Fertilisers Efficiency Enhancers: Increasing yields whilst lowering emissions

The United Nations estimate that by 2100 the world’s population will reach approximately 10.9 billion. This poses a number of challenges, namely regarding sustainable food production.

Did you know that fertilisers in the agricultural sector are key to feeding the growing population? Nitrogen fertilisers – just as other fertilisers – are used to boost yields, but only about 50% ís taken up by the crop while the rest is released into the atmosphere or the ground water. These losses pose a challenge for human health, climate and biodiversity. 

Chemistry can help address this challenge, for instance with nitrogen stabilisers such as urease and nitrification inhibitor technologies. Adding urease inhibitors (UIs) to fertilisers helps preserve biodiversity and reduce air quality impairment such as smog, by reducing ammonia emissions from urea fertilisers to air by up to 70%.  Adding nitrification inhibitors (NIs) to fertilisers results in better climate protection because they reduce Nitrous Oxide (N2O) emissions, which are approximately 298 times more potent than carbon dioxide (CO2) in terms of atmospheric warming.

Environmental, societal and economic benefits

Overall, both UI and NI technologies increase Nutrient use efficiency (NUE), enhancing the ability of crops to absorb nutrients and maximise yields. This results in a higher food production per unit of Nitrogen, a higher return on investment for farmers, and a lower carbon footprint of crop and food production all in one. 

Nitrogen stabilisers may not be the only solution available, but they are an opportunity to grasp while we try to make our way in meeting the ambitions of the EU Green Deal.

Associated SDG Targets