February 9, 2010
New Zealand experts seek an industry standard for fertilisers' efficacy
The Fertiliser Quality Council in New Zealand is aiming to make life less confusing for farmers when it comes to deciding which fertiliser to purchase.
The body is setting up an expert working group to draw up a protocol for outlining fertiliser trial results, so they are all measured and expressed in the same way.
It follows a dispute last year over claims made by a fertiliser manufacturer, Summit-Quinphos, in advertising about one of its products. An international expert asked to review the research results for the product found the advertising had overstated its effectiveness.
Fertiliser Quality Council chair Neil Barton said that the major fertiliser companies, including Summit-Quinphos, have agreed on the need for an industry standard and the expert working group is its response.
The expert group will be led by Emeritus Professor Russ Tilman of Massey University.