A new initiative aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions in fertiliser production has been launched, bringing together major players from the food, beverage, and apparel industries. The Low Carbon Fertiliser Alliance, managed by climate solutions firm 3Degrees, seeks to address barriers to adopting lower-carbon fertiliser options.
The initiative is backed by Mars, Inc., alongside three other Fortune 200 food companies, with CF Industries, North America’s largest nitrogen fertiliser producer, joining as the founding manufacturing member.
Fertiliser production generates approximately 2.6 gigatonnes of CO₂e annually, surpassing emissions from the aviation and shipping industries combined. While technologies exist to reduce emissions in manufacturing, companies often struggle to access lower-carbon alternatives due to financial and logistical barriers.
The Alliance aims to bridge this gap by supporting decarbonisation projects within the agricultural supply chain. Funding through the initiative will enable CF Industries to complete an emissions abatement project at its Verdigris, Oklahoma facility. Scheduled for completion in 2025, the project is expected to cut emissions by 600,000 metric tonnes CO₂e annually.
“Fertiliser manufacturing emissions account for over 20% of the emissions footprint of many agricultural commodities, yet they occur far upstream, making it difficult for individual companies to finance reductions,” said John Bourne, Senior Director of Agriculture at 3Degrees. “This is why collective action is essential.”
As pressure grows to reduce emissions across agricultural supply chains, the Alliance’s technical working group has developed a Reporting and Claims Guidance framework (V1.0). This will help companies integrate the impact of Alliance-supported interventions into their sustainability strategies.
“We appreciate the approach to accelerating decarbonisation across the fertiliser production system,” said Autumn Fox, Global Sustainability Director at Mars. “By working together, we ensure that our accounting for upstream emission reductions is credible and aligned with industry peers, while also advancing decarbonisation of essential agricultural inputs.”
Membership in the Low Carbon Fertiliser Alliance is open to companies involved in the manufacturing, trading, or sale of agricultural products in North America, including those in the food, beverage, and apparel sectors.
With growing demand for credible emissions reductions in agriculture, the Alliance is expected to play a key role in scaling sustainable fertiliser production and supporting global climate goals.
