>> Jennifer Orme-Zavaleta: Good morning, everyone,
and thank you.
My name is Jennifer Orme-Zavaleta,
and I'm the principal deputy assistant administrator
for EPA's Office of Research and Development,
along with being the acting EPA Science Advisor.
And I'd like to thank you all for tuning
into today's live event to hear
about an exciting and innovative opportunity.
Nitrogen and phosphorous fertilizers
facilitate the growth of crops, including corn,
in yields that provide sustained global food production.
However, fertilizers applied without the consideration
of the appropriate rate, timing, source, and method
can impact the environment and human health.
Today, EPA and USDA,
in partnership with our collaborators,
are announcing an exciting opportunity
to address the issue of excess nutrients,
while also maintaining or promoting crop yields
to support our national agricultural needs.
To kick off this announcement, I am honored
to introduce EPA's Administrator, Andrew Wheeler.
>> Andrew Wheeler: Thank you, Jennifer.
And thank you all for joining us today.
Many of you are probably aware that this year
marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment
of the Environmental Protection Agency.
So, while we gather here today
to mark the launch of the Next Gen Fertilizer Challenges,
I would like to note how this marks
a milestone of achievement for EPA.
Throughout EPA's existence,
there's probably been no better example
of America's leadership in environmental protection
than the nation's success in the agriculture sector.
Each year's harvest is a testament
to last year's commitment to stewardship and sustainability.
And no other country
matches the productivity of the American farmer.
But as any farmer knows well, continued success
means continually looking toward the future
and seeking ways to improve techniques
and increase efficiency.
So, that's what the Next Gen Fertilizer Challenges
are all about: sparking innovation
that will improve the ways we use fertilizer.
If successful, this challenge will result in lower cost
to farmers and consumers,
while at the same time lowering the negative impacts
excess nitrogen and phosphorous have on our environment.
The EPA is therefore proud to announce the launch
of the Next Gen Fertilizer Challenges,
in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
I'm very pleased to see my cohort, Senator Sonny --
I'm sorry -- Secretary Sonny Perdue at USDA.
Sonny and I have worked together on a number of projects,
and I am very proud to work with him
closely on this project as well.
We're also working in coordination
with some great organizations,
including the Fertilizer Institute,
the International Fertilizer Development Center,
the National Corn Growers Association,
and the Nature Conservancy.
This competition will advance U.S. agriculture
by increasing the efficiency of nutrient-based fertilizers
in ways that lower their impacts on the environment.
Excess nitrogen and phosphorous from fertilizer
can reach watersheds and harm downstream resources
of all kinds, including larger water bodies,
such as the Chesapeake Bay and the Gulf of Mexico.
And in some areas,
excess nutrients can threaten drinking water sources.
The challenges we are announcing today
will spark innovations that will help keep fertilizers
where they are needed:
on corn and other agricultural fields,
and out of our waterways.
The challenges are a request for proposals
for two separate prizes --
one with a monetary prize at the end,
and the other with scientific recognition as the prize.
Both challenges are an effort to find new ways
to maintain or increase crop yields
while reducing the impact of fertilizers on the environment.
The first challenge,
called EEFs Environmental and Agronomic Challenge,
involves enhanced efficiency fertilizer,
a method that controls fertilizer release
or alters reactions
that reduce nutrient losses into the environment.
Development of EEFs would be an important addition
to conservation practices in this country.
And while there is no monetary prize,
the winners will receive recognition from EPA,
the Department of Agriculture, and other organizations.
The second challenge,
the Next Gen Fertilizer Innovations Challenge,
is a prize meant to generate new inventions or concepts
that can lower the environmental risk of agricultural practices
while either maintaining or increasing crop yields.
Submissions will be judged by experts.
And each winner will receive at least $10,000.
For these challenges to be viewed as successful,
they must show an ability to reduce losses of nitrogen
and/or phosphorous into the environment
while avoiding unintended consequences.
They must maintain or increase farm yields
without increasing net farm costs,
and they must establish a diverse stakeholder group
to help activate market forces and scientific innovation.
If these goals are met,
then the challenge will have served its great purpose,
and the agricultural community will be better for it.
Those competing for the EEF award
must submit their entries by September 21st, 2020.
And for the Next Gen Fertilizer Innovation Challenge,
participants must submit entries by October 21st.
Winners will be announced in early 2021.
So, thank you ahead of time,
for all those participating, and good luck.
When other nations around the world
look for the best in agriculture technology and expertise,
they look here to the United States.
This is a testament to partnerships like this
joint effort to support farmers and ranchers across the country,
while improving the environment.
I look forward to continuing to work with USDA
and our partners to ensure that U.S.
agriculture remains the best in the world. Thank you.
>> Jennifer Orme-Zavaleta: All right.
Thank you, Administrator.
Next up, I am pleased to introduce the U.S. Department
of Agriculture's Secretary, Mr. Sonny Perdue.
>> Sonny Perdue: Well, thank you,
and thank you to my friend, Administrator Andrew Wheeler.
I -- this is a great effort to do more with less,
which is really the story of American agriculture
for almost the last 100 years.
