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Feeding the World – Why Nitrogen Fertiliser Matters

12 Jun 2025  |  ,   |  , ,

In the early 20th century, the discovery of the Haber-Bosch process revolutionised agriculture. By turning atmospheric nitrogen into fertiliser, humanity unlocked the potential to grow more food than ever before. Today, synthetic nitrogen fertilisers support nearly half of global food production. Without them, billions would face food insecurity.

However, this indispensable tool comes with its own challenges and presents new opportunities for improvement.

Why Nitrogen Fertiliser Is So Critical

Nitrogen is one of the three primary nutrients essential for plant growth, alongside phosphorus and potassium. It fuels the development of leaves, proteins, and enzymes, directly impacting crop yield and quality.

Yet, despite its importance, nitrogen is also notoriously inefficient. According to the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA), only 30–50% of applied nitrogen fertiliser is actually absorbed by crops. The rest escapes into the environment through volatilisation, leaching, or runoff, causing pollution and economic loss.

A Growing Global Need

With a world population approaching 9 billion, demand for food is surging. The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) projects a 50% increase in food demand by 2050, driven by rising incomes and dietary shifts in developing nations.

This creates a double-edged challenge:

  • Grow more food,
  • Without further harming soil health, waterways, or the climate.

Traditional nitrogen fertilisers, particularly urea, are widely used due to their high nitrogen content and affordability. In Australia alone, the urea and composting market is worth over $2.5 billion, forming a crucial pillar of national food production.

But with supply chains increasingly unstable and environmental regulations tightening, new approaches are urgently needed.

Environmental Costs of Inefficient Nitrogen Use

Every tonne of urea applied comes with a hidden emissions burden. As nitrogen breaks down in the soil, a portion is converted into nitrous oxide (N₂O): a greenhouse gas 300 times more potent than carbon dioxide and far more persistent in the atmosphere.

Globally, nitrogen fertiliser is one of the largest sources of N₂O emissions, contributing significantly to climate change. It also leads to:

  • Algal blooms in rivers and oceans (from nutrient runoff),
  • Soil acidification and loss of microbial diversity,
  • Wasted investment, as lost nitrogen means lower yield per dollar spent.

These impacts are not theoretical; they are measurable and growing.

A Better Way: Improving Nitrogen Efficiency

Reducing nitrogen loss is one of the most impactful ways to cut emissions in agriculture. However, solutions must also be cost-effective, reliable, and compatible with existing farming practices.

That’s where the COLDry Fertiliser project comes in.

By blending nitrogen with a treated lignite carrier and drying it at low temperatures, COLDry Fertiliser delivers:

  • Improved nitrogen use efficiency (NUE),
  • Reduced leaching and emissions, and
  • Better soil structure and organic carbon content.

In trials, lignite-urea blends have shown:

  • +23% crop yield,
  • −64% NOx emissions, and
  • −59% nitrogen leaching compared to urea alone.

This isn’t just good for the climate—it’s good for the bottom line.

The Australian Opportunity

Australia imports over 90% of its nitrogen fertiliser, mostly urea, from overseas refineries. This creates vulnerability to global price shocks and shipping disruptions.

A domestically produced, sustainable fertiliser like COLDry offers:

  • Supply chain resilience,
  • Reduced reliance on volatile global markets, and
  • A new future for Victoria’s brown coal resource, one that supports food production, not emissions.

What’s Next?

COLDry Fertiliser is currently undergoing lab and field trials through Zero Quest Pty Ltd, a joint venture between Environmental Clean Technologies and ESG Agriculture.

Successfully deployed, this innovation can help reshape the fertiliser industry, providing a more efficient, lower-emissions alternative to traditional urea, while helping secure global food supply in a growing world.

Get Involved

Would you like to learn more or participate in the project?

Email: [email protected]

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