MANAMA: The fertiliser industry has a crucial role to play in addressing global food security challenges, as the world’s population continues to expand rapidly, driving demand for nutrition and resource availability, said top experts at the ninth edition of Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association (GPCA) Fertiliser Convention in Muscat, Oman.
In line with this year’s theme ‘New frontiers and opportunities’, the convention highlighted recent developments in the global and regional industry landscape, consolidation within the agri-nutrients business, sustainable agricultural solutions and opportunities for improvement in the fertiliser value chain.
In his address, Gulf Petrochemical Industries Company (GPIC) president Dr Abdulrahman Jawahery said the fertiliser industry was arguably one of the most important industries globally.
“Fertilisers provide food security and nutrition for the global population, bring prosperity and growth to the agricultural sector, and – if applied in an efficient manner – help preserve our planet’s ecosystems,” said Dr Jawahery, who is also the vice-chairman of GPCA.
“In the next years, the role of the fertiliser industry in ensuring global prosperity will increase tremendously as the global challenges we face today are becoming ever more complex and difficult to address,” he noted.
“Without fertilisers more than half of current food production would be compromised, which highlights the industry’s irreplaceable role in providing nutrition to billions of people on the planet.
“Our products are the essential engines of agricultural productivity. Fertilisers, if correctly used, can significantly protect and enhance a nation’s soil resources. This is particularly important for our region, as we live in an environment characterised by harsh climate conditions and scarce water resources,” he added.
In a separate statement it was announced that Arab Potash Company chairman and former Jordanian Deputy Prime Minister Jamal Ahmed Al Sarayra met Dr Jawahery on the sidelines of the conference.
Dr Jawahery said the meeting gave him an opportunity to become aware of Mr Al Saraya’s experience in the field of fertiliser industry and extensive knowledge on many levels.
He said that such events are attended by specialists and all those interested in this vital industry and are an opportunity to discuss and learn about the latest developments and benefit from different experiences.
Established in 2006, the GPCA has as its members more than 90 per cent of the petrochemicals and chemicals producers in the region. It is the first of its kind in the Middle East and aims to enhance the role of companies and enable them to play a key role in the global chemical industry.
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