Non-fertilizer initiatives of the
industry to help address climate change
In addition to their traditional core activities,
several fertilizer companies have branched out into related products
that can help address greenhouse gas emissions.
●
Turning
nitrogen losses into additional feed grass
When applied to urine patches
in pastures, a compound developed by scientists at Lincoln
University in New Zealand helps to prevent both the formation of
greenhouse gases and nutrient leaching. Keeping nutrients in the
soil improves pasture growth and provides an inexpensive form of
additional feed. Commercialized by Ravensdown Fertiliser
Co-operative Limited, the product is expected to dramatically reduce
New Zealand’s emissions while also reducing nitrate run-off into
watercourses by between 30% and 60%. It holds potential for other
temperate zones.
●
Neutralizing nitrogen oxide
emissions from vehicles
IFA member company Yara International ASA is
Europe’s largest producer of NOx-reducing (nitrogen oxide) agents
based on urea and ammonia in vehicle catalysts. These products
convert NOx into inert nitrogen and water vapor. Yara has also
played a key role in creating awareness in the European Union and
amongst other stakeholders of the availability of NOx emission
reduction systems for vehicles. While NOx is generally associated
with local air pollution and is not considered a greenhouse gas,
nitrogen compounds can cycle easily from one reactive form to
another. Therefore, reducing NOx emissions helps indirectly to
reduce the overall amounts of N2O in the atmosphere.
