Growing Together: Conversation with Corey Rosenbusch, President and CEO, The Fertilizer Institute

Corey Rosenbusch serves as The Fertilizer Institute’s (TFI) President and CEO, where he is responsible for leading efforts to advance the fertilizer industry. Since joining TFI in 2020, Rosenbusch has spearheaded several initiatives aimed at strengthening TFI’s voice with the agriculture community and increasing member value through innovative programs, such as the Biostimulant Certification and low-carbon ammonia manufacturing standard.  

Before joining TFI, Rosenbusch served as President and CEO for the Global Cold Chain Alliance (GCCA). He also lived in Indonesia implementing a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) funded agriculture development project for The Borlaug Institute. Rosenbusch also served as the National FFA President, representing the organization at state conventions and agriculture industry events.  

Rosenbusch holds a degree in International Development from Harvard University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Education from Texas A&M University. He serves as Chair of the Texas A&M University Agricultural Leadership, Education & Communication Department Advisory Board and the National Association of Manufacturers’ Council of Manufacturing Associations.

How did your educational experiences at Texas A&M University (TAMU) influence your path to leadership and what keeps you engaged as Chair of TAMU’s Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communication Department Advisory Board?

Texas A&M was instrumental in shaping how I think about leadership. Beyond the technical knowledge I gained, it taught me the importance of service, relationships, and bringing people together to solve challenges. Agriculture is all about the relationships you build and grow, and the ability to communicate, build trust, and lead through collaboration has been invaluable throughout my career.

I stay engaged with the Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communication Department Advisory Board because of the opportunity to help prepare the next generation of agricultural leaders. The challenges facing agriculture today are complex and we need talented young professionals who can connect science, policy, business, and communication. I find it incredibly rewarding to support students and help ensure they are ready to lead.

Why do you think the land-grant mission resonates deeply across generations?

As my oldest daughter played lacrosse in high school and went through the college recruiting process, my family traveled to many campuses across the country. I couldn’t help but to quiz them with questions like, “What’s the land-grant university in Oregon?”

It’s interesting how the land-grant culture becomes ingrained and part of your blood. Unlike other universities, there is a bit of a family feel where you are connected because of the special mission that is rooted in agriculture, research, Extension, and in serving communities in practical ways.

My daughter will attend a public university, which will only deepened my appreciation for what makes the public and land-grant system so special. The mission creates lasting connections that stay with you long after graduation.

TFI’s mission focuses on ensuring food production and security for a thriving tomorrow. How do those priorities align with the role of land-grant universities across research, education, and Cooperative Extension?

Land-grant universities were founded to serve agriculture and the public by advancing knowledge and putting it into practice. TFI shares that same commitment to ensure farmers have the tools, technologies, and information they need to feed a growing population while caring for the land for future generations.

With the current market volatility and challenges facing the farm economy, there has never been a more important time for producers to use fertilizer as efficiently as possible. For that reason, land-grant universities’ research, classroom education, and Extension has been especially helpful and beneficial. This work helps farmers make decisions that improve productivity, stewardship, and economic outcomes.

As TFI works to empower the fertilizer industry to nourish a growing world, how have land-grant universities helped drive innovation and strengthen your impact?

Many advances that improved nutrient management, crop productivity, and environmental performance can be traced back to research conducted at land-grant universities. Their work provides the scientific foundation for better decision-making on the farm.

Land-grant institutions also play a critical role in translating research into real-world application. Through Extension and outreach efforts, they help ensure innovations don’t stay in a laboratory or journal article, but actually reach farmers, agronomists, retailers, and other stakeholders who can put them to work. That connection between science and practice is incredibly valuable.

If you could ask land-grant university researchers to focus on one critical challenge in plant nutrient management or production, what would it be and why?

One of the most important challenges is improving nutrient use efficiency while maintaining or increasing productivity. Farmers are continually asked to produce more with less, and they need solutions that deliver nutrients to crops when and where they are needed most.

Fertilizer production has remained relatively unchanged for more than a century. A great book on the subject is The Alchemy of Air by Thomas Hager, which chronicles the invention of the Haber-Bosch process. That process made it possible to produce synthetic nitrogen by combining natural gas with nitrogen from the air to create ammonia, and it continues to be the foundation of fertilizer manufacturing today.

Many of the resources used in fertilizer production, particularly phosphate and potash, are limited. As we think about the next generation of fertilizer technology, land-grant universities provide huge value in helping drive the research and innovation that will shape the future of food production.

I would ask researchers: How can we make these chemical reactions more efficient and friendly to the environment? In addition, advances in precision agriculture, enhanced efficiency technologies, soil health science, and nutrient management practices can help farmers improve productivity, reduce losses, and strengthen environmental outcomes. Finding ways to optimize every pound of nutrient applied remains a critical priority for agriculture.

What advice would you offer college students preparing for careers that will shape innovation and stewardship in the fertilizer industry?

First, stay curious. Agriculture is changing rapidly, and the most successful professionals will be lifelong learners.

Second, develop both technical expertise and communication skills. The ability to understand science is important, but so is the ability to explain it, build relationships, and work across disciplines.

Finally, spend time understanding the farmer’s perspective. Everything we do ultimately comes back to helping growers succeed. If you keep that focus, you’ll be well positioned to make a meaningful impact in agriculture.

Why is investing in college internships so important to organizations like TFI?

TFI loves working with interns and we have three college students working in our office this semester. Texas A&M’s agricultural policy internship program has been developing future leaders for more than 30 years. It has a special place in my heart because my wife went through the program when she was in college.

Hosting interns is an investment in the future. It helps cultivate informed advocates who can carry what they’ve learned into whatever careers they pursue. Whether interns end up on Capitol Hill, in the agriculture industry, or in another field entirely, they gain a deeper appreciation for the role fertilizers play in feeding the world. That’s why partnering with university students is such a valuable opportunity for us.

How can Cooperative Extension deliver the greatest value to fertilizer industry stakeholders working across diverse regions?

Extension’s greatest strength is its ability to provide trusted, science-based information that is tailored to local conditions. Agriculture is incredibly diverse, and what works in one region may not work in another.

By continuing to connect research with practical, on-the-ground recommendations, Extension helps stakeholders make informed decisions about nutrient management, crop production, environmental stewardship, and emerging technologies. That local expertise and credibility are among the most valuable assets in agriculture.

Where do you see the strongest partnership opportunities between TFI and land-grant institutions to advance fertilizer technologies, improve plant nutrition, and support positive environmental outcomes?

Land-grant universities are essential partners in advancing solutions that help producers remain competitive while meeting the challenges of a rapidly changing agricultural landscape. The greatest opportunities exist where research, education, and implementation come together. We can work together to advance nutrient stewardship, evaluate emerging technologies, improve nutrient use efficiency, and better understand how fertilizer contributes to both agricultural productivity and environmental goals.

We maintain strong partnerships with land-grant universities, particularly through the research part of our mission. Our Fertilizer Education, Research and Training (FERT) Foundation funds a lot of research projects across the land-grant system.

The 4R Nutrient Stewardship program provides a great example of what can be accomplished when industry, universities, retailers, agronomists, and farmers work toward a common objective. By strengthening those partnerships, we can help ensure farmers have access to the best science and tools to meet the challenges ahead.

We welcome partnership opportunities with land-grant universities to do even more together.