By Canon Norris Savala Engoke and Sarah Myers
The Open Data Crop Nutrition Platform (https://cropnutrientdata.net), a collaboration between the International Fertilizer Association (IFA), Agmatix, and the Consortium for Precision Crop Nutrition (CPCN), continues to make strides in supporting agricultural sustainability. The platform has seen exponential growth over the past year, attracting contributions from a diverse group of researchers and organizations. This influx of data has amplified the platform’s impact on crop nutrition research and its influence on farm practice.
Since its inception in 2022, the Open Data Crop Nutrition Platform has evolved into a central repository for essential crop nutrition data for researchers and agronomists. This past year, the platform has undergone an especially significant transformation. The platform now boasts an extensive collection of over 3,000 datasets, a substantial increase from the previous year. These datasets originate from over 70 countries and involve the collaborative efforts of more than 100 researchers. This diversified growth provides opportunities to develop a range of critical insights into various crops, soil types, and climatic conditions. The data covers a broad spectrum of information including records on crop nutrient content, soil fertility, and nutrient omission trials (Ludemann et al., 2022). Presently, it has over 500 registered users from over 400 organizations including universities, research institutes, agribusiness companies, and governmental bodies. This expanding community reflects the increasing role for the platform in global agronomic research and fostering the development of data-driven solutions for crop nutrition (Ludemann et al., 2022).
New collaborations and contributions
Continuing Impact and New Insights Anglo American, the first commercial contributor to the platform, has maintained its leadership by providing datasets to inform crop harvest index and nutrient removal models. In 2024, their contributions expanded to include data on nutrient use efficiency in various crop systems. This data is essential in refining predictive models that guide best practices for nutrient management, thus enhancing both productivity and sustainability (Kindred, 2020).
The insights gained from this data help in developing tailored nutrient management strategies that account for specific crop requirements and environmental conditions.
Enhancing Potassium Research
The International Potash Institute (IPI) has enriched the platform further by adding new trials that focus on potassium (K) fertilization and its impact on crop yields. The most recent contributions include data from previously underrepresented regions such as the Middle East and Eastern Europe. This expansion enables a more comprehensive analysis of K use efficiency, offering valuable insights into how K influences crop growth in different agro-ecological zones. The data supports the development of more sustainable fertilizer practices by providing region-specific recommendations for K application (Mey-Tal, 2023).
Global Nutrient Budgeting
The Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO)’s collaboration with the platform has also strengthened by their leveraging of the expanded database to enhance their Global and Regional Cropland Nutrient Budgets. The updated nutrient budgets now include more granular data on nutrient removal, efficiency and losses that offers a more precise understanding of global nutrient dynamics (FAO, 2024). This enhanced nutrient budgeting tool is seen as critical for policymakers and researchers to recognize nutrient imbalances and support the development of strategies to mitigate environmental risks associated with over, or imbalanced, nutrient use. By providing detailed data on nutrient cycling, the platform also aids in developing region specific nutrient management practices that support both agricultural productivity and environmental health.
Enhanced Data Analysis Capabilities
Agmatix, the technology partner, has significantly expanded analytical capabilities for platform users. With the integration of advanced AI technologies, including Large Language Models (LLM), Generative AI, and Natural Language Processing (NLP), users can now query data, generate hypotheses, conduct analyses, and uncover insights more efficiently and accurately. This enhancement simplifies the process of uncovering emerging trends in agriculture and/or agronomic practice. Users are able to analyze trials across multiple parameters, create visualizations for more informed decision-making, and leverage insights for future research, contributing to a collective understanding of crop nutrition and fostering more sustainable agriculture (Fig. 1). Researchers, universities, private industries, and policymakers all benefit from such access to an advanced analytical tool that enhances their decision-making processes.
Contribution to agricultural sustainability
Improving Precision in Crop Nutrition
The platform’s diverse datasets enable the development of more precise nutrient management models tailored to specific crops, soil types and climatic conditions. Such models optimize fertilizer application within productive and profitable cropping systems while minimizing environmental harm. By providing detailed data on nutrient uptake and soil fertility, the platform helps agronomists and farmers make informed decisions that enhance crop productivity while maintaining soil health (Ludemann et al., 2022).