And I'm very proud, at USDA, to join the EPA.
Andrew, I'm not sure that America has seen
a more collaborative relationship
between the Environmental Protection Agency and --
since its formation --
and the United States Department of Agriculture --
in solving problems for our farmers
and ranchers across the country,
while continuing to remain good stewards
in improving the environment.
So, we're delighted today to join you in this effort --
once again, do more with less,
in that way which fits right in to our ag innovation agenda
that we had announced earlier this year.
I've had the opportunity, certainly,
to travel all across the country and see the very best
of American agriculture has to offer.
And I don't need to tell you or anyone else
that America's farmers and ranchers
are some of the most innovative,
creative early adopters of new technology on the planet.
And it gives me a great deal of pride
to represent them in this effort as well.
In February, just about the time everything locked down,
I announced USDA's agricultural innovation agenda
as USDA's Ag Outlook Forum.
And we believe it's our job at USDA
to tell the great story of American agriculture
and highlight the successes and advances
we have made to feed a growing world --
while, at the same time, challenging our producers
and ranchers to do more with less.
And that's exactly what we did.
One of those examples
is how significantly U.S. agriculture
has grown over the past 90 years.
Essentially, increasing the production of food
and fiber about 400 percent
while using nearly 10 percent less land.
And the key to this success was innovation, certainly.
And it will also be the key to our future success,
you know, going forward.
With the ag innovation agenda,
I committed USDA to stimulate innovation
so that American agriculture can achieve the shared goal
of increasing U.S. agricultural production by 40 percent
while cutting the environmental footprint of U.S.
agriculture in half by 2050.
The only way we're going to achieve that
is by doing what we're doing here today --
and that's developing new, innovative technologies
that can maximize agricultural outputs
while also improving the environment.
Working with partners like you at EPA --
and our private sector partners
that are joining us in this collaboration here --
as well as producers, like Kevin Ross and Iowa farmers,
we're going to reach those goals.
And we've done it before. We're going to continue to do it
because it's important for America.
When we announce this increased
enhanced efficiency of fertilizers,
we're exactly the type of innovation that we had in mind.
They improve efficiency to increase yields
and can match the time when the nutrients are needed
to be released to the time when the crops need them.
They're a great example of how we can harness innovation
to continue making agriculture more productive
and more environmentally sound at the same time.
This competition, as you indicated,
Andrew, includes two challenges --
to seek proposals for new and existing enhanced efficiency
fertilizer technologies that maintain or improve crop yields,
while, at the same, reducing environmental impacts.
This public/private partnership is the best way that we can
all work together to feed a growing world population
and achieve our ag innovation agenda goals.
And I thank all of you.
I thank our Nature Conservancy. I thank our Fertilizer Institute,
our Development Center, and EPA and USDA collaboration.
We're going to get this done. I'm excited to see the results
and all the creativity and innovation
that these awards will stimulate.
So thank you for allowing us to be a part of this today,
and thank all of you for participating.
And certainly I look forward to when we can be together
personally again and get this COVID behind us
where we can celebrate these kind of wins together.
So thank you all, and God bless. You all stay safe.
>> Jennifer Orme-Zavaleta: All right.
Well, thank you for your enthusiasm and support,
Secretary Perdue. So as you've heard,
EPA is hosting the Next Generation Fertilizer Challenges
and partnership with UDSA
and also in collaboration with The Fertilizer Institute,
the International Fertilizer Development Center,
the National Corn Growers Association,
and the Nature Conservancy.
We've invited each of our collaborators
to join us today to offer some remarks.
So first off, I'd like to introduce Lara Moody,
who is the vice president of stewardship
and sustainability at The Fertilizer Institute.
>> Lara Moody: Thank you, Administrator Wheeler
and Secretary Perdue, for launching these challenges
and highlighting industry innovation
to address nutrient losses,
which impact both the farmers' bottom line
and the environment.
We value our engagement with EPA and USDA,
and we're so proud to be a sponsor of this effort.
The Fertilizer Institute is the voice of the U.S. fertilizer
industry representing policy and stewardship
for fertilizer producers, wholesalers, retailers,
and those who support them in their business.
For more than a decade now,
we've worked with our members and stakeholders
to advance for our nutrient stewardship based on
applying the right nutrient source at the right rate,
the right time, and in the right place.
We've used education and research to support products,
tools, technology services,
and people that increase 4R practice adoption on the farm.
Fertilizers allow for crop production at yields
that meet global demand.
However, nitrogen and phosphorus,
applied without consideration with 4R principles,
can lead to nutrient losses,
impacting both water and air quality.
Enhanced efficiency fertilizers
and other new product technologies and formulations
can increase a plant's ability to use fertilizers
and reduce nutrient loss.
And, in a farm conservation system,
they can reduce impacts on the environment
while increasing productivity and profitability.
TFI members are investing in research and development
to meet the demands of future agricultural systems,
and we see public and private partnerships such as this one
as key to improving the product registration process
and farmer access to new technologies
that provide key benefits.
The two Next Gen Fertilizer Challenges launched today
will further stimulate innovation and increase
on-farm adoption of effective fertilizer technologies.
