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In
spite of these developments it became increasingly
clear that TVA, with its objective of developing
technologies for the U.S. fertilizer industry, in
particular, and the agricultural sector, in general
(as stipulated in its charter and by a congressional
act), was very restricted in what it could or would do
for developing countries. For example, TVA could not
engage in research and development specifically for
the developing countries, and TVA-NFDC could perform
work through the U.S. Government (USAID or Department
of State). Thus, a definite need arose for an
international center that would freely address the
fertilizer technology needs of the developing
countries in the tropics and subtropics.
IFDC
was created during a period of crisis. Food shortages
of the early 1970s were occurring on a worldwide
basis. Energy shortages were becoming commonplace, and
prices of agricultural inputs were increasing rapidly.
Fertilizers to produce food were also in short supply
and prices skyrocketed. All these factors put the
developing countries at a distinct disadvantage.
To
address this crisis situation, the Food and
Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations
(UN) organized a World Food Conference, which was held
in Rome, Italy, in November 1974. In preparation for
the World Food Conference, the United States, in
consultation with the late Sir John Crawford of
Australia and then Chairman of the Technical Advisory
Committee (TAC) of the Consultative Group on
International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), decided
to offer developed world "know-how" in
fertilizers and soil fertility toward an international
effort in fertilizer research and development for the
benefit of the developing world. In April 1974, Dr.
Henry Kissinger, then Secretary of State, in an
address to the United Nations General Assembly,
pledged the availability of U.S. fertilizer technology
and strong material support toward "the
establishment of an international action on two
specific areas of research: improving the
effectiveness of chemical fertilizers, especially in
tropical agriculture, and new methods to produce
fertilizers from non-petroleum resources."
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More About IFDC's History...
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