The Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee held its first dedicated hearing on the U.S. fertilizer industry on May 12, taking testimony from farmers, commodity group leaders and the head of the Fertilizer Institute as lawmakers pressed for action on pricing transparency and domestic production capacity.

Senator John Boozman (R-AR) chaired the session at 106 Dirksen Senate Office Building. Ranking Member Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) called for passage of two bipartisan bills: the Fertilizer Transparency Act — co-authored with Senator John Thune (R-SD) — which would require USDA to publish weekly fertilizer price data from manufacturers, and the Homegrown Fertilizer Act, co-authored with Senator Roger Marshall (R-KS), which would create a USDA grant and loan program for domestic production and storage expansion.

Witnesses included Trent Kubik, president of South Dakota Corn Growers; Eddie Melton, president of the Kentucky Farm Bureau; Corey Rosenbusch, president and CEO of the Fertilizer Institute; and Joshua Westling, CEO of J. Westling & Co. Their testimony emphasized that four companies controlled 77% of U.S. nitrogen fertilizer sales in 2024, leaving farmers with limited market information and few supply alternatives when disruptions hit.

The hearing opened against a backdrop of urea at $865 per tonne, anhydrous ammonia at $1,116 per tonne, and DAP at $914 per tonne — all elevated by the U.S.-Iran conflict and the partial closure of the Strait of Hormuz since late February. The American Farm Bureau Federation told the committee that 86 farms filed for Chapter 12 bankruptcy in Q1 2026 alone, and that USDA’s forecast for total U.S. farm production expenses in 2026 stands at a record $478 billion, calculated before the latest fertilizer and fuel price surge.

Klobuchar said the Department of Justice had opened an antitrust probe into the fertilizer sector in March and the Supreme Court and U.S. Court of International Trade had both ruled against the administration’s use of tariff authorities, adding to the legal and policy pressure on input markets. “We know there are many reasons that fertilizer prices are astronomically high,” she said in her opening statement.

Key Facts About the U.S. Senate Fertilizer Hearing

Source: U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has revoked the approved lender status of 10 financial institutions in its Rural Development OneRD Guaranteed Lending Program, citing “irresponsible and noncompliant” lending practices associated with a significant portion of delinquent loans.

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins stated these lenders are barred from further participation in USDA guaranteed lending programs as the administration strengthens oversight of federally backed rural financing. The USDA reports the affected lenders hold approximately $620 million in delinquent loans, or about 47% of all delinquencies in the Rural Development portfolio.

The lenders removed from the program are BOM Bank, Byline Bank, Celtic Bank, Community Bank & Trust – West Georgia, Genisys Credit Union, Greater Nevada Credit Union, North Avenue Capital, Optus Bank, U.S. Eagle Federal Credit Union, and ReadyCap Commercial. The USDA stated this action aims to improve program integrity and focus support on the more than 750 remaining lenders in the OneRD Guaranteed Lending Program.

USDA Rural Development administers loan, grant, and loan guarantee programs to support economic development and infrastructure investment in rural America, including broadband, utilities, transportation, healthcare, housing, and business development.

ICL Group posted $2 billion in Q1 2026 consolidated sales, up 14% from $1.8 billion a year earlier, and raised its full-year adjusted EBITDA guidance by $100 million to a range of $1.5 billion to $1.7 billion, the company reported on May 13.

Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter rose 15% to $412 million. Net income attributable to shareholders reached $126 million, or $0.10 per share, up from $91 million in Q1 2025. Adjusted diluted EPS grew 22% to $0.11.

The Industrial Products unit outperformed on pricing power in bromine, while the Phosphate Solutions segment benefited from stronger commodity fertilizer markets — conditions the Tel Aviv-based group attributed in part to supply disruptions linked to the U.S.-Iran conflict and the partial closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Revenue growth was distributed across all four business segments.

The quarter also recorded ICL’s first contribution from Bartek Ingredients, a specialty chemical maker acquired in January to expand the company’s footprint in the North American food additives market. Net financial liabilities increased to $2.57 billion at quarter-end, reflecting debt taken on for that acquisition. ICL maintained its 2026 potash sales volume guidance at 4.5 million to 4.7 million tonnes.

