The total field area increases from 200 hectares in the first phase to more than 3,000 hectares in this second phase, including new fields in Portugal, representing a 15-fold increase.
In the first phase of the project, the carbon footprint of PepsiCo’s potato crops in Spanish fields has been reduced by 15%.
Burgos, 21 november 2024-. PepsiCo and Fertiberia are extending their collaboration to use Impact Zero low-carbon crop nutrition solutions, produced from green hydrogen, on more than 3,000 hectares in Spain and Portugal. To date, the use of this type of fertiliser has led to a 15% reduction in CO2 emissions in the potato fields of PepsiCo’s suppliers.
In this second phase, the novelty is that corn crops are added to the potato fields for the first time in the project. Thus, new fields in Extremadura, Castile and Leon, Aragon, La Rioja, and also Portugal are incorporated into this initiative. Garlan, PepsiCo’s potato supplier for more than 30 years and a leading cooperative that has already participated in the first phase of the programme, is extending its practice to 185 hectares more. Other suppliers are also joining the project: Torriba, DPA, Sat Biosphera, Valdicte, Floyma, Carsa, Indycons, Esencia de Montorio, Rioja Alta y Mercograin SL.
The extension of this initiative represents a major step forward in the efficient decarbonisation of the primary sector
The good results of this pilot programme allow the area of crops using low-carbon fertilisers to be increased from 200 hectares in 2023 to more than 3,100 hectares, which represents a 15-fold increase. Of this total, more than 1,100 are fields for potato crops and the other 2,000 are fields for corn crops for human consumption. The project aims for this extension to reduce emissions by 15% in potato crops and 20% in corn crops.
“This type of alliance is essential to make progress in the efficient decarbonisation of the primary sector. The incorporation of new farmers and the extension of the programme to Portugal bring us closer and closer to a significant reduction of emissions in our value chain in the coming years, and to achieve this, direct action in the field is key,” explains Christian Cerezo, head of the agronomy department at PepsiCo Southwest Europe.
In turn, Alfredo Segura, commercial director of Fertiberia Group highlights that “the development of fertilisers based on green hydrogen raises our value proposition and makes us allies of leading companies such as PepsiCo in the decarbonisation of the food chain. The success of the first phase of this alliance confirms that Impact Zero meets its objectives in the reduction of emissions and also in essential aspects such as the growth of agronomic efficiency with higher crop yields, thanks to the development of high added value solutions adapted to each type of soil and crop.”
A sustainable practice for soil health and fertility
The low-carbon fertilisers used reduce emissions in potato and corn crops because their production process uses low-carbon ammonia obtained by replacing hydrogen from natural gas with green hydrogen. This produces crop nutrition solutions with a low carbon footprint. The implementation of these fertilisers is combined with the application of precision farming techniques, which allow for an optimum application of these fertiliser thanks to the detailed information it provides on the state of the crops. In this way, agricultural productivity, as well as soil health and fertility, are improved.
The pilot programme launched in 2023 already bore its first fruits a few months ago: 8,900 tonnes of high-quality potatoes grown on about 200 hectares of fields in Alava, La Rioja, and Burgos were produced and emissions were reduced by about 85,000 kg of CO2eq. With this more environmentally friendly crop, 3,000 tonnes of potato crisps were produced at PepsiCo’s Burgos plant, resulting in the first Lay’s and Ruffles potatoes grown with low-carbon fertilisers to hit the Spanish market.
Both companies, leaders in their respective sectors, reinforce with this extension their collaboration to achieve zero net emissions and act as agents of change through innovation for a sustainable future for the Spanish agricultural sector.
