ERM, the world’s largest specialist sustainability consultancy, has published a practical, science-based pathway to reduce emissions across the global potash and phosphate fertilizer industry.

The new roadmap, “Decarbonizing the Phosphate and Potash Fertiliser Industry”, sets out how the sector that underpins global food production can cut emissions in line with the Paris Agreement while preserving affordability, supply resilience and food security. It covers greenhouse gas emissions across the full value chain, from raw materials and production through to transport, trade and fertilizer use in agriculture.

The roadmap was developed by ERM in collaboration with EBRD and the International Fertilizer Association (IFA), with support from Systemiq and extensive input from industry stakeholders through workshops, surveys, advisory group reviews and one-to-one consultations.

Deep emissions cuts require shifts in production systems, regulation and infrastructure

By modelling scenarios across different transition speeds, the roadmap is designed to help producers, financiers and policymakers assess near-term versus long-term levers, identify enabling conditions, and balance trade-offs between speed of action, cost and food system stability.

The roadmap identifies four defining features of a long-term transition that could deliver significant emissions reductions if technical, cost and policy barriers are removed:

  • Low-carbon energy underpins the system.
    Renewable electricity, PPAs and low-carbon heat displace fossil-based power and steam, with carbon capture and alternative fuels such as biofuels in supporting roles where viable. 
  • Carbon capture and electrification unlock process emissions reduction.
    CCS in phosphoric acid production and targeted electrification provide the primary routes to abate the sector’s most complex emissions. 
  • Nutrient use efficiency is the primary downstream lever.
    Precision agronomy, 4R practices and enhanced-efficiency fertilizers cut emissions without compromising yield or soil health. 
  • Non-sulphur production pathways could become long-term strategic options.
    Diversification via alternative pathways is driven by rising competition from battery raw materials and heightened geopolitical volatility. 

An opportunity to boost competitiveness, resilience and food system stability

To achieve the transition mapped out in the roadmap, coordinated action across industry, finance and government will be needed, underpinned by policy certainty, investment and deployment of low-carbon technologies: 

  • Agri-food companies, retailers and producers to work more closely together to create demand for low-carbon fertilizers and unlock decarbonization investment.
  • Financiers to scale innovative funding mechanisms that support the transition.
  • Policymakers to provide clear long-term signals and enabling infrastructure.
  • Producers to accelerate deployment of priority emissions reduction technologies.
  • Standard setters to develop practical, food-secure guidance that supports flexible, value chain-aligned pathways to reduce fertilizer-related emissions while safeguarding agricultural productivity. 

Early action will be critical to avoid long-term emissions from new assets and infrastructure, and to enable the investment, technologies and partnerships needed to decarbonize the sector at scale. The roadmap highlights several near-term measures, including energy efficiency improvements, heat recovery, renewable electricity procurement and mining equipment decarbonization, that can help reduce emissions while preserving optionality for future technology pathways. 

Richard Platt, Partner at ERM said: “By decarbonizing the phosphate and potash industry, we have a strategic opportunity to help drive a transition that strengthens competitiveness, resilience, and food system stability in a rapidly changing world. If we want a sustainability transition that can withstand geopolitical stress, the next phase must focus on real value chains, real risks, and real investment conditions.” 

About ERM 

Sustainability is our business.

As the world’s largest specialist sustainability consultancy, ERM partners with clients to operationalize sustainability at pace and scale, deploying a unique combination of strategic transformation and technical delivery capabilities. This approach helps clients to accelerate the integration of sustainability at every level of their business.

With more than 50 years of experience, ERM’s diverse team of 8000+ experts in 40 countries and territories helps clients create innovative solutions to their sustainability challenges, unlocking commercial opportunities that meet the needs of today while preserving opportunity for future generations. ​​Learn more here.    

About the EBRD

The EBRD is a multilateral bank that promotes the development of the private sector and entrepreneurial initiative in 39 economies across three continents. The Bank is owned by 77 countries as well as the EU and the EIB. EBRD investments are aimed at making the economies in its regions competitive, well governed, green, inclusive, resilient and integrated. 

About Systemiq 

Systemiq is a systems change company that works with businesses, policymakers, investors and civil society organisations to reimagine and reshape the systems that sit at the heart of society – energy, nature and food, materials, built-environment, and finance – to accelerate the shift to a more sustainable and inclusive economy. Founded in 2016, Systemiq is a certified B Corp, and has offices in Brazil, France, Germany, Indonesia, the Netherlands, the UK and the USA. Find out more at www.systemiq.earth or via LinkedIn.  Systemiq led the analysis of the fertiliser use emissions and associated decarbonisation levers for the phosphate & potash industry.