Ann: Phosphate Fertilizer Project Update, page-387

That podcast was well worth a listen. My summary below won't do it justice.

It's as if the expert in that podcast was talking about MNB's project. Maybe he was referencing it a few times, such as when he said he knows of groups in Africa which aim to provide microfinancing to small farm holders. He talked about how farmers globally, borrow to buy seed and fertiliser. Something not common for small farm holders in Africa. African farmers also need education on how much fertiliser and how to apply it. Carrinho will provide the credit and education and MNB's extensive field trials provide the local data needed for that education.
He mentioned the problem of logistics in Africa adding to the costs of fertilisers.
Talk about Mnb ticking every single box that he discussed as to what's needed in Africa. Africa's "weathered " soil is phosphate poor and he discussed how important phosphate is for all life including humans. Both plant and meat sources in Africa are low in phosphorus. It's not just important in improving yields but phosphorus is also important for human health. In fact he said the big challenge in Africa is getting more phosphorus into the African diet.
He discussed one project he was involved with in which farmers in Mozambique were educated in the use of fertiliser and saw maize yields improve around ten fold across five villages. He also said those small farmers were sold on the idea of using fertiliser but after that project concluded, the farmers couldn't access more of the fertiliser.
The Mnb/Carrinho project will be ongoing and provide both the affordable, well suited fertiliser plus the credit and education for the farmers.
He also mentioned the importance of a less soluble phosphate fertiliser for Africa's "weathered" acidic soils. He said there are commercially available polymer coated granules but they are too expensive. Other forms like MAP, DAP and TSP get fixed into the soil. After being fixed they will eventually release the phosphate but it takes "years and years". 10, 15 to 20 years and much more needs to be applied initially. MNB's trials show its fertiliser provides phosphate almost as well or over the second year as it does the first and provides ongoing benefits for at least four years. It's also organic and much less expensive. It's not only less expensive in the first year but it's far less expensive if farmers can apply once compared to maybe four applications of MAP over four seasons.
He said that 90% of African soils are phosphate deficient.