Published October 2, 2025
By Taylor Hodge, Lisa Tostado, and Lindsey Jurca Durland at the Center for International Environmental Law
Fossil fuels are deeply embedded in how we grow food. From transporting goods to energy needs and even packaging, food systems account for about 15% of global fossil fuel use each year. A significant yet overlooked factor in this reliance is fertilizers, particularly synthetic nitrogen fertilizers, which contribute to climate change and health issues. Tackling this issue is essential for a cleaner food system.
Fossil Fuels in Our Fertilizers
More than half of synthetic fertilizers used globally are nitrogen-based and made from fossil gas or coal, earning them the name fossil fertilizers.
Plants need nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium to thrive. Most synthetic nitrogen fertilizers are produced using fossil fuels — about 70% comes from fossil gas, with the rest primarily from coal. Producing any synthetic fertilizer requires significant energy, and the mining industry depends heavily on fossil fuels as well.
Unfortunately, these fossil fertilizers harm the environment and human health at every stage, from extraction to final application.
Extraction: The Hidden Costs
The extraction of fossil gas and coal needed for fertilizers comes with its own set of problems. Methods like fracking can lead to serious health risks, including leukemia and respiratory issues.
Production: Pollution Problems
Fertilizer manufacturing pollutes surrounding air, water, and land. In 2021, U.S. nitrogen fertilizer plants released 7.7 million pounds of nitrogen pollutants into waterways, putting communities at risk, especially those that are marginalized.
Application: The Climate Impact
Using fossil fertilizers emits greenhouse gases, particularly nitrous oxide, which is 273 times stronger than CO2 in terms of warming potential. Alarmingly, up to 80% of the nitrogen from fertilizers does not contribute to food production; instead, it pollutes soil and waterways.
This nutrient pollution can lead to issues like harmful algal blooms and massive dead zones in oceans. For example, the Gulf of Mexico has a dead zone exceeding 4,000 square miles.
Additionally, nitrate contamination in drinking water poses health risks, including “blue baby” syndrome and potential links to several cancers, according to research from the International Agency for Research on Cancer.
Corporate Ties and Economic Burdens
Food systems consume a substantial portion of the world’s fossil fuels, emitting as much as all of the EU countries and Russia together. In 2020, 4% of the global gas supply was dedicated to ammonia production, which is primarily used in fertilizers. The demand for such fertilizers is expected to rise, further linking the fossil fuel and fertilizer industries.
Reimagining Food Systems
Funding for fossil-fuel-dependent food systems costs trillions annually, worsening issues like hunger and environmental degradation. A report by the Food System Economics Commission estimates these hidden costs at $15 to $20 trillion a year.
Since the Green Revolution of the 1950s, industrialized agriculture has heavily relied on fertilizers, shifting away from sustainable practices. This has been highlighted by the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to food.
Community-led Solutions
The solution lies in reducing synthetic fertilizer use and transforming our food systems into ones that support sustainable practices. This includes using crop rotation, compost, and legumes to naturally boost soil fertility. Recent studies suggest that with these changes, we can feed 10 billion people without needing synthetic fertilizers or new farmland.
Agroecology, combining indigenous practices with scientific methods, can provide a roadmap for this transition, yielding economic and environmental benefits while boosting resilience against climate change.
The Urgency of Action
Our current food system, reliant on fossil fuels, threatens the climate, environment, and health. We need significant changes towards community-led, fossil-free agriculture.
To ensure a nourishing future, we must redefine and rebuild our food systems, prioritizing people over profits.
