Can Australia make its own fertiliser without fossil fuels?

Australia's agricultural sector, a cornerstone of its economy, faces a critical challenge: its deep-seated dependence on fossil fuels for fertilizer production. With some of the world's most nutrient-poor soils, Australian farmers rely on artificial fertilizers to maintain crop yields. However, the nation imports over 2 million tonnes of fertilizer annually, a significant portion of which is derived from hydrocarbons like methane. This reliance makes the supply chain exceptionally vulnerable to geopolitical events and global disruptions, as evidenced by recent shortages linked to the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine.

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Australian farmers rely on artificial fertilisers to grow crops.

Researchers like Professor Marit Kragt from the University of Western Australia have been flagging these vulnerabilities for years. GrainGrowers' 2023 report, for instance, predicted such risks. Despite Australian farms already using fertilizers sparingly due to cost, and employing advanced practices like no-till cropping and variable-rate application, the current shortage has brought the issue to a painful head. The article points out that while phosphorus and potassium fertilizers are mined domestically, Australia lacks any onshore manufacturing capacity for nitrogen fertilizer, the most commonly used type, importing over 1.5 million tonnes per year.

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Australia imports more than 2 million tonnes of fertiliser each year.

The core issue lies in the production of ammonia, the simplest nitrogen fertilizer. While nitrogen is abundant in the air, the cheapest source of hydrogen atoms comes from fossil fuels, specifically methane. This energy-intensive process not only relies on finite resources but also releases carbon dioxide. The quest for a sustainable solution is therefore paramount. In the short to medium term, Australia is exploring international agreements, reviving domestic manufacturing, and utilizing federal budget provisions to alleviate the current shortage. However, the long-term vision, as explored in this piece, is to fundamentally disconnect fertilizer production from fossil fuels, a transition that will require significant technological innovation and investment.

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It has always been a predicted risk, and it has just become painfully obvious.