The raised guidance signals management confidence that high bromine and potash prices will persist through the year, even as higher sulfur and raw material costs partially offset gains and currency headwinds from the shekel-dollar exchange rate linger. The company said it expects to continue expanding in specialty crop nutrition and specialty food solutions, with the Bartek integration adding steady earnings support from Q2 onward.

Source: Grafa

Senator Roger Marshall (R-KS) introduced legislation on April 28 to eliminate all tariffs and countervailing duties on phosphate fertilizer imports from Morocco, aiming to restore competitively priced DAP and MAP supply for U.S. growers facing the highest phosphate input costs in years.

The bill — the Lowering Input Costs for American Farmers Act — is co-sponsored by Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS) and Joni Ernst (R-IA). If enacted, it would eliminate Morocco-specific tariffs within seven days and revoke the countervailing duty (CVD) order within four business days.

The CVD order was imposed in April 2021 after Mosaic alleged that Morocco’s state-owned OCP Group received unlawful government subsidies that allowed it to undercut domestic producers. The original rate of 19.97% was subsequently revised to 16.60%, then cut to 2.11% in January 2026 after the U.S. Court of International Trade found that a key Moroccan tax program was not specific to OCP and therefore not countervailable. The U.S. government then dropped its Federal Circuit appeal, and a five-year sunset review is now underway at the Department of Commerce.

A study by the Agricultural and Food Policy Center at Texas A&M University estimated that the CVDs increased fertilizer costs for U.S. farmers by $6.9 billion across the 2021-2025 growing seasons. U.S. imports of DAP and MAP from Morocco averaged just 182,300 tonnes per year during that period, down from a record 1.85 million tonnes in 2018. If the duties were eliminated, phosphate fertilizer prices for U.S. farmers could fall by more than 20%, or roughly $150 per short ton, according to estimates cited by the senator’s office.

The bill is supported by the National Corn Growers Association, American Soybean Association, American Farm Bureau Federation, National Cotton Council, USA Rice and the National Association of Wheat Growers. USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins has confirmed the administration is weighing the duties, calling the internal debate one with “varying views.”

“Kansas farmers are getting hit by a fertilizer market that’s working against them,” Marshall said in the announcement. “This bill removes duties that are driving up costs for farmers, and puts money back in the hands of the people feeding this country.”

The legislation’s chances hinge on whether the Trump administration — which has otherwise expanded tariff authority broadly — will make an exception for a product where domestic producer interests (Mosaic) are directly opposed to farmer interests. That tension is being litigated simultaneously in the Commerce sunset review, in Congress, and in the court of public opinion as input costs bite during planting season.

CF Industries named Andrew T. Scribner as executive vice president and chief financial officer on May 5, effective May 26, bringing in a senior finance executive from outside the agricultural sector to lead the company’s balance sheet as it executes a $4 billion blue hydrogen and ammonia complex in Louisiana.

Scribner, 47, joins from Kimberly-Clark, where he most recently served as vice president, global controller and head of corporate finance planning and analysis, and previously as CFO for Kimberly-Clark North America. He spent more than a decade at The Kraft Heinz Company and its predecessor Kraft Foods Group in finance roles of increasing responsibility, and held CFO positions at Gap for the Banana Republic and Athleta brands.

Scribner will report to president and CEO Christopher D. Bohn and join CF Industries’ senior leadership team. His compensation package includes an annual base salary of $675,000, a target bonus of 80% of salary, a $140,000 sign-on payment, and a $2 million long-term equity award split between restricted stock units and performance-based units tied to return on net assets and total shareholder return.

“He is a disciplined, focused, and hands-on finance leader, and we believe his operational experience and strategic perspective will support our continued growth,” Bohn said.

The appointment comes at a pivotal moment for CF Industries. The company earlier this year began construction on its $4 billion blue hydrogen and ammonia complex at Donaldsonville, Louisiana, backed by a $1.5 billion Department of Energy loan guarantee. CF Industries reported record Q1 2026 profit in May, doubling earnings year-on-year as nitrogen supply tightened. Scribner’s arrival will coincide with the ramp-up of capital allocation decisions for the Donaldsonville project and potential further investment in the company’s low-carbon product strategy.

