PepsiCo and Fertiberia have finalised a long-term agreement to significantly scale the use of green hydrogen-based fertilisers across European agricultural supply chains. The collaboration aims to decarbonise the production of key ingredients for popular brands such as Lay’s, Doritos, and Cheetos, marking a major step in the transition toward low-carbon food systems.
Under the terms of the deal, Fertiberia will provide PepsiCo with up to 150,000 tonnes of its “Impact Zero” crop nutrition solutions annually by 2030. This volume is sufficient to cover approximately 400,000 acres (162,000 hectares) of farmland dedicated to potatoes, corn, sunflowers, and sugar beets.
The initiative follows successful pilot programmes in Spain and Portugal, where the switch to low-carbon fertiliser reduced potato farming emissions by up to 15% and corn emissions by 20%.
Fertiliser production and application currently account for nearly half of PepsiCo’s average potato carbon footprint in Europe. By integrating Fertiberia’s solutions alongside existing supplier agreements, PepsiCo expects low-carbon fertilisers to comprise 50% of its European supply chain by 2030.
“Switching to low-carbon fertiliser is one of the strongest levers we have to reduce agricultural emissions,” said Archana Jagannathan, Chief Sustainability Officer at PepsiCo Europe. “We’re excited by the success of our pilot and look forward to scaling this ambitious partnership across Europe.”
Unlike traditional fertilisers produced using natural gas, Fertiberia’s Impact Zero range is manufactured using green hydrogen. This process reduces associated greenhouse gas emissions by up to 63%.
The fertilisers also incorporate advanced biological technologies, such as NSAFE—the world’s first nitrification bio-inhibitor. These innovations improve nutrient uptake and prevent nitrogen loss, boosting crop yields while protecting local ecosystems. David Herrero, COO at Fertiberia, noted that the partnership demonstrates how “innovation, when shared, can drive both climate action and food security.”
The programme will initially launch in France, Romania, Serbia, Greece, and Turkey, with further expansions planned for Spain, Portugal, and other European markets. To ensure success, PepsiCo and Fertiberia will provide farmers with:
- Technical Guidance: On-the-ground support for implementing regenerative practices.
- Digital Tools: Precision agriculture technology to optimise application rates.
- Data Tracking: Monitoring systems to verify emissions reductions and soil health.
The partnership supports PepsiCo’s broader “pep+” (PepsiCo Positive) agenda, which includes a target to implement regenerative practices across 10 million acres globally by 2030. It also contributes to the company’s goal of reducing Scope 3 forest, land, and agriculture (FLAG) emissions by 30% against a 2022 baseline.
For farmers, the transition appears seamless. “The fertilisation method is technically identical to our usual practice and so doesn’t alter our daily operations,” said a representative from Herdade da Malhadinha, a Portuguese farm involved in the pilot. “It allows us to move towards more sustainable, low-carbon agriculture.”
