These are produced based on advice from AIC Committees and are used to consolidate Members views, summarise the issues and position that AIC is taking in negotiations.

Documents appear in chronological order.

AIC Statement on Fertiliser Prices    (39kb) - August 2008
World demand for all fertiliser has been growing at a faster pace than world supply. The growing global population, changing diets in countries such as Brazil, China and India, increased production of biofuels and the release of set-aside land for food production have all increased demand for fertiliser. In addition, higher prices for agricultural commodities such as wheat have given farmers a greater incentive to plant more acreage. Figures released by the International Fertiliser Association in November 2007 show an increase in world plant nutrient use of 20 million tonnes - roughly equivalent to adding another United States to world demand.

Position Paper - Fertiliser Recommendations    (22kb) - July 2006
Nitrogen and phosphorus recommendations in areas where regulatory
action programmes apply (NVZ's in Britain, total territory, NI)

There are regional differences arising in the way that fertiliser recommendations are
being interpreted, as a result of slightly differing interpretations by devolved
governments of how to implement the terms of the Nitrate Directive.

AIC's primary objective is to maintain flexibility in determining fertiliser requirements,
ensuring that fertilising to crop requirement is non prescriptive, especially in terms of
specific amounts. To date, the framework is still available for flexibility but the level
of justification to retain the flexibility is subject to variations in interpretation.
The current situation in Scotland, England and Northern Ireland is clarified below:
(Click link above for full paper)