So thanks, USDA, EPA, and our other cosponsors
for collaborating with The Fertilizer Institute.
We're glad to be a part of this solution
for America's farmers. Thank you.
>> Jennifer Orme-Zavaleta: All right.
Well, thank you for your hard work and your support, Lara.
Next, I'm happy to introduce Upendra Singh,
who is the deputy director of headquarters research
at the International Fertilizer Development Center.
>> Upendra Singh: Honorable Secretary
for Agriculture Mr. Sonny Perdue,
Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Mr. Andrew
Wheeler, colleagues, and friends, good morning.
IFDC is indeed honored to be a partner in the EPA/USDA
Challenges on Enhanced Efficiency Fertilizers
and Next Generation Fertilizers.
IFDC's vision of healthier soils and plants for food secure
and environmentally sustainable world is firmly anchored
on improved nutrient use efficiency.
So indeed, we are very excited about the EPA/USDA Challenges,
and we look forward to promoting
the next generation of fertilizers.
IFDC will also be able to share the lessons
we all learn from the challenge with the rest of the world.
The challenge will showcase the fact
that environmental protection, food and nutritional security,
and farm profitability can be achieved
without compromises and tradeoffs,
creating a win-win for all.
With all our partners and challenge applicants,
we'll work together to make the EPA/USDA Challenge a success.
Thank you very much for inviting IFDC
to be a partner in this challenge. Thank you.
>> Jennifer Orme-Zavaleta: All right, excellent.
Thank you, Upendra.
And now, from the National Corn Growers Association,
I am pleased to welcome President Kevin Ross.
>> Kevin Ross: Good morning.
Thank you for having me here this morning.
I appreciate -- I appreciate the comments made so far,
and certainly I wanted to say
I appreciate Secretary Perdue and Administrator Wheeler
for their efforts on this particular program
and moving this forward.
The National Corn Growers Association
is proud to be represented here
and participate in this announcement.
This is a great opportunity to partner with USDA and EPA
in developing new technologies
that will help farmers advance their sustainability efforts.
Corn farmers are committed to sustainability
and have made major improvements in recent years
related to fertilizer use and nutrient management.
But farming better is a journey, not a destination.
We're always looking for ways
to make our family businesses successful
and do so with an eye toward healthier soil
and cleaner water.
Major changes in agronomic practices
like no-till, cover crops,
and the method and timing of fertilizer application
are allowing us to continue to improve
our environmental footprint.
Next Gen can foster increased adoption of these practices,
especially with its mission of maintaining yields
and not increasing net farm costs.
History shows us market-driven initiatives
that are nonregulatory and focus
on demonstrated effectiveness in the field
are the ones to be adopted.
The Next Gen Fertilizer Challenge checks
all these boxes,
so NTGA is very confident that it will be a success.
Thank you very much.
>> Jennifer Orme-Zavaleta: All right.
Well, Kevin, thank you very much for joining us.
And finally, I'm pleased to introduce
Carrie Vollmer-Sanders,
who is the director of agriculture engagement
with North America at the Nature Conservancy.
>> Carrie Vollmer-Sanders: Thank you very much.
And I'm really glad to be here today.
Administrator Wheeler and Secretary Perdue,
we really appreciate your collaboration
in moving this challenge forward.
The Nature Conservancy is a private nonprofit
whose mission is to conserve the land
and waters in which all life depend.
And we believe it's this kind of innovation and ingenuity
and collaboration through the Next Gen Fertilizer Challenge,
which will help conserve more of our natural resources.
Innovation is at the core of agriculture,
and throughout the past century advancements in agriculture
have enabled farmers to feed a population
that has grown from less than 2 billion
to more than 7 billion people today.
And the demand for food continues to grow.
Some of the long-held ag
practices have inadvertently degraded our soils
or impaired water quality in our rivers and streams,
putting at risk the very resources
America's farmers rely on.
U.S. agriculture has always been on the forefront of invention,
and it is clear that the future of ag will continue
to require solutions that not only increase food production
but also safeguard our communities,
our land, our water, and our air.
The way we manage our lands and fertilizer
is an important part of that solution.
Nitrogen and phosphorus
are essential to heathy crop production,
and the Nature Conservancy is a strong proponent
of the 4R Nutrient Stewardship framework.
We also believe there is great value in exploring innovations
in soil health, production and management of fertilizer,
including the enhanced efficiency fertilizers.
We're really excited to join EPA, USDA,
and the other organizations that are launching
the Next Gen Fertilizer Challenge
and look forward to seeing ideas
supporting pragmatic solutions and good science
for the next generation of innovators
destined to help our farmers feed a growing world,
while also protecting our lands, water, and air.
>> Jennifer Orme-Zavaleta: All right.
Well, I want to thank you all for joining us
for the announcement of the Next Gen Fertilizer Challenges.
We look forward to receiving innovative proposals
for solutions to address the issues of excess nutrients
to protect human health and the environment.
And now, James, I'll hand it over to you.
>> James Hewitt: Thank you, everyone.
For all press on the call, please refer
to the call-in information previously sent for a Q and A
with Administrator Wheeler and Secretary Perdue.
Thank you, and have a great day.