Fertiberia's Impact Zero crop nutrition solutions are the first in the world produced with green hydrogen.
- This is an exclusive agreement between Fertiberia and M&S through Bartholomews Agrifood, which will be in charge of distribution in the UK.
Madrid, 12 July 2023 In its aim to move towards the decarbonisation of the global agri-food sector, Grupo Fertiberia will supply Marks & Spencer with its Impact Zero green fertilisers in order to reduce the carbon footprint of the 27 dairy farms that the British chain owns in England and Wales. The UK distribution of these plant nutrition solutions, the first in the world to be produced with green hydrogen, will be handled by Bartholomews Agrifood, who will ensure that M&S farms are the first to adopt this technology from spring 2024.
Fertiberia's Impact Zero line marks a new stage in the production of emissions-free plant nutrition solutions, manufactured with the most innovative technology, the highest level of environmental efficacy and in a totally sustainable fashion thanks to replacing natural gas with renewable energy sources which ensure a domestic supply and avoid depending on sources from other countries.
In the words of Javier Goñi, CEO of Grupo Fertiberia: "Decarbonisation of the food chain requires cooperation between all links in the chain, and this alliance shows the way forward. Fertiberia brings its Impact Zero crop nutrition solutions and the know-how of its R&D&I department; Bartholomews channels and guarantees the best application of these solutions thanks to its extensive knowledge of UK growers and livestock farmers, and M&S is leading the initiative to bring food that drastically reduces its emissions to the end consumer, who increasingly demands products that are fully environmentally friendly."
The Impact Zero range that M&S will use (Nergetic from Fertiberia TECH) improves nitrogen use efficiency by 22% compared to conventional fertilisers, reducing the amount of product used, as well as leaching losses. Moreover, its real differential value comes from the unique way in which it is manufactured, as it uses green hydrogen instead of natural gas, which reduces up to 3 tonnes of CO2 emissions per tonne of ammonia. "M&S has set important targets to reduce our carbon footprint and become net zero emissions across our value chain by 2040. 72% of M&S Food's emissions come from agriculture and around half of these come from livestock, mainly ruminants. It is therefore essential that we work with our farmers to make a significant change. We believe the use of these fertilisers will enable our farmers to maintain productivity while playing a vital role in helping to decarbonise milk production, and we are delighted to have reached this agreement," said Steve McLean, Head of Agriculture and Fisheries at M&S.
Gary Herman, CEO of Bartholomews, said that "With a steadily growing world population, against a backdrop of decreasing available productive land area, agriculture faces the challenge of becoming ever more efficient. This challenge must be met in a sustainable way, and the Impact Zero range is the crop nutrition solution the world deserves."
More about Fertiberia
Grupo Fertiberia is a leader in the plant nutrition sector in Europe and also produces environmental solutions for industry and other sectors.
The company has 14 production centres throughout the Iberian Peninsula and France.
Fertiberia's vision is to lead the green hydrogen value chain of the future in Europe to decarbonise agriculture and other sectors such as industry and transport, as well as to continue leading the development of sustainable, high added value solutions for crop nutrition.
It is also the first company in its sector to commit to achieving zero net emissions by 2035. The company belongs to Triton Partners, which is driving its growth to make this Spanish company leader in the fertilisation of the future, allowing farmers to obtain higher yields with the highest level of environmental sustainability.
More about M&S
M&S is a leading British retailer that offers quality, value-for-money food, clothing and homewares to millions of customers around the world. M&S food is renowned for its fantastic quality, high levels of innovation and close relationships with its suppliers.
As a company with 137 years of history, M&S recognises the importance of looking to the future. M&S is built on the belief that caring about its impact on tomorrow's world, as well as today's, is not just good citizenry; it's good business.
To reflect the climate emergency we all face, Plan A was realigned with the single goal of becoming a net zero company in all its operations and across the value chain by 2039/40, ten years ahead of the Government's UK-wide strategy.
More about Bartholomews Agrifood
Bartholomews is firmly committed to revolutionising the food chain. With a team of over 200 dedicated employees, it serves as a vital link between farmers and discerning consumers in the UK and Europe. Our core mission is to ensure sustainable food safety while embracing cutting-edge technologies.
Bartholomews understands the importance supporting farmers on their journey towards a greener future. Its team of expert agronomists, with their in-depth knowledge and experience, serve as trusted advisors to farmers, providing tailored solutions and recommendations to help them reduce their carbon footprint.
They are committed to fostering long-term partnerships with farmers, providing them with the tools, knowledge and support they need to thrive in an ever-changing agricultural landscape. By connecting farmers to the latest advances in technology and sustainable farming practices, they are actively shaping the future of the food industry, ensuring the well-being of farmers, consumers and the planet we call home.