A vessel carrying approximately 50,000 tonnes of granular sulfur destined for Morocco’s Jorf Lasfar phosphate complex transited the Strait of Hormuz between May 1 and 6, according to AIS tracking data from Kpler cited by Argus Media — the second phosphate-linked cargo to successfully cross the strait since the US-Iran conflict began on February 28.

The shipment was sailing under usual quarterly contracts and had been delayed by the effective closure of the strait. The cargo is expected to arrive at Rio Grande, Brazil, where it is bound under the same contracts. Eight other vessels carrying phosphate-related materials loaded at Ras Al-Khair, Saudi Arabia, remain in the Persian Gulf awaiting passage. Analysts estimate close to one million tonnes of sulfur is currently loaded and waiting, of which roughly 60–70% is tied to existing contracts and the balance likely to enter the spot market once navigation becomes safer.

Sulfur is a critical input for the phosphate fertilizer manufacturing process — it is converted to sulfuric acid, which is needed to process phosphate rock into DAP, MAP, and TSP. Kuwait’s state-owned KPC set its May Kuwait Sulfur Price (KSP) at $765 per tonne FOB, up $195 per tonne from April, a move that reflects both supply scarcity and the elevated risk premium on Gulf cargoes.

Indian DAP producers are particularly exposed. Even if the strait reopens fully, Argus analysts warn that disruptions to global raw material supply chains will take months to dissipate, increasing India’s reliance on finished DAP imports to meet demand ahead of the kharif season starting around the end of Q3. The reappearance of individual transits signals that passage is possible but far from routine — and insurance, freight, and security costs continue to add materially to delivered fertilizer prices.

Approximately 70% of US farmers surveyed by the American Farm Bureau Federation said they could not afford all the fertilizer they needed for the 2026 planting season, according to a poll of more than 5,700 producers conducted April 3–11.

The survey, the first major data point on fertilizer affordability since the Strait of Hormuz blockade began in late February, found sharp regional differences. Southern farmers were hardest hit — 78% reported being unable to afford full fertilizer inputs — compared to 48% in the Midwest, where higher pre-booking rates provided more price protection. Northeast and Western producers also reported significant challenges, at 69% and 66% respectively.

The Farm Bureau attributed the disparity to pre-booking patterns: 67% of Midwestern producers had secured fertilizer early in the season, compared to only 19% of Southern farmers. Because smaller farms are less likely to lock in purchases in advance, they are more exposed to in-season price spikes — a structural disadvantage that worsens when supply shocks hit at planting time.

Farm diesel prices increased 46% since the end of February, compounding the strain from fertilizer costs. Nearly six in 10 farmers reported worsening finances. Chapter 12 farm bankruptcy filings — designed for family-sized agricultural operations — rose 46% in 2025, the third consecutive annual increase, according to AFBF data, with the Midwest and Southeast seeing the sharpest increases.

The Farm Bureau called on the administration to extend safe-passage protections for fertilizer shipments through key global shipping lanes and to prioritize fertilizer supply security as an element of national security. The first USDA cost-per-acre data accounting for post-crisis fertilizer and fuel prices is expected in the coming weeks, according to AFBF’s Faith Parum, and will provide the clearest picture yet of how the disruption is expected to weigh on farm profitability in 2026 and 2027.

India’s fertilizer ministry has recommended that national fertilizer companies pool their procurement by forming a three-month buying consortium to aggregate demand for DAP, MOP, NPS/NPK blends, and key raw materials including ammonia, sulfur, phosphoric acid, sulfuric acid, and phosphate rock.

The directive, reported by Argus Media, represents a significant change in India’s import strategy for phosphate and potash fertilizers, where domestic producers depend almost entirely on imported raw materials. The first step under the consortium model was IPL’s industry-wide tender to purchase 1.2 million tonnes of DAP and 400,000 tonnes of granular TSP, using the same procurement structure as for urea imports.

India is one of the world’s largest importers of phosphate fertilizer and is highly vulnerable to supply disruptions from the Strait of Hormuz blockade. Domestic DAP producers face limited supplies of ammonia and sulfur, both largely sourced from the Gulf, which restricts their ability to increase output at the start of the kharif season. TSP stocks declined to 374,000 tonnes at the end of April as sales exceeded arrivals, according to Argus data.

