production of nutritious foods and preserve green spaces.