Ammonia is set to play a big role in the upcoming years. As we have extensively discussed before (https://lnkd.in/e4t-idSW), the market could increase by 4x by 2050, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). Ammonia is nowadays mainly used for the production of nitrogen based fertilisers, notorious for their very high carbon footprint. But did you know that field emissions actually account for 58.6% of the total emissions of nitrogen fertilisers? Contrary to popular belief, it’s not the production process (like the Haber-Bosch method) that’s the biggest culprit — that accounts for just 38.8% of emissions. Instead, field emissions dominate, caused by poor plant uptake, over-dosage, and microbial activity in the soil that turns surplus nitrogen into nitrous oxide (N₂O), which has 265x the global warming potential of CO₂. Why does this matter now? With Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) being fully implemented by the beginning of 2026, the pressure is on. Nitrogen fertilisers are among the affected sectors and importers will need to purchase certificates for the (production) emissions associated with these products. How do we solve this problem? That’s the big question. We will dive deeper into potential solutions next. Teaser: we are particularly interested in solutions that are tackling both emission drivers at once. If you are building in this space, please reach out to Paola Brenni. Source 👉 https://lnkd.in/d-DxJ9JG #Fertiliser #Ammonia #Nitrogen
Innovation in agrifood
12hBeyond the environmental impact, fertilizer costs make up nearly 20% of U.S. farm cash expenses—often more for corn and wheat producers. That’s why improving nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) is crucial—not just for the climate, but also for farmers’ profitability and global food security. There are several ways to address this challenge. Some are plant-focused, including breeding and biotech approaches to enhance NUE or introducing biological nitrogen fixation in cereals. Others involve agronomic solutions, like using slow-release fertilizers. NUE is driven by three main components: increased nitrogen uptake, improved nitrogen utilization, and higher protein yield. Each involves complex physiological mechanisms and agriculturally important traits. Notably, nitrogen uptake by plant roots is highly stage-dependent—most nitrogen is absorbed before the plant reaches its reproductive phase. As a result, variations in growth rate, root biomass, and root architecture play a significant role in determining nitrogen uptake in real-world farming conditions. (part of a review i'm writing on the topic of plant-based solutions to combat climate-change)