Only 50% of nitrogen fertilizer reaches crops.

Despite the high cost of nitrogen fertilizers, scientists estimate that only half of the nitrogen applied to crops worldwide is actually absorbed by the plants. 

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This is astonishing on two levels. 

• Growers are literally throwing away 50% of what they are spending on nitrogen fertilizer.

• The other 50% is lost into the environment as N2O (a gas 300 times as potent as Co2)  and leaches into our soil and waterways, leading to devastating levels of pollution.

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In Vietnam, nitrogen pollution in the Mekong Delta has been devastating for communities, making it unsafe for drinking and washing due to eutrophication. This pollution has also severely impacted fishing, one of their main sources of protein.

Water scarcity

In some parts of the world, such a California, water has been so scarse and therefore expensive, that growers must be selective about what they grow, in order to get a viable return on their cost of water. When water runs off or leaches through the soil, it not only reduces the return on water costs but also washes away valuable nutrients, decreasing productivity and increasing environmental pollution.

Agrochemical pollution

Agrochemicals like pesticides and herbicides can seep into waterways and soil, risking water quality, soil health, and biodiversity. Sustainable practices help reduce these impacts, keeping our farms productive while preserving the land, water, and ecosystems we depend on.