This represents energy that otherwise would have had to be purchased or supplied by fuel combustion.

The reported capture of waste heat is equivalent to 100 percent of the total energy use reported by all participating producers.

This is equivalent to the annual drinking water needs of about 885 million people

Clean water is integral to all ecosystems, and we believe that access to clean water is a fundamental human right as outlined by the United Nations SDGs. Pollution, muddy water, and trash can threaten critical water ways in our communities, impacting people’s health, community traditions, and the local economy. To support clean waterways in Northwest Ohio, more than 40 volunteers of all ages from The Andersons worked with Partners for Clean Streams to remove 14,957 pounds of marine debris from rivers and streams along the Maumee River. The debris is recorded and shared with the Ocean Conservancy for inclusion in International Coastal Cleanup records. The Maumee River watershed is the largest drainage basin in the Great Lakes Watershed covering 6,500 square miles (4.2 million acres).

These graphs compare TFI participating companies’ consolidated performance data against the comparable industry statistics for similar mining, manufacturing, and wholesale operations. Our companies outperform the industry benchmarks in every category.

DART rate (Days Away, Restricted, or Transferred) includes incidents where an employee had to take restricted work or be transferred to a different job due to a workplace injury or illness

The reportable incidents rate graph encompasses all OSHA-recordable incidents, offering a broader perspective on workplace safety. Tracking this rate is important for identifying overall safety trends and potential areas for improvement in preventing workplace injuries.

This significant achievement highlights the industry’s role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and contributing to global climate solutions.

TFI and a group of technical industry experts from CF Industries, LSB, OCI, Nutrien, and Yara, developed a standard to calculate the carbon intensity of ammonia production over the past two and a half years. Verified Ammonia Carbon Intensity certifies a facility calculated the carbon intensity of ammonia production in accordance with the program’s methodology, as validated or verified by a third-party auditor, and allows producers to issue statements of verified carbon intensity for batches of ammonia produced, that includes the carbon intensity (CI) score and amount (metric tons).

Verified Ammonia Carbon Intensity provides ammonia consumers with greater transparency on carbon intensity so they can better understand what they are purchasing and the impact it is having on emissions, allowing them to confidently navigate the emerging low carbon ammonia industry.

Capital investments help the industry meet sustainability goals by increasing production efficiencies, reducing energy and water use, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

USDA helps Tidal Grow® AgriScience expand carbon-based fertilizer production
Tidal Grow® AgriScience, a division of Tidal Vision Products Inc., was awarded a Fertilizer Production Expansion Program (FPEP) grant by the USDA earlier this year. With this grant, Tidal Grow AgriScience will expand production in Washington and build a new facility in Texas, tripling capacity of its bioactive carbon-based fertilizers. The grant and increased investment to expand production of its seafood hydrolysate liquid fertilizers supports adoption of climate-smart and regenerative agricultural practices.
Tidal Grow AgriScience bioengineers novel soil health, plant nutrition, and crop protection solutions by upcycling seafood byproducts. Tidal Vision, Inc., is the global leader in biomolecular engineering and green manufacturing of chitosan-based technologies for the water, agriculture and material science industries.

Nutrient Use Efficiency

Increased nutrient use efficiency (NUE) is achieved through the proper implementation of 4R nutrient stewardship practices, which are strongly supported by the fertilizer industry. Properly implementing 4R practices improves NUE across all plant nutrients, helping growers maximize yields while minimizing the environmental impact of nutrient losses. While NUE can be measured for any plant nutrient, it is most commonly assessed for nitrogen (N) due to its large demand by plants. Soil alone cannot provide enough N to support the growth needed to feed a growing global population, making N fertilizer essential for maximizing yields. However, N that is not taken up by the crop can be lost to the air and water, causing environmental harm. Therefore, NUE is a crucial metric to ensure that nitrogen fertilizer is fully utilized by the crop. By applying the right rate, at the right time, in the right place, and with the right fertilizer source, we can achieve optimal NUE values in the field.

Nutrient use efficiency is key to sustainable agriculture. Read more about the importance of fertilizer to sustainable, climate-smart, and regenerative agriculture.

