The Institute endeavors to promote agronomic and technical research and studies on phosphate production and use and supports phosphate fertilizers use throughout the World for increased and sustained crop production.

To accomplish this principal goal, the institute carries out activities in several regions in the world including Asia, North Africa and West Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Europe.

In Asia, conducted projects focus on the need to further the intensification of cropped land, on promoting a balanced supply of plant nutrients, and bringing into cultivation the large untapped upland acid soils, all in support of increased demand for more diversified foods as a result of the rise in the incomes of growing populations.

In North Africa and West Asia (WANA), most if not all soils are deficient in P and crop water use efficiency is much linked to phosphate fertilizer applications. Good management of P fertilizers through utilization of effective diagnostic techniques and application of sound P fertilization strategies are among the objectives pursued by IMPHOS in this region.

In Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), soil P deficiency is widespread and low fertilizer use is the main reason of the stagnation or decline in crop production. Starting back in the early seventies, IMPHOS developed several projects to first demonstrate the potential for increased food production through the use of mineral phosphorus fertilizers in particular, and second to promote a sustained use of plant nutrients at the farm level.

In Europe, there is a keen interest in establishing sustainable farming systems that have minimal impact on the environment, while reducing production costs. Surveys and projects conducted by IMPHOS in Europe were directed at providing a scientific basis for phosphate fertilizer management with a view to maintaining crop productivity and avoiding environmental degradation.