Glossary

P

pesticide:

a chemical used to protect crops and livestock by killing pests in crops or animals, primarily insects, sometimes also used to include fungicides and herbicides.

photosynthesis:

the process by which green plants use solar energy to synthesize carbohydrates from carbon dioxide and water.

plant nutrient:

a chemical element or ion essential for plant growth.

pollution:

the presence of minerals, chemicals or physical properties at levels that exceed the values deemed to define a boundary between “good or acceptable” and “poor or unacceptable” quality, which is a function of the specific pollutant.

product safety data sheets:

detailed technical information designed to ensure the safe handling, transportation, storage and use of products. Data sheets include information on the composition and properties of products, and describe health, environmental and safety aspects and considerations.

product stewardship:

an approach to production and product management designed to address environmental, safety and health issues throughout the value chain, based on the principle that a company’s responsibility for its products covers the whole chain, from the extraction of raw materials to product application and waste management.

R

REACH:

the European Union’s Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) regulation which aims to improve the protection of human health and the environment through the better and earlier identification of the intrinsic properties of chemical substances, and by the substitution of dangerous chemicals.

renewable energy:

energy supplies derived from natural sources able to regenerate themselves, thereby enabling sustainable long-term consumption of energy by humans (e.g. solar, wind, tide, geothermal, biomass).

S

selective catalytic reduction (SCR):

a means of converting nitrogen oxide NO_x into diatomic nitrogen (N2) and water with the aid of a catalyst.

shaping issue:

an issue, or cluster of issues, that profoundly effects global development and consequently influences business environments in general, and a company’s strategic direction and development in particular. The shaping issues chosen by Yara (energy supply, climate change, food security and health concern) are global issues relevant to the company’s core business and to which it can make significant positive contributions.

soil fertility:

the overall ability of soil to support vigorous crop growth by ensuring adequate plant nutrients and suitable conditions for water uptake, and by providing favorable conditions for root growth and development. Fertility is a synthesis of chemical, physical and biological components and is also influenced by climatic and management factors.

surface water:

all water naturally open to the atmosphere, including rivers, lakes, reservoirs, streams, impoundments, seas and estuaries, also covering springs, shallow wells or other collectors of water that are directly influenced by surface water. (GEO-4)

sustainability risks:

business risks deriving from global trends and challenges relevant to sustainable development, or business risk related to the company’s sustainability performance, i.e. economic, environmental and social performance.

sustainable agriculture:

a way of conducting agricultural activities without causing irreversible damage to ecosystems that is economically viable, ecologically sound and capable of long-term operation, integrating environmental stewardship, farm profitability and prosperous local communities

sustainable business development:

a way of conducting business activities based on a corporate policy which takes into account business success, environmental impacts and relationships with the community, and puts these on a balanced footing for the long-term.

sustainable development:

a concept defined by the World Commission on Environment and Development (the Brundtland Commission) in 1987, as “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”. Sustainable development focuses on three major, integral, aspects of development: economical, ecological and societal.

T

TRI rate (Total Recordable Injury rate):

an indicator for the safety performance of a company, defined as the number of recordable injuries per million hours worked.

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