PepsiCo and Fertiberia launch programme to produce fertilizer from green hydrogen

PepsiCo and Fertiberia have partnered up to launch a pilot programme to reduce emissions in potato cultivation. Fertiberia's Impact Zero fertilizers are produced from green hydrogen (replacing natural gas), and precision agriculture.

The use of sustainable fertilizers makes it possible to reduce emissions in potato cultivation by approximately 15%. For its production process, green ammonia is used, which is obtained by replacing hydrogen from natural gas with green hydrogen, thus producing plant nutrition solutions with a low carbon footprint.

Fertiberia produces green ammonia at its production centre in Puertollano (Ciudad Real), one of the first and largest green hydrogen plants for industrial use in Europe.

The first plantings with green fertilizers have taken place in Álava, La Rioja, and Burgos, in collaboration with Garlan, PepsiCo's potato supplier for more than 30 years, and a reference cooperative assigned by both companies to carry out the programme.

For its application, precision agriculture techniques are used, which allow an optimal application of the fertilizer thanks to the detailed information it offers on the state of the crops.

The programme will begin to be applied in a cultivated area of 400 ha. with a forecast of reaching 1500 ha. in 2025.

Ángel Alonso, Director of PepsiCo's agricultural department for southwestern Europe:
 

"We are very proud to announce this green fertilizer pilot programme together with Fertiberia to reduce emissions associated with fertilizers and, consequently, those from agriculture, which represent a high percentage of our total emissions."

"This initiative complements others that we are already carrying out to regenerate the land and make it more fertile through regenerative agriculture practices."

Alfredo Segura, Commercial Director of Fertiberia,:
 

"Fertiberia is changing the paradigm in the agri-food sector with the development of Impact Zero."

"The use of renewables for the production of plant nutrition solutions together with permanent innovation in biotechnology will achieve a milestone that until very recently seemed impossible, such as the decarbonisation of the primary sector in the EU."

"The agreement with PepsiCo confirms the potential of green hydrogen to achieve fully sustainable agriculture and makes Fertiberia the 'facilitator' of the viable development of this new energy vector in Spain."

PepsiCo in Spain is committed to extending the use of regenerative agriculture practices to 77 000 ha. by 2030 and is already working on specific projects to train its farmers in this area.

In turn, the company also has goals of reaching net zero emissions by 2040 and action on the ground is key to achieving this.

The collaboration with Fertiberia is part of PepsiCo Positive, the company's strategy with sustainability at its core to accelerate its transformation and promote a positive impact, both on the planet and on people, which also includes support to the communities where it operates to improve their livelihoods.