The Fertilizer Institute relies on members within the retail agronomy sector to accurately report on the acreages of growers they work with, while abiding by data privacy standards. TFI is leading the way in ensuring acres are accurately accounted for.

A 4R acre is defined as an acre of U.S. cropland under management using one or more 4R practices focusing on a combination of applying the right source of fertilizer in the right rate, at the right time, and in the right place.

TFI member companies employ 4381 agronomic professionals within their organizations, at both retail and non-retail locations, with an average of 2.5 agronomists per location.

These experts provide recommendations to growers, including 4R-based nutrient management plans which foster environmental outcomes that improve farmer performance and profitability.

As fertilizers play a key role in global food security, there is a need to advance environmental stewardship efforts. At Yara, as part of our Growing a Nature-Positive Food Future ambition, we deliver reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the factory to the field. At the factory, Yara uses advanced technologies such as N₂O abatement catalyst and renewable energy sources to produce low-emission fertilizers that minimize environmental impact. At the field level, Yara provides agronomic expertise on using our plant nutrition products to optimize nutrient efficiency and farm sustainability within the framework of 4R nutrient stewardship.

The fertilizer industry is undergoing significant innovation, with a range of cutting-edge technologies enhancing traditional products and practices to promote sustainable productivity. Leading companies are reinvesting substantial capital to drive progress in this area. For example, Nutrien has committed significant resources to its CH Biotech research facility, focusing on the development of advanced agricultural solutions.

One of the most promising areas in this field is the development of biological fertilizers. These products, which leverage microorganisms or natural compounds to boost plant growth, have become increasingly sophisticated. Enhanced understanding of their modes of action—down to the cellular level—allows for more precise application tailored to specific soil conditions and plant varieties.

Another area of rapid advancement is in seed and fertilizer coatings. These coatings help to improve nutrient efficiency, reduce environmental impact, and offer controlled release options. The innovation in this space includes the development of enhanced efficiency fertilizers (EEFs), especially controlled-release fertilizers. With substantial R&D investment, new coatings—ranging from polymer-based to biologically derived options—are enabling more efficient nutrient delivery and reducing nutrient losses to the environment.

Wilbur-Ellis is advancing sustainable fertilizer innovation by adopting the transformation of dairy waste into high-value crop inputs. They are bringing to market a product called BenVireo TerraLux, a novel liquid ammonium nitrate that will offer organic producers a more reliable and readily available nitrogen source. The project is also expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from conventional manure management and field application. This technology represents a win-win solution: converting a waste challenge into a valuable resource while supporting the growth of organic agriculture.

CF to collaborate with supply chain partners to demonstrate the use of low-carbon fertilizer to reduce the carbon intensity of corn production and ethanol.

CF has identified key supply chain partners to develop a low-carbon fertilizer supply chain to track, validate and certify the carbon intensity reduction originating from low-carbon ammonia manufacturing at CF Industries’ Donaldsonville Complex in Louisiana. Low-carbon ammonia refers to product manufactured by (1) hydrogen sourced from an electrolysis-based production process that emits no carbon dioxide, and (2) traditional steam-methane reforming with partial or near total carbon capture and sequestration (or CCS). The Donaldsonville Complex is expected to produce both types of low-carbon ammonia in the near future.

Specifically, CF is working with ethanol producer POET to implement supply plans with fertilizer retailers serving farms that supply corn to POET bioprocessing plants and developing monetization opportunities for farmers who use this low-carbon fertilizer. Similar efforts are underway with other retail customers and their growers.

For the demonstration project’s low-carbon ammonia applications, the companies will leverage green ammonia produced at CF Industries’ Donaldsonville Complex. Green ammonia refers to ammonia produced with hydrogen sourced from an electrolysis-based production process that produces no carbon dioxide emissions but is otherwise identical to commodity ammonia. CF Industries recently completed installation of a 20MW electrolyzer at its Donaldsonville Complex. Start-up of the electrolyzer is imminent and the Company intends to purchase renewable energy certificates to pair with the start-up to enable green ammonia production. CF Industries will have additional low-carbon ammonia at the Donaldsonville Complex beginning in 2025 when a large-scale carbon capture and sequestration project at the facility commences.