The major fertilizer companies in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states are sponsoring the GPCA Fertilizer Convention, which takes place from 28-30 September at the Intercontinental Dubai Festival City Hotel. This event, organized by the Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association (GPCA) in conjunction with British Sulphur Events, will bring to the region senior executives from around the world to discuss the supply and demand dynamics of the fertilizer industry and the challenges of providing global food security.
The event will begin with a reality check on the food security issue in a keynote presentation given by David Dawe, a senior economist at the FAO. From the GCC region, Fahad Alsheaibi, Executive VP Fertilizers at SABIC, and Khalid Al Mudaifer, VP of Phosphates SBU & New Business Development at the Saudi Arabian Mining Corporation (MA'ADEN), will discuss their companies' contribution to fertilizer capacity and food security and MA'ADEN's new facility will be discussed in more detail.
Speakers from India, China, Malaysia, USA and Australia will give detailed presentations on fertilizer demand in those regions of the world. India alone last year accounted for 20% of the world's total nutrient trade. Shri Chander, Director General of the Fertilizer Association of India, will provide an account of the long -term fertilizer needs for this nation, which is by far the largest market for the GCC fertilizer producers.
Achieving food security is a complex challenge and needs to be tackled with investment, education and innovation throughout the food production supply chain. One of the many areas for innovation is in improving fertilizer efficiencies. Dr Amit Roy of the International Fertilizer Development Institute will speak about research on the next generation of fertilizers.
"The calibre of speakers who have already confirmed their attendance at the GPCA Fertilizer Convention is a testament to the importance of this region when it comes to this industry. The GPCA is glad to be providing global players with a platform to share expertise, exchange ideas, tackle the challenges and harness the opportunities that come with addressing long-term demand," said Dr. Abdul-Wahab Al Sadoun, Secretary General, GPCA.
The GCC states are a major exporting region for nitrogenous fertilizers. Nitrogen is one of the three primary nutrients essential for plant growth (the others being phosphates and potassium), and it is the one that is needed in the greatest quantity. With the combination of population growth and the diminishing availability of arable land, the role of fertilizers in the production of food will remain crucial. The UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has predicted that food production will need to increase by 70% to feed an additional 2.3 billion people by 2050. The world fertilizer industry, along with others in the food production supply chain is working hard to meet this target and the GCC fertilizer producers will play a very important part.
With abundant low-cost natural gas and easy access to main shipping routes, the GCC states are ideally placed to produce nitrogen fertilizers for the world market. Today, 16% of the world's total nitrogen exports come from the GCC states. Beginning in 2011, Saudi Arabia will be also be producing and exporting phosphates, adding another of the primary nutrients to GCC fertilizer exports arsenal. They will soon become the second largest exporter of DAP (di-ammonium phosphate) in the world after the USA.
