PepsiCo expands low-carbon farming push across Europe

PepsiCo has announced a long-term partnership with Fertiberia to scale the use of green hydrogen-based fertilizer across European agriculture, supporting efforts to reduce emissions within its supply chain.

The collaboration will see Fertiberia supply up to 150,000 tonnes annually of its Impact Zero crop nutrition solutions by 2030, covering around 400,000 acres of farmland used to grow ingredients for brands such as Lay’s, Doritos, Ruffles and Cheetos.

Expansion of low-carbon farming across Europe

The programme will initially roll out in France, Romania, Serbia, Greece and Turkey, while continuing expansion in Spain and Portugal. It builds on a pilot programme in the Iberian Peninsula, where low-carbon fertilizer use reduced potato farming emissions by up to 15 per cent and corn farming emissions by up to 20 per cent.

Fertiberia’s solution uses green hydrogen instead of natural gas in production, cutting greenhouse gas emissions by up to 63 per cent. It also incorporates slow-release formulations and biological inhibitors designed to improve nutrient efficiency and crop performance.

Agricultural emissions targeted in supply chain

Fertilizer production and use account for a significant share of agricultural emissions within PepsiCo’s European potato supply chain. The company expects the partnership, combined with existing supplier initiatives, to increase the use of low-carbon fertilizer in Europe to around 50 per cent by 2030.

The initiative supports PepsiCo’s wider goal of implementing regenerative, restorative or protective agricultural practices across 10 million acres globally by 2030, alongside a 30 per cent reduction in Scope 3 forest, land and agriculture emissions compared with a 2022 baseline.

Technology and farmer support integrated

The programme also includes technical support for farmers, alongside digital and precision agriculture tools designed to optimise fertiliser use and track sustainability outcomes in real time.

Archana Jagannathan, Chief Sustainability Officer, PepsiCo Europe, the Middle East and Africa: "We’re working to lead the way on regenerative agriculture and helping to build a more resilient agricultural supply chain. Switching to low-carbon fertiliser is one of the strongest levers we have to reduce agricultural emissions, and use of digital technology can complement this journey towards food system transformation. We’re excited by the success of our pilot in Spain and Portugal and look forward to scaling this ambitious partnership across Europe."

David Herrero, Chief Operating Officer, Fertiberia: "Since 2022, we have been developing lower-carbon hydrogen-based fertilisers, powered by cutting-edge technology such as NSAFE, the world’s first bio-inhibitor of nitrification that prevents nitrogen losses and accelerates the transformation of European agriculture. Today, this journey takes on greater meaning thanks to the trust of partners like PepsiCo, with whom we are collaborating to help decarbonise agri-food value chains. This is not just about fertilisers – it’s about demonstrating the importance of collaboration and showing that innovation, when shared, can drive both climate action and food security across Europe."

Farmers involved in the programme are central to its rollout. One participating grower in Portugal reported that adoption has integrated smoothly into existing farming practices while supporting a shift towards lower-emission production methods.

www.pepsico.com

www.fertiberia.com

Follow Marketing Report on LinkedIn