The Efficient Fertilizer Consortium is a public-private partnership that is funding applied research to accelerate the development and wider adoption of novel fertilizers that increase nutrient use efficiency and reduce nitrous oxide and other greenhouse gas emissions, leaching and/or runoff. The Consortium is a vehicle for collaboration and exposure to new ideas that also leverages resources, de-risks research and development and accelerates solutions for end users.
Research priorities include:
- Improve nutrient management, increase fertilizer efficiency and develop fertilizer alternatives to alleviate pressure on food and fertilizer supply and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
- Quantify the environmental impact of current and novel fertilizers, support farmers and retailers in making management decisions and conduct independent assessments to validate industry claims.
- Improve emissions factors for nitrogen fertilizers to distinguish alternative types and managements and improve accuracy of government and corporate emissions reporting.
- Advance the development of alternative fertilizers to improve efficiency and global access.
- Establish common protocols for field trials looking at agronomic performance and environmental impact.
- Conduct field trials to evaluate enhanced-efficiency fertilizers and novel products in various geographic locations, climates, soil types and cropping systems.