Switch to carbon-free fertilizers in agriculture

This case study is part of decarbonization best practices shared with AB InBev Eclipse sustainability program’s community. Discover more about the Eclipse program here.

Located in Eastern Washington with its headquarters in the Lower Yakima Valley, Wyckoff Farms, Inc. (WFI) has been growing hops for nearly 50 years. A third-generation family business, crops grown by Wyckoff Farms include grapes on the Wahluke Slope, blueberries, grapes, apples and hops in the Yakima Valley, and grapes and irrigated row crops on the Horse Heaven Hills. In addition to hops, the fruit juice and puree needs of the brewing industry are supported through its sister company Milne Fruit Products.

Fertilizer usage is 25% of the company’s current footprint. It is planned to reduce this number to 0%, once the carbon-free fertilizer plant (Atlas Agro) comes online by 2027:

Wyckoff Farms recognizes that the nutritional needs of Hops (Humulus lupulus) demand a high requirement of nitrogen to grow a successful crop. The goal is to obtain all Nitrogen fertilizer from a zero-carbon source: Atlas Agro.

The decarbonization of fertilizer productions can help eliminate 5% of global GHG emissions.

WFI conducted an effective collaboration with Atlas Agro in growing hops with a carbon-free fertilizer, reducing carbon by nearly 1000 tons across all ABI Hop Acres grown by WFI. This fertilizer is in the form of carbon-free CAN27, ANsol20 and CN. The carbon-free CAN27, ANsol20 and CN replaces current usage of UN32, which produces ~1000 tons of Carbon during manufacturing.

Sustainability impact

Climate

• Reducing GHG emitted by farming company (Scope 3) by 25%

• The farming company reduced nearly 1000 tons of carbon emissions

Nature

• These carbon-free fertilizer plants utilize Calcium Nitrate, which is nonvolatile, unlike Urea-based UN32, the most used fertilizer amongst common Hop farmers

• Improving the issue of ”embedded carbon” in ammonia production

Social

• Advantage for economic impacts on farmer and society

Business impacts

Benefits

• By using these fertilizers and other farming practices we can strategically help partners meet climate pledges and reduce overall CO2 emissions to meet global climate targets

• Customer satisfaction of raw materials grown with carbon-free fertilizer

Costs

Additional cost per unit of Nitrogen is ~50% more when carbon-free compared to conventional but can prevent the emission of ~716 kg CO2e per hectare based on fertilizer production alone.

Indicative abatement cost

Based on roughly 1000 tons of CO2e not being emitted, then $193.50 per ton of carbon.

Impact beyond sustainability and business

Co-benefits

Increased biodiversity of soils due to the lack of urea-based fertilizer usage, which threatens soil biodiversity and sustainable agriculture by affecting native microbial communities like protozoa.

Potential side-effects

The usage of nitrate-based fertilizers can be at risk for higher rates of leaching, but in the low rain environment and under regulated deficit irrigation (drip), this risk management is significantly low.

Typical business profile

• Agricultural companies (crops)

• Farms (crops)

• Horticultural companies

Approach

Step-by-step approach

1. An Offtake Agreement was signed by Wyckoff Farms, Inc. and Atlas Agro, in which the buyer (WFI) agreed to purchase a portion of the producer’s (Atlas Agro) product (Carbon-free fertilizer)

2. The carbon-free CAN27, ANsol20 and CN replaces the previous usage of UN32, which produces ~1000 tons of Carbon during manufacturing

3. The carbon-free fertilizer is recommended to be implemented, as was done in this case, with smart sensor sprayers for light detection and ranging (e.g. LiDAR) to reduce 50% of overall crop protection chemical usage, reduce 87% of airborne drift and 50% water usage reduction

Stakeholders involved

• Internal: Wyckoff Farms, Inc. (agricultural company) - technical teams and operational teams

• External: Atlas Agro (fertilizer factory)

Key parameters to consider

Yield and quality parameters are affected by regenerative agriculture.

Implementation and operations tips

As mentioned in the Approach section, implementation of smart sensor sprayers (e.g. Lidar) to reduce 50% of overall crop protection chemical usage, reduce 87% of airborne drift and 50% water usage reduction.

Wyckoff Farms, Inc. is engaged in a number of sustainability practices and initiatives, including the use of:

• Beneficial insects for pollination, predation, and parasitism (Biological Control), cover cropping systems (Polyculture) (to prevent soil erosion, increase organic matter by 6000#/acre, fix nitrogen and recapturing any leachable forms of Nitrogen (Nitrate))

• Nitrogen-fixing microbes, compost and green manures

• Yeast-based Amino Acids to aid in times of abiotic stress

• microbial metabolites to combat soil-borne pathogens (Fusarium spp., etc.)

• Plant-based Amino Acid-chelated micronutrients to prevent the accumulation of EDTA in Wyckoff Soils

• 25b Exempt and OMRI-Certified pesticides for multiple Sites- and Modes-of-Action (that mitigate resistance, alleviate MRL issues and degrade in 24-hrs of sunlight to prevent overexposure to harsh chemicals in the environment)

• Nutrigenomics to naturally optimize crop potential

• Crop coefficient evapotranspiration for the conservation of water, preventing leaching and/or runoff

• Zero-carbon Green Fertilizer (Atlas Agro)