Agricultural Breakthrough Technology 1 Factsheet: Reducing Emissions From Chemical Fertilizers

Reducing emissions from chemical fertilizers: Cutting down on fertilizers’ carbon footprint is a game-changer, with strategies for field application and production processes

Chemical fertilisers have significantly boosted global crop production since the 1960s, increasing yields from 16 million tons in 1960 to 186 million tons in 2020. But their excessive and inefficient use has consequences: reduced nitrogen efficiency, which contributes to surface water pollution; higher production costs, meaning reduced profitability; and more greenhouse gas emissions, primarily nitrous oxide (N2O) – a gas 300 times more potent than carbon dioxide (CO2). Up to 60-70% of emissions from fertilisers come from their field application, with the remaining 30-40% being emitted during production. It is therefore important to tackle both to reduce the impact of fertiliser use on global heating.