History of the International Nitrogen Initiative
March 1998
The concept for the INI had its initial beginnings at the First International Nitrogen Conference, held in The Netherlands.
October 2001
The need for such an organization was further articulated at the Second International Nitrogen Conference, in Maryland, USA three years latter. The unanimous view of the 400 participants was that some type of international program was required to optimize the benefits of nitrogen, and minimize associated problems.
August 2002
Over the following months, an outline of an international effort was developed. It was introduced in Johannesburg at the workshop on Nitrogen Management for Food Security and Ecosystem Security Workshop (associated with the World Summit on Sustainable Development).
December 2002
Scientific Committee on Problems of the Environment (SCOPE) agreed to be the founding sponsor of INI.
January 2003
International Geosphere-Biosphere Program (IGBP) agreed to sponsor INI as a Fast-Track Project.
February 2003
The formation of the INI was formally announced at the Symposium, Meeting the Nitrogen Management Challenge: Breaking the Links in the Nitrogen Cascade (associated with the American Association for the Advancement of Science Annual Meeting).