July 01, 2020

Action Africa: Thriving Farms, Thriving Future: first fertilizer shipment sets sail for Kenya & Tanzania

On 28 June, the first shipment of Yara’s premium fertilizer sat sail from Yara’s production facility in Porsgrunn, Norway towards East Africa.

Yara has committed 40,000 tonnes of premium fertilizer, agronomic expertise and digital enablement to smallholder farmers in a public-private partnership supported by the UN World Food Program, the Norwegian government and African institutions.

Heading for Kenya and Tanzania, the first 20,000 tonnes of YaraMila onboard the cargo ship Bonette left the plant during the early morning hours on Sunday.

“I am proud that Yara can contribute to increasing food security in vulnerable communities. The Action Africa initiative has many milestones to come and I am convinced that we have only seen the beginning. The total impact of this will go far beyond what we first envisioned.” Says Pablo Barrera Lopez, Executive Vice President Strategy & Communications.

Aiming to reach smallholders in Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique, the fertilizer and agronomic support will help farmers produce food for one million people for one year.

Last week, the Norwegian minister of International Development, Dag Inge Ulstein, visited the Porsgrunn plant to oversee the preparations before the vessel’s departure. He also met with Yara’s CEO Svein Tore Holsether and the employees involved in preparing the shipment.

Svein Tore Holsether, CEO and President of Yara together with Norway's Minister of International Development, Mr. Dag-Inge Ulstein in Porsgrunn.

“If we are to reach the Sustainable Development Goals, as well as the people who need our help the most, we need even more public-private partnerships. This initiative taken by Yara is very important and will go a long way.” says Minister Ulstein.