As part of the agreement, Fertiberia, a leader in the production of fertilizers based on renewable sources, will progressively supply PepsiCo with up to 150,000 tons annually of its Impact Zero plant nutrition solutions, characterized by their high added value and low carbon impact, until 2030. This strategic collaboration is intended to promote the widespread adoption of agricultural inputs that contribute to reducing the carbon footprint.
The initiative aims to cover approximately 162,000 hectares of key crops, such as potatoes, corn, sunflowers, sugar beets, and rapeseed. These ingredients are essential for popular PepsiCo brands, including Lay’s, Doritos, Cheetos, and Ruffles. The program will initially be implemented in France, Romania, Serbia, Greece, and Turkey, with a simultaneous expansion into Spain and Portugal. Furthermore, plans are underway to extend this partnership to other European countries in the near future.
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This international agreement follows the success of a pilot project carried out by PepsiCo and Fertiberia in Spain and Portugal. During this trial, the use of Impact Zero fertilizer allowed PepsiCo to reduce CO₂ emissions from its potato crops by 15% and from its corn crops by 20%.
Impact Zero fertilizers feature advanced technology and are produced using green hydrogen instead of natural gas, resulting in up to a 63% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. They also incorporate technologies such as controlled-release formulations and biological inhibitors that enhance agronomic efficiency, improve crop yields, and minimize both emissions and nutrient losses for farmers.
This collaboration will also complement PepsiCo’s existing supply agreements, increasing the use of low-carbon fertilizers in its European supply chain to reach 50% by 2030.
Globally, fertilizers account for approximately 2% of total greenhouse gas emissions. Given their role in nearly 50% of the carbon footprint generated by potato production in Europe for PepsiCo, this area represents a significant opportunity to reduce emissions associated with agriculture.
The agreement reinforces PepsiCo’s commitment to regenerative agriculture. The company aims to implement sustainable practices that will restore and protect four million hectares of farmland globally by 2030. It also supports its goal of reducing Scope 3 emissions from the forestry, land, and agriculture sectors by 30% compared to 2022 levels.
Archana Jagannathan, Head of Sustainability for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa at PepsiCo, emphasized the benefits of the partnership with Fertiberia and highlighted the importance of using low-carbon fertilizers as a key tool for reducing agricultural emissions. She also underscored how digital technologies complement this effort toward transforming the agri-food system. She stressed her enthusiasm for taking this successful partnership beyond the initial framework established in Spain and Portugal and scaling it up to the rest of Europe.
In addition to supplying low-carbon fertilizers, both companies will work together to support farmers through technical assistance and advanced digital tools. These will include technologies such as precision farming practices based on detailed data analysis to optimize fertilizer use and monitor sustainable implementation.
David Herrero, Chief Operating Officer at Fertiberia, highlighted the progress made since the start of development of their green hydrogen-based fertilizers in 2022. He emphasized the transformative role of the NSAFE bioinhibitor, designed to minimize nitrogen losses and advance towards more sustainable and efficient agriculture. He noted that this agreement is not limited to the field of sustainable fertilization, but illustrates how collaboration can simultaneously promote climate action and European food security.
With the program expanding into new European markets, the active role of farmers applying these solutions under practical conditions remains essential for its success. In Portugal, Herdade da Malhadinha is one of the farmers participating in this initiative, successfully using Impact Zero fertilizer on its crops since its pilot phase in 2024.
