Creating an Enabling Regulatory Environment for Enhanced Efficiency Fertilisers

Background

There is a wealth of evidence on the potential productivity and sustainability opportunities offered by improved nutrient resource use efficiency and greater circularity. In addition to more precise and targeted application approaches, processing technology that produces improved organic fertilisers is becoming widespread. Additives and active ingredients added into fertiliser products can improve plant uptake. And industrial carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) technology could in future reduce manufacturing emissions from more conventional fertilisers.

Terms such as 'enhanced efficiency fertilisers', 'low carbon fertilisers' and 'low emissions fertilisers' are increasingly used (often used inter-changeably) but are poorly defined. Comparison of benefits and risks of the wide range of products is also difficult. For the purpose of this ITT, 'enhanced efficiency' and 'low-emissions' fertilisers are assumed to be equivalent, referring to novel products that by way of their ingredient content or manufacturing process, give rise to reduced greenhouse gas and/or ammonia emissions over their full lifecycle, as compared to conventional equivalents. This ITT sub-divides enhanced efficiency fertilisers into three categories; plant biostimulants; inhibited fertilisers; controlled release fertilisers.

Safe and effective use of enhanced efficiency fertilisers could significantly increase resource use efficiency and crop quality. Concurrently, they may release land from food production, improve environmental quality whilst reducing waste and greenhouse gas intensity. Plant bio-stimulants can also offer crop protection (e.g. climate, disease and pest) benefits, whilst some products offer other co-benefits (e.g. soil improvement). Increased consumer demand for healthy/environmentally sound products, high fertiliser prices and ambitious HMG climate and environmental goals are expected to drive increased adoption of enhanced efficiency fertili