Can Australia make its own fertiliser without fossil fuels?
Australia is facing a fertiliser shortage that has prompted discussions about sustainable production methods. Currently, most fertilisers are derived from fossil fuels, making supply vulnerable to geopolitical tensions. Researchers are exploring alternative methods to produce nitrogen fertilisers without relying on fossil fuels.
- ▪Australia imports over 2 million tonnes of fertiliser each year, primarily made from fossil fuels.
- ▪The current fertiliser shortage is the third in recent years, exacerbated by global events like the COVID pandemic and the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
- ▪There is a growing interest in developing alternative methods for producing nitrogen fertilisers that do not rely on fossil fuels.
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As fertiliser shortages worsen, is it time to rethink how we make it?By Ellen PhiddianABC ScienceTopic:FertilisersThu 21 May 2026 at 5:00amThu 21 May 2026 at 5:00amThu 21 May 2026 at 5:00amFertilisers are made with fossil fuels, but the current shortage is driving interest in more sustainable sources. (Troy Mortier, Unsplash.)abc.net.au/news/alternative-fertiliser-production-methods-fossil-fuels/106631434Link copiedShareShare articleFertiliser is intimately linked with fossil fuels.With some of the oldest and most nutrient-poor soils in the world, Australian farmers rely on artificial fertilisers to grow crops.Australia imports more than 2 million tonnes of fertiliser each year, according to the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization.Most of that fertiliser is literally made from fossil…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at ABC News (Australia).