The fertilizer maker has been supporting the “Green Chemistry for Life” project for 10 years
PhosAgro, a leading global producer of phosphate fertilizers, once again lent its support to the awarding of UNESCO grants to young scientists as part of the “Green Chemistry for Life” project. The award ceremony took place on November 3 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, as part of the “Science for Sustainable Development” symposium organised by the United Nations.
This event marked the tenth anniversary of the partnership between PhosAgro, UNESCO, and the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) in the global field of “green chemistry.” Since 2013, more than 900 scientists from 120 countries have applied for grants, and 48 winners have received around $30,000 each for their research.
PhosAgro places special emphasis on sustainability issues. The company produces environmentally friendly fertilizers that do not contain concentrations of toxic substances harmful to human health and soil, such as cadmium. These fertilizers are supplied to 100 countries worldwide, contributing to the elimination of hunger and expanding people’s access to healthy and safe food products.
“Green chemistry” is directly related to sustainable development. It is a scientific discipline aimed at improving chemical processes to reduce their impact on the environment. This includes the implementation of safer chemical processes, reducing the toxicity of chemical substances, and avoiding the use of solvents wherever possible among other things.
This year’s grants were awarded to scientists from Tunisia, Croatia, Italy, Armenia, Malaysia, Vietnam and Brazil. The topics of their research are diverse, ranging from the use of “nanopesticides” to combat weeds to the production of benzene derivatives without the use of solvents and catalysts.
The “Green Chemistry for Life” programme is the first project in the history of UNESCO and the entire UN system to be funded by Russian business. It underscores the importance of ongoing international cooperation in the field of sustainable agricultural development and helps scientists from around the world to finance their research, making chemistry, agrochemistry and agriculture more environmentally friendly.
