• In-field and production emissions related to fertiliser use account for 60-80% of emissions. Verification that carbon emissions are actually being reduced is critical for food companies.
• Carbon reduction should not fall on any one part of the supply chain. The commitment of every stakeholder is needed if the industry is going to succeed in hitting targets in 2030 and beyond.  
• Food companies have the security of knowing that Yara has a standardised crop nutrition programme which helps to minimise the variation in carbon footprints at farm level.  

Food companies are increasingly making commitments to reduce carbon emissions in their value chain. Most emissions are Scope 3 emissions, generated at farm level by growers of crops and livestock farmers, the key suppliers to the food industry. In-field and production emissions related to fertiliser use account for 60-80% of emissions, and this varies hugely between farms. That's why verification that carbon emissions are actually being reduced is critical for food companies. But with most companies carrying out retrospective annual verification, how can they be reassured that this is happening? 

Take arable crops, for example. The challenge for food companies is that no matter what type of fertiliser is used, by the time it's verified - along with the grain that's being harvested that year - it's already been processed and likely been sold. Companies need to feel secure about both the grain they've invested in and about meeting their carbon reduction targets. While using low carbon fertiliser products is a solution, it's only one part of the story. As well as providing low carbon products, Yara's digital tools and services offer reassurance and the promise of the best outcomes for food companies, distributors, and growers.

Food companies have the security of knowing that Yara has a standardised crop nutrition programme which helps to minimise the variation in carbon footprints at farm level.  CO2 levels in crops are also monitored during the growing season, and when data comes in from farmers and agronomy teams, this is reported back to the distributor and food company. If a crop is going to be high CO2, it can be taken out of production before it reaches the food company. In many cases, that crop won't be wasted and is put to other uses. 

Another reassurance for food companies is the security of product in Yara's supply chain. With a number of Yara-owned factories across Europe that produce low carbon fertiliser to supply the market, the business is not reliant on one production site. If there were production issues at one site, this could easily be mitigated with support from across its European network.

Product verification and traceability is also a key strength of Yara products. Fertilisers are independently verified as low carbon, so supply chain customers can be sure that inputs will help them meet their carbon reduction targets. "Some carbon verification statements may not have all the correct methodology and can fail the strict audits that come when assessing actual carbon reduction in a value chain. Yara has a dedicated team that reviews the fertiliser verification statements every July, issues new ones if the data has changed, and ensures compliance with the correct methodology. This is then audited and verified by a third-party verification company," says Mark Tucker, Partnerships and Value Chain Manager at Yara. 

Yara can also trace every bag of fertiliser that's produced, right back to the raw materials. If a fertiliser is produced in Europe and shipped into the UK or Irish market, it arrives at Yara's depots, and each bag has its own unique code that will tell the distributor or farmer everything they need to know about the product, from where it's been bagged to where raw materials have been sourced from and which batch it comes from. 

For distributors, there is a standard operating procedure in place which provides guidance on a food company's requirement for lower carbon grain, as well as the assurance that they are selling verified low carbon fertiliser to the farmer. 

At farm level, the focus is on minimising the grower's risk and ensuring it's 'business as usual' for them. They know they can buy quality fertiliser products from their distributor as they always have done, and Yara provides them with crop nutrition plans as well as tools and services to monitor crops for optimal yields and grain quality. 

Yara's labs have been running for decades, carrying out testing such as leaf and soil sampling as part of a standard operating procedure approach to crop nutrition planning. "It all starts with soil analysis to establish the fertiliser recommendation, then the use of 'in-season' tools and services such as leaf analysis, N-Tester, and Atfarm to dynamically manage and fine tune the crop nutrition programme, taking to account what's needed in terms of carbon footprint for the food company. Finally, grain sampling can help farmers review the outcome of the plan. With this data, NUE can be understood, and steps taken towards improvement, the goal being 80-90% NUE," adds Mark. 

Carbon reduction is a huge undertaking and responsibility for finding solutions should not fall on any one part of the supply chain. The involvement and commitment of every stakeholder is needed from farmers to merchants and food processors if the industry is going to succeed in hitting targets in 2030 and beyond.  

"For food companies looking to the future, Yara is the ideal partner. Not only does the company have a history that's built on quality, world-class R&D, and a strong supply chain, but it also has a vision for the future. Yara has the solutions to support food companies not just to achieve their 30% reduction in Scope 3 emissions by 2030 but to go beyond that, and to take our partners with us on the journey towards a nature-positive food future," says Conor Quinlan, Key Account Manager for Yara.