After about a half century since the birth of the international fertilizer industry, many problems called for solutions through research on soil fertility, plant nutrition, fertilizer application and production, these being the reason for organizing the First International Conferences on chemical fertilizers (Rome – Italy, 1932, Amsterdam – the Netherlands, 1933).
Delegates from 29 Countries (Australia, Belgium, Brazil, British India, Canada Czechoslovakia, Denmark, the Dutch East Indies, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Holland, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Marocco, Norway, Peru, Poland, Puerto Rico, Romania, Sweden, Switzerland, Rep. of South Africa, USA and Yugoslavia) decided to settle an association dealing with the scientific and technical aspects of fertilizers under the name: Centre International des Engrais Chimique – CIEC with headquarters in Rome (Technical Director) and in Zürich (President And Secretary General).