Fertilizers play a vital role in feeding the world, but their overuse is causing serious environmental harm. They pollute our water, air, and even contribute to climate change. Surprisingly, about a third of the biggest food companies don’t see any issues with how fertilizers are used. Even those that do recognize the risks often fail to take meaningful action, as revealed in a recent report from Planet Tracker.
This report analyzed over 5,000 documents from 45 major food companies between 2018 and 2023. It found many of these companies don’t discuss how they manage the risks associated with fertilizers. This lack of transparency makes it hard to track and reduce the problems caused by excessive fertilizer use.
Emma Amani, who led the report, highlighted a critical point: “No company has done enough to address fertilizer issues. If we don’t tackle the overuse of synthetic fertilizers, we won’t achieve a sustainable food system.”
Did you know that plants only use about half of the nitrogen from fertilizers? The remaining excess nitrogen drains into rivers and lakes, making water unsafe for both humans and wildlife. This extra nitrogen can also turn into nitrous oxide, a powerful greenhouse gas that adds to climate change and harms the ozone layer, leading to increased risks of skin cancer.
The report warns that our planet is exceeding the safe levels of nitrogen by two to three times each year.
In Guatemala, nitrogen runoff from oil palm plantations is causing algal blooms in Lake Atitlán, a UNESCO World Heritage site. This is damaging aquatic life and creating health problems for nearby residents. Similar situations are occurring in Lake Erie in the U.S. and in India, where fertilizers are contaminating groundwater supplies.
Across the globe, this excess nitrogen in drinking water has been linked to higher rates of colon cancer and blue baby syndrome, a serious condition where infants’ oxygen levels drop dangerously low.
David Kanter from the International Nitrogen Initiative emphasized that much of the focus on environmental policy has been on farmers. However, he pointed out that these farmers often lack the power to make changes on their own. “Major players in the food system have a significant influence over nitrogen use and production and need to be held accountable,” he said.
While the Planet Tracker report acknowledges fertilizers are essential for food security, it also states that a 50-70% reduction in fertilizer use is achievable. This can happen if the food industry improves efficiency and reduces waste.
