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Background
of IFDC
IFDC
was created in October 1974 as a center of excellence
with expertise in fertilizers to service the needs of
the developing countries. IFDC was first established
as a private, nonprofit corporation under the laws of
the State of Alabama, U.S.A. Once created as a
nonprofit organization IFDC immediately began to
qualify for the designation of an "International
Organization" with all the privileges and
immunities inherent to this designation.
This
designation under U.S. law allowed IFDC to receive
widespread support, cooperation, and backing of the
world community for which it was created. The
designation as a public, nonprofit, international
organization was granted in March 1977 by Presidential
Decree 11977. As a result, IFDC became truly
international in composition, financing, and
operation. This designation has contributed greatly to
its success over the years.
Brief
History
IFDC
in a sense can be considered as an outgrowth of the
TVA’s National Fertilizer Development Center (NFDC).
In the early 1960s when Dr. Donald L. McCune joined
NFDC, it became evident that the TVA-NFDC’s
fertilizer knowledge and facilities were resources
that should be contributing to foreign assistance
efforts in the developing countries. As a U.S. Federal
agency, the most logical way to contribute would be
through programs offered through the United States
Agency for International Development (USAID). With the
assistance of a USAID Officer, Dr. Frank Parker
(former Assistant Director General of the Food and
Agriculture Organization [FAO]), who was well
acquainted with the role that fertilizers could and
should play in the agriculture of developing
countries, TVA-NFDC became increasingly involved in
agricultural development in the developing countries.
Initially, this involvement was in the form of
furnishing information on fertilizers to USAID and its
missions but soon became more direct by sending
technical assistance missions to the developing
countries. During this time NFDC had a relatively
small core staff, referred to as the International
Fertilizer Development staff, headed by Dr. McCune and
dedicated to limited international assistance
activities.
Read
More About IFDC's History...
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