Enhancing Nutrient Use Efficiency
Data from the platform has contributed to refining nutrient use efficiency metrics, guiding farmers and agronomists in implementing practices that maximize crop nutrient uptake. This focus on efficiency not only boosts crop yields but also reduces nutrient losses to the environment, thereby supporting sustainable farming systems. The platform’s data-driven approach ensures that right nutrients are applied in the right amount, at the right time, and in the right place, aligning with the principles of 4R Nutrient Stewardship and precision agriculture (Zingore and Johnston, 2013).
Supporting Global Food Security
The above-mentioned collaboration with FAO on nutrient budgeting underscores the platform’s role in addressing the challenge of producing more food within the context of the farmer’s resources and landscape, a critical element of global food security, particularly under the pressures of changing climatic conditions (FAO, 2024).
A call for expansion of data contributions
To sustain and enhance the impact of the platform, there is a continued need for expanded contributions of data from all stakeholders. Individuals, researchers, private industries, and organizations are encouraged to join this global effort. Researchers and academics can further enrich the platform by sharing their data on crop nutrition, soil fertility and agronomic practices, thereby aiding in the development of more accurate and comprehensive models. Private industries and agribusinesses can contribute to a deeper understanding of crop nutrition by providing data on nutrient use efficiency, crop performance, and soil health. Governmental bodies and NGOs play a crucial role by offering data from national and international research initiatives, soil surveys and agricultural extension services, thereby creating a more robust and representative global dataset.
Farmers and agronomists are also key contributors, as their practical insights and field-level data on crop nutrient management across various regions and farming systems can help tailor recommendations to local conditions, enhancing the platform’s relevance and effectiveness. By expanding the breadth and depth of data contributions, we can collectively build a more comprehensive and actionable knowledge base.
Future directions
Looking forward, the Open Data Crop Nutrition Platform aims to further expand its datasets and user base, fostering a global network of contributors and users. Plans include integrating more data on emerging topics such as carbon sequestration in agricultural soils, nutrient cycling in organic farming systems, and the role of crop nutrition in climate resilience.
The platform has already made remarkable progress through the momentum gained in its recognition as a vital tool for researchers, agronomists and policymakers. Its growth in data contributions and user engagement reflects the global recognition of its value. As it evolves, the platform is poised to play an increasingly pivotal role in advancing our understanding of crop nutrition. By continuing to enhance its capabilities and expand its reach, the Open Data Crop Nutrition Platform will be at the forefront of efforts to develop innovative, data-driven solutions for a more sustainable and resilient agricultural future.
Dr. Engoke (e-mail: c.engoke@apni.net) is Senior Scientist, African Plant Nutrition Institute (APNI), and Coordinator, Consortium of Precision Crop Nutrition (CPCN), Nairobi, Kenya. Ms. Myers is VP Marketing, Agmatix, Raleigh, USA.
Cite this article
Engoke, C. Myers, S. 2025. Advancing Agricultural Sustainability through Collaborative Data Growth. Growing Africa 4(1):11-13. https://doi.org/10.55693/ga41.YHQZ9225
REFERENCES
CPCN. 2025. Crop Nutrient Data. https://cropnutrientdata.net Food and Agriculture Organization. 2024. Global Cropland Nutrient Budget. FAO. https://www.fao.org
Kindred, D. 2020. Crop nutrient data contribution. Anglo American.
Ludemann, C.I., et al. 2022. Estimation of crop nutrient removal and nitrogen concentrations in maize. Field Crops Res. 284-108578
Mey-Tal, S. 2023. IPI contribution to crop nutrient data. International Potash Institute.
Zingore, S., Johnston, A. 2013. The 4R Nutrient Stewardship in the context of smallholder Agriculture in Africa. In, Vanlauwe, B., Blomme, G., Van Asten, P. (eds.), Agro-ecological Intensification of Farming Systems in the East and Central African Highlands, Earthscan, UK: 77-84.
