{"id":10869,"date":"2023-03-22T08:16:56","date_gmt":"2023-03-22T08:16:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fertiglobal.com\/?p=10869"},"modified":"2023-03-16T10:32:06","modified_gmt":"2023-03-16T10:32:06","slug":"when-small-steps-become-big-steps","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fertiglobal.com\/pt-br\/2023\/03\/22\/when-small-steps-become-big-steps\/","title":{"rendered":"When small steps become big steps"},"content":{"rendered":"
World Water Day<\/h6>\n

When small steps become big steps<\/h2>\n

Any idea which industry is the world\u2019s biggest user of fresh water?<\/p>\n

No prize for guessing correctly that it\u2019s agriculture. Whether we\u2019re using it for cultivating crops, growing fresh fruit or raising livestock, our global agricultural industry consumes more than 70% of the world\u2019s fresh water.<\/p>\n

Growing food is a necessity, of course. But agriculture is competing for that resource \u2013 not least with the two billion people worldwide who don\u2019t have access to fresh water supplies themselves.<\/p>\n

This \u2018water crisis\u2019 lies behind the UN\u2019s World Water Day<\/a> initiative, held annually on 22 March. As the UN says, \u2018dysfunction\u2019 in the water cycle undermines progress on all major global issues, not just hunger and health but also gender equality, jobs, education, industry, natural disasters and preserving peace.<\/p>\n

At FertiGlobal, we talk a lot about the importance of sustainability in agriculture: it\u2019s one of the guiding principles that inspires our business. Yet we can\u2019t pick and choose our approach to sustainability<\/a>: agriculture relies on many natural resources. We can\u2019t view it in isolation.<\/p>\n

Water use, and availability, is a good example: Clean Water and Sanitation is the UN\u2019s Sustainable Development Goal 6. As we\u2019ve said before, FertiGlobal can\u2019t solve these problems alone, but what we can do is to help farmers be at the centre of any process of change that involves natural resources. Agriculture\u2019s use of water can be improved. We\u2019re committed to helping farmers realise that improvement in resource use, and that is why we\u2019re proud to support World Water Day.<\/p>\n

Our own initiatives<\/strong><\/p>\n

We need to help our farmer customers face the challenges of modern agriculture. It\u2019s why we\u2019ve chosen the route of bioactives and advanced crop nutrition solutions.<\/p>\n

We know that a healthy plant is a productive plant. So our products often focus on boosting the plant\u2019s own defence systems. A healthy crop in the field allows farmers to reduce the use of chemicals, such as fungicides.<\/p>\n

A healthy plant, with a well-functioning defence and immune system, also improves crop resilience. The UN recognises the importance of crop resilience for reducing water use: climate change will likely lead to reduced rainfall, shortened rain-fed growing seasons, and higher temperatures. Unchecked, all have the potential to cause an increase in the agricultural demand for water \u2013 but if, thanks to the use of bio-actives and other crop care products, we can improve crop resilience, then we may be able to allay that extra call on our precious water resources.<\/p>\n

Technique also plays a part. Modern fertigation systems \u2013 in which many of our products are designed to be used \u2013 can help farmers make more efficient use of water, while improving crop yield and productivity.<\/p>\n

Theory into practice<\/strong><\/p>\n

For example, let\u2019s look at the results of a trial in maize, conducted by our R&D team to assess the effectiveness of one of our Foliflo Technology<\/a> products, Rumis. This new generation fertiliser has been designed to support plant growth, particularly at times of external stress \u2013 such as when seedlings are transplanted, or when subject to less-than-prime water availability.<\/p>\n

Containing the micronutrients boron and zinc, as well as biostimulant compounds derived from Ecklonia maxima<\/em>, a variety of seaweed, Rumis is ideal for fertigation use (although we\u2019ve also successfully used it in drone applications, too!). In the trial, Rumis\u2019 effect on root development<\/a> was clear, with:<\/p>\n