Fertilizer application Fertilizer application

Efficient Fertilizer Consortium

The Efficient Fertilizer Consortium is a public-private partnership that funds research to advance enhanced efficiency and novel fertilizer products and practices that improve crop production and reduce nutrient losses.
The Efficient Fertilizer Consortium is a public-private partnership that funds research to advance enhanced efficiency and novel fertilizer products and practices that improve crop production and reduce nutrient losses.

Program Contact

Dr. Sarah Lyons
slyons@foundationfar.org

Partnerships & Development Contact

Sarah Zoubek
szoubek@foundationfar.org

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 nutrient losses, 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.
  • Synthesize research outcomes to understand how widespread use of alternative and efficient fertilizer can support environmental goals.
  • 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.

Awarded Efficient Fertilizer Consortium Grants

Enhancing Nitrogen & Phosphorus Use Efficiency in Semi-Arid & Mediterranean Irrigated/Rainfed Cropping Systems by Integrating Urease & Nitrification Inhibitors with Innovative Phosphorus Fertilizers to Improve Sustainability & Productivity

Year Awarded  2026

Total award amount   $999,969

Location   Rishon LeZion, Israel

Matching Funders   Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Azotic Technologies Ltd., Cotton Incorporated, ICL Israel Ltd., Ministries of Israel, Novo Nordisk Foundation, OCP Nutricrops, Pivot Bio, The Platform for Agriculture and Climate Transformation, United Soybean Board

Grantee Institution   Volcani Institute

Integrating Enhanced Efficiency Fertilizers & Cover Crops for Sustainable Nitrogen Management

Year Awarded  2026

Total award amount   $1,665,571

Location   København, Denmark

Matching Funders   Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Azotic Technologies Ltd., Cotton Incorporated, ICL Israel Ltd., Ministries of Israel, Novo Nordisk Foundation, OCP Nutricrops, Pivot Bio, The Platform for Agriculture and Climate Transformation, United Soybean Board, University of Copenhagen, University of Guelph

Grantee Institution   University of Copenhagen

Crop Recovery of Fertilizer Nitrogen & Soil Nitrous Oxide Leakage as Influenced by Enhanced Efficiency Fertilizers

Year Awarded  2026

Total award amount   $999,984

Location   Vineland Station, ON

Matching Funders   Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Azotic Technologies Ltd., Cotton Incorporated, ICL Israel Ltd., Ministries of Israel, Novo Nordisk Foundation, OCP Nutricrops, Pivot Bio, The Platform for Agriculture and Climate Transformation, United Soybean Board

Grantee Institution   Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada