Attendees of the TFI World Conference in Washington, D.C. Sept. 13-15 were treated to two offsite receptions at national landmarks. One reception was held at the Donald W. Reynolds Center for American Art and Portraiture. The second reception, at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History, provided attendees an opportunity to visit the industry-sponsored “Dig It! The Secrets of Soil” exhibit. Major sponsors for the exhibit are TFI, the Nutrients for Life Foundation, and the Soil Science Society of America.
In keeping with the Washington theme, the keynote address was delivered by former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. With a nod to the industry, she said that petroleum is not the only strategic resource, that fertilizer is a vital resource. On global trade, she warned against the “trap of protectionism.”
On one issue of concern to the industry – climate change – Albright said the government’s solution must be fair and helpful to the economy and must work. She said President Obama is determined to make a difference, but is pragmatic and knows the market must be the primary engine to get the economy to grow. Despite the movement to new renewable fuels, Albright said that fossil fuels will be the primary fuel for decades. She added that nuclear is also essential in a carbon-constrained future, and that complete energy independence is not realistic.
Albright said the refusal to participate in solving the global warming problem is not a sufficient response from China or any other country.
On various other topics, she offered the following.
Iran: It has no reason to be at odds with its neighbors. Albright said that engagement is not appeasement, and that they cannot deliver tough messages if they do not meet.
Russia: It can do more for itself with integration with the West. Young people are developing a huge distrust of the U.S., partly because they are being taught that the West let them down in World War II.
North Korea: It needs fuel oil and fertilizer, and both are bargaining points. No matter what their policy ideas are, people have to eat.
Pakistan: She said it can be summed up in one word – dangerous. Pakistan has nuclear weapons, terrorism, extremism, corruption, and a weak government. It is more preoccupied with India than fighting the Taliban. One positive is that the country has a middle class.
China: Albright said China is still resource hungry, with an 8 percent growth rate this year. They have major environmental, urban/rural, and ethnic problems. They need to look at a global approach. There is a growing middle class that may demand to be part of the system. They have become semi-capitalist, and she does not foresee an ideological clash with China. Albright said U.S. policy should be to have them as a strategic partner.
Venezuela: Hugo Chavez has an unquenchable lust for power, wanting to be the next Simon Bolivar for South America. Albright said that Chavez acts like a pale version of Fidel Castro. She said democracy has not delivered in some countries, and that is why you have the likes of Hugo Chavez.
Cuba: Albright gave one prediction. Fidel Castro will die. She noted that the U.S. has been making slow attempts at more normal relations with Cuba, but that they have a disingenuous democratic process in Cuba.
Attendance at this year’s event was down only about three percent, to 704 from the year-ago 727, when it was held in Seattle. Considering the intervening global financial collapse, that was not much of a drop. As for tone, while phosphate sources appear to be a little upbeat, most sources noted a lot of concern about the late harvest season and the general reluctance by farmers to buy product.