Sustainable Agriculture
The term ''sustainable agriculture'' means an integrated system of plant and animal production practices having a site-specific application that will over the long-term:
Satisfy human food and fiber needs.
Enhance environmental quality and the natural resource base upon which the agriculture economy depends.
Make the most efficient use of non-renewable resources and on-farm resources and integrate, where appropriate, natural biological cycles and controls.
Sustain the economic viability of farm operations.
Enhance the quality of life for farmers and society as a whole.
Fertoz believes that sustainable agriculture is a worthwhile endeavor with numerous advantages, including environmental protection, ensuring long-term soil fertility, promoting soil bio-diversity, recycling materials and resources, and reducing carbon emissions. It is Fertoz’s mission to provide organic, regenerative and conventional agriculture markets with easy access to natural high quality phosphate fertilizer. The organic farmers Fertoz works with stake the validity of their products on what Fertoz supplies, which is why Fertoz is committed to ensuring that Fertoz rock phosphate fertilizer is natural, organic, direct mined, and provides the necessary nutrients for efficient crop yields.
Driving Sustainability on Conventional Acres
Recently, Fertoz has seen success from replacing 20-50% of conventional phosphate requirements with rock phosphate in blends with 11-52-0 (MAP mono-ammonium phosphate) or DAP (diammonium phosphate). Naturally rock phosphate contains a low salt index, provides extended feeding of available phosphorus over time, and is safe to apply with the seed. The blend has been effective in increasing crop production, building soil tilth and health and promoting a more diverse soil microbiome. The switch to rock phosphate also benefits the environment; lowers carbon footprint, reduces leaching and runoff to groundwater and aquatic ecosystems and provides long term benefits to the soil to support healthy plant growth for future generations.
For Investors
Fertoz works with a network of reliable dealers, distributors and retailers that service many agriculturally focused areas in the United States, Canada and around the world. As a company who takes organic agriculture and sustainable farming to heart, Fertoz not only takes great care to mine in quality areas, but to produce as natural phosphate products as possible.
Help You Grow
Several years ago, the Fertoz founders recognized the growing demand for organic food products. They also realized that fertilizer inputs for organic crops often have low nutrient analysis (nitrogen, phosphate, potash and sulphur), are hard to handle, store, ship and apply, and often are located away from key markets. They embarked on an improved strategy for organic fertilizer production and now carry sustainable fertilizer solutions and soil amendments for all soil types and crop requirements.
Committed to Environment, Social and Governance – ESG
With increasing focus on global climate change, Fertoz recognizes the need to lower greenhouse gas emissions, encourage healthy agricultural management practices that protect the environment and provide solutions that reduce atmospheric carbon levels. Fertoz continues to develop policies that respect the ESG framework through full transparency of our operations and traceability of our products. Our mining process is unobtrusive, provides minimal environmental disturbance and involves reclamations. Crushing, screening and granulation is mechanical using organic approved and Fertoz verified ingredients, ensures minimal fossil fuel combustion and CO2 emissions, and does not generate waste. Processing of our all in one fertilizers containing nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, sulphur and calcium is carbon negative and releases significantly less carbon into the atmosphere compared to urea production. Our retailers are strategically located and we sell farmer direct to minimize transportation. Soil carbon sequestration is enhanced through the use of rock phosphate in conventional and organic operations. We develop and maintain good relationships with stakeholders, growers, dealers, business partners, third party testing services and carbon trading facilitators.
Organic Food Consumption
Organic products have shifted from being a lifestyle choice for a small share of consumers to being consumed at least occasionally by a majority of Americans. Consumers prefer organically produced food because of their concerns regarding health, the environment, and animal welfare, and they show a willingness to pay the price premiums established in the marketplace.
Consumer demand for organically produced goods continues to show double-digit growth, providing market incentives for U.S. farmers across a broad range of products. Organic products are now available in nearly 20,000 natural food stores and nearly 3 out of 4 conventional grocery stores. Organic sales account for over 5 percent of total U.S. food sales, according to recent industry statistics. Organic food is sold to consumers through three main venues in the United States—conventional grocery stores, natural food stores, and direct-to-consumer markets. A typical organic consumer is difficult to pinpoint, but new research continues to shed light on consumer attitudes and purchasing behaviour. Organic price premiums continue to remain high in many markets as the demand for organic products expands.
Organic Crop Production
HEALTH.
ECOLOGY.
FAIRNESS.
CARE.
Producers are concerned about the long term health of their soil and the environment. Organic foods are produced in the United States and Canada according to the National Organic Program (NOP) and the Canadian Organic Standards for Organic Production Systems (COR) respectively. General principles of organic crop production ensure that:
- Products contain ingredients that are not genetically modified or chemically derived.
- Organic food production and handling is segregated to prevent contamination from other materials and substances.
- Traceability is possible throughout the system through adequate record keeping.
- Adequate transition time is in place to protect and ensure the organic integrity of products.
- Soil fertility is optimized through crop rotations, application of plant or animal matter and amendments with approved inputs.
- Soil and crop amendments are naturally sourced, not chemically derived and low in heavy metals.
Organic production acres are rising is response to consumer demand. The Organic Trade Association states that in the US, organic is the 4 th largest food and feed commodity. The number of certified organic farms grew by 7% in 2017, with continual growth into recent years. According to The Canadian Organic Trade Association (COTA), 6.4 thousand organic operations and 3.2 million acres represent 2% of Canadian farmland.
“Organic Agriculture is a production system that sustains the health of soils,ecosystems and people. It relies on ecological processes, biodiversity and cycles adapted to local conditions, rather than the use of inputs with adverse effects. Organic Agriculture combines tradition, innovation and science to benefit the shared environment and promote fair relationships and a good quality of life for all involved."
-IFOAM
Organic Input Fertilizers and Services
Industrialized practices rely on the use of fossil fuels and chemical processes to produce fertilizer. Processing and manufacturing of conventional fertilizer increases fossil fuel consumption and carbon release into the atmosphere. The production of rock phosphate drastically minimizes carbon emissions compared to industrial fertilizers. Conventional fertilizers are heavily applied annually to improve soil nutritional status; but may consequentially deplete long-term stores of nutrients, reduce soil biodiversity and impact the environment. Alternatively, organic farming relies on traditional farming approaches and requires that soil and crop inputs are produced naturally to promote sustainable, healthy soils. Organic fertilizer amendments are used to correct nutritional deficiencies as part of overall nutrient management strategies. Transitional farmers are required to farm according to organic standards, but sell their products conventionally until they have fully transitioned their land into organic production.
Fertoz offers solutions for producers who want to farm sustainably; conventional, transitional and organic. Fertoz also supplies rock phosphate for land reclamation. It is Fertoz’s mission to provide organic agricultural markets with access to quality phosphate fertilizers. Fertoz has extensively sought after natural sources of rock phosphate with high available phosphorus. Chosen sources are accessible by truck and rail and are geographically positioned in high organic production areas. Fertoz product is backed by research, trialing and feedback from our clients. Fertoz works with a global network of distributors to supply products that are created naturally and approved by organic certifying agencies. Fertoz works closely with producers to assess fertility needs, discuss suitable application methods and ensure efficient use of Fertoz products. Fertoz is committed to ensuring that Fertoz rock phosphate fertilizer is natural, certified for use in organic production systems, and provides nutrients to drive crop yields.
Fertoz is an organic fertilizer manufacturer and supplier. Our company markets and develops a range of organic fertilizers in North America and Australia.