On Friday (03/11/2022), the Brazilian government made official the creation of a program aimed at increasing the national production of fertilizers, consequently reducing internal dependence on imports.
The National Fertilizer Plan (“PNF”, its Portuguese acronym), instituted by Decree No. 10.991/2.022 (link), will serve as a guideline for the development of the domestic fertilizer market over the next 28 years (until 2050), and focuses on some of the main pillars of the production chain, such as the use of new technologies, sustainability, and mineral inputs. The decree also creates the National Fertilizer and Plant Nutrition Council, which will be the advisory and deliberative body responsible for coordinating and monitoring the implementation of the plan throughout its lifespan.
The PNF is created in a scenario where 85% of the fertilizers used in national agriculture come from imports, according to the National Association for Fertilizer Dissemination, and, per government, the goal is to reduce the participation of imports to about 45% by 2050, regardless of an increase in demand.
According to the Minister of Agriculture, Tereza Cristina, the plan’s goal is not to make Brazil a self-sufficient country in fertilizers, but autonomous: “We are not looking for self-sufficiency, but rather the ability to overcome challenges and maintain our greatest wealth, the booming and competitive agribusiness, which allows for food security of Brazil and the world. Our demand for plant nutrients is proportional to the greatness of our agriculture. But we will have our foreign dependence greatly reduced”.
The plan – which had been ready since the end of 2021 – is approved in a strategic moment for the government, since Russia and Belarus, both involved in the conflict against Ukraine, represent 43% of Brazil’s fertilizer imports.
