Population growth, low crop yields, and soil degradation have meant that for many years Africa has faced a high food security risk, with many African countries reliant on food imports.
To improve crop yields and avert a food crisis, fertilizers will play a vital role. The abundance of arable land for agriculture and the current low fertilizer application rates point to a huge demand potential that is yet to be unlocked.
CRU Group and African Fertilizer and Agribusiness Partnership (AFAP) have built a strategic partnership to provide a better service to clients with an interest in African fertilizer and agribusiness. The two organisations have developed a strong working relationship, combining CRU’s global perspective on fertilizer trends and detailed market data, with AFAP’s deep understanding and close contact with Africa’s fertilizer and agribusiness markets.
CRU Group is the global leader in fertilizers analysis, pricing, consultancy, and conferences, with economists, analysts and consultants based around the world. Our fertilizer market analysis is unrivalled in its detailed, thorough and quantitative approach to understanding the opaque global fertilizer supply chains. CRU data on production costs, prices, supply and demand, are widely used by investors, producers, traders and governments to evaluate fertilizer industry strategies and future investments.
The African Fertilizer and Agribusiness Partnership (AFAP) is an independent non-profit organization that provides sustainable development projects and policies focused on market-driven business solutions in fertilizer and agribusiness sectors. AFAP adds value to the fertilizer and agribusiness value chain by building capacity and linking local stakeholders to global fertilizer, food companies and development agencies.
Through joint event collaborations and consultancy projects, CRU and AFAP offer a unique and comprehensive service to participants in the African fertilizer and agribusiness space.
Event Collaborations
CRU and AFAP have produced the Africa Fertilizer Agribusiness conference series. These events offer unrivalled networking opportunities with senior decision makers from the biggest fertilizer buyers and manufacturers in some of the world’s fastest growing fertilizer markets. Previous events in the series have been held in Tanzania, Ghana, Mozambique and South Africa.
Conference sessions are centred on how partnership, investment and innovation can boost fertilizer trade and allow agribusiness to flourish across Africa. It promises the opportunity to gain first-hand understanding of the challenges and opportunities and unrivalled access to high-level, hard to reach decision makers.
As we step into the “new normal” with Covid-19 affecting trade and the global economy, CRU and The African Fertilizer and Agribusiness Partnership (AFAP) have developed a new virtual platform to continue to keep the international fertilizer industry supplied with the latest information and key contacts from across Africa.
While travel is restricted, this platform will offer all the capabilities of our previous live conference on a virtual platform. The industry will have the opportunity to network with their peers, join the debate, discuss the leading issues affecting the industry and importantly, continue to support African fertilizer trade and agribusiness development.
The event will be held between 14 – 16 September 2020 and more details can be found here www.africafertilizerconference.com
Joint Consulting Projects
CRU Consulting, the management consultancy division of CRU, is focussed on providing informed and practical advice to the fertilizer, metals, and mining industries. CRU Consulting helps clients with bespoke research, analysis and strategic advice to help them make more informed and robust decisions in these industries.
CRU Consulting benefits from the wealth of proprietary market data and analysis that exists within the CRU Analysis business, all of which can be leveraged for the benefit of clients in bespoke assignments. This, coupled with employing highly experienced industry professionals, enables complex problems and decisions to be understood and analysed quickly using up to date data and market insight to ensure an evidence-based approach throughout.
CRU and AFAP’s experts are able to deliver joint consultancy projects to provide informed and practical advice to meet the needs of our customers and their stakeholders with an interest in African nitrogen, phosphate, and potash fertilizer markets. Our combined networks, deep understanding of commodity market issues and analytical discipline, and robust forecasting methodologies mean we can assist customers in their decision-making process. CRU and AFAP’s joint solutions offer original insight, accurate data, intelligent analysis and timely delivery.
CRU and AFAP’s consulting collaboration can assist market participants in answering a range of questions:
- What routes to market are available and how can marketing strategies be amended to ensure success in different African markets?
- What are the true barriers to entry for agricultural product suppliers in different African markets?
- What are the obstacles to improving access to quality agricultural inputs for African farmers, and how can they be overcome?
- What policy frameworks and development schemes can achieve success in Africa and how can they be supported by the private sector?
- How can African nations take advantage of their natural resources to support agribusiness and rural development?
For more information on how CRU and AFAP can assist your organisation please contact:
For CRU Events:
Tom Willatt
Head of Business Development and Portfolio Director, CRU Events
+44 207 903 2260
Tom.Willatt@crugroup.com
For CRU Consulting:
Josie Armstrong
Head of Fertilizer & Chemicals Consulting, CRU Consulting
+44 20 7903 2286
Josie.Armstrong@crugroup.com
For AFAP:
Sandra Pires
Director of Agribusiness Programs
AFAP South Africa
+27 (0)11 844-7320
spires@afap-partnership.org
