The Carbon Footprint of Fertilisers

The massive use of fertilisers on extensive crops over the last decades is leaving a pollution footprint, both in the soil and in the atmosphere, that is now beginning to be looked at with concern. While it is well known from numerous studies that the overuse of fertilisers (especially mineral fertilisers) damages the substrate for future crops, often - even if it works against them - growers only have one thing in mind: maximising yields in their fields and facilities.
However, it is not just about how we use these products, but also about how the fertilisers are manufactured, processed and transported. Because, as in many other areas and sectors, each and every one of these steps causes pollution. It's a curious paradox... shouldn't we growers be the first to take care of the environment where we intend to plant?