Bringing agriculture to life for the next generation in Belgium

Students at Notre-Dame de la Trinité have been hard at work this year on an agricultural education initiative: building a greenhouse on school grounds to explore where their food comes from, what a healthy diet looks like, and the essential role that farming and fertilizer plays in sustaining both people and the planet.

This effort is part of a broader program developed by Tanguy Dubois, Director, European Sales, who saw an opportunity to bring Nutrien’s expertise into the classroom after a conversation with his young son about his work.

“The goal of this project is to help students understand how plants, crops, ecosystems, and farmers are all connected,” says Tanguy. “We also wanted to highlight the beneficial role of fertilizer and help demystify some of the common misconceptions around its use.”

As part of the program, students received tailored presentations on the basics of crop nutrition, including how nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (N-P-K) support crop growth. They learned how farmers partner with Nutrien and use fertilizer to care for the soil, grow nutritious food, and meet the demands of a growing population.

“Fertilizers play an essential role in improving food security across Europe, and Nutrien is proud to supply this set of crop inputs,” says Dr. Karl Wyant, Director of Agronomy. “Helping students understand how nutrients like potassium, for example, support both crop health and human health — from energy levels to heart and muscle function — gives them a stronger, more personal connection to the food on their plate and the science behind it.”

The learning continued outside the classroom with a field trip to the Port of Antwerp.

“Students observed two potash vessels being unloaded - including one carrying product for Nutrien,” says Nicolas Proost, Manager, Shipping and Logistics. “They toured the warehouse, learned about the logistics that move potash from Saskatchewan to European farms, and even boarded a ship to see the operation up close.” 

The day ended back at school, where the students proudly presented their greenhouse and shared the vegetables they produced.

“Our work with Notre-Dame de la Trinité reflects Nutrien’s global commitment to nutrient stewardship and education,” says Gregory Fontaine, Senior Managing Director, Europe. “It’s a privilege to inspire the next generation with knowledge about agriculture’s role in healthy communities.” 

Nutrien contributed funds to support the greenhouse construction and cover the cost of transportation for the field trip. It’s a small investment with big potential by planting seeds of knowledge and appreciation for agriculture that will grow for years to come.

Names from left to right: Kent Lambden, Aaron Duyck, Pierre Detournay, Michael Reinke, Muriel Desmet, Chaitanya (CK) Kosaraju, Nico Rose, Bert Buytaert, Tanguy Dubois, Gregory Fontaine and Joe Murphy.

“Thank you to our European team for bringing this project to life and helping connect students to the food system in such a meaningful way. This is a great example of how we can live our purpose of Feeding the Future — by sharing our knowledge and showing how Nutrien supports farmers at every stage of the agricultural value chain,” says Chaitanya (CK) Kosaraju, Vice President, International Sales. “From production in Saskatchewan, Canada to the classroom, this kind of outreach is a powerful reminder of the impact we can have when we work together globally.”

For more agronomy and nutrient education resources, head to our Nutrien eKonomics website: eKonomics | Fertilizer and Crop Nutrition Research, News and ROI