The consortium model allows smaller companies to gain negotiating power similar to IPL, which has traditionally used bulk tenders to secure competitive urea prices. The ministry expects this approach to enhance supply security and improve pricing during the current crisis. In the 2025–26 crop year, India consumed over 65 million tonnes of fertilizer nutrients, importing most of its phosphate and potash needs. The next test will be whether suppliers accept IPL’s counterbids in the DAP tender at $930–935 per tonne CFR, with negotiations open through May 11.

The Trump administration unveiled a sweeping multi-agency fertilizer initiative on April 29, setting targets to expand US nitrogen production capacity by 30%, domestic potash output by more than 100%, and domestic phosphate capacity by 200% over the next one to two years.

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced the plan at a press conference in Washington alongside cabinet officials from the EPA, Department of Energy, Department of Commerce, and Department of the Interior, plus White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett. The rollout came after Rollins flagged the initiative at a Missouri farm visit the prior Friday, where she told producers that urea prices had risen 50% and ammonia was up more than 30% since the Iran conflict began in late February.

Immediate measures already in place

Several short-term steps are already operational. The administration extended its waiver of the Jones Act — a maritime law that requires goods shipped between US ports to travel on US-flagged vessels — by an additional 60 days, giving fertilizer distributors more flexibility to move product between domestic ports. The Treasury Department separately waived certain restrictions on US entities purchasing petrochemicals, including fertilizer, from Venezuela; one anticipated shipment is expected to fill roughly 57% of the US urea supply gap for the April–June period, according to administration officials.

In September 2025, USDA signed a memorandum of understanding with the Department of Justice to strengthen antitrust enforcement in agricultural input markets. USDA Deputy Secretary Stephen Vaden said at the April 29 press conference that two companies currently control roughly 90% of key fertilizer inputs and that DOJ and the Federal Trade Commission are both actively issuing questions to fertilizer companies and examining pricing practices. “It’s public knowledge they are investigating the fertilizer markets,” Vaden said.

Longer-term capacity investment

On the supply side, Rollins announced that fertilizer projects investing over $1bn in US infrastructure may be eligible for assistance from the Department of Commerce’s investment accelerator, which oversees $750bn in available financing. The Department of Energy’s energy dominance financing program has already provided a $1.5bn loan for an Indiana ammonia project. EPA, Commerce, the Department of the Interior, and the Army Corps of Engineers are also accelerating permitting for fertilizer plant construction, with Rollins describing a goal of compressing timelines from years to “weeks or perhaps months.”

The administration identified several fertilizer plants already under construction or awaiting permits that could be accelerated through federal stimulus. Natural gas — the primary feedstock for nitrogen fertilizer — is abundant domestically, and Rollins argued that this gives the US a structural advantage. “We are flush with liquid natural gas,” she said, “and that is going to help spur more long-term production.”

Rollins also confirmed that USDA will deploy a $900mn Rural Development fund — created under the Biden administration — for fertilizer projects, though she said more work is needed to accelerate the timelines of the $700mn already committed.

Industry backdrop: structural vulnerability on display

The announcement reflects years of concern about US reliance on foreign fertilizer supply. The Strait of Hormuz closure — which has disrupted roughly one-third of globally traded fertilizers since late February — has exposed a concentrated supply chain: the Gulf region accounts for nearly half of global urea exports and around 30% of ammonia. US farmers, who typically pre-book fertilizer well in advance, found themselves exposed to spot market price spikes at the worst possible time in the planting calendar.

A survey by the American Farm Bureau Federation, conducted April 3–11, found that approximately 70% of responding farmers could not afford all the fertilizer they needed for the 2026 season. Southern producers were most exposed — 78% reported being unable to afford full inputs — compared to 48% in the Midwest, where higher pre-booking rates offered more protection.

Anhydrous ammonia prices climbed above $1,100 per ton at the end of April, roughly 30% higher than at the end of February, according to DTN’s weekly retail fertilizer trends report. Josh Linville, vice president of fertilizer at StoneX, noted that gas plants in Qatar and Iran supplying nitrogen production facilities have sustained damage from missile and drone strikes, meaning the supply recovery will be measured in months, not weeks. “Once we get that going, we’ve got to get liquified natural gas production back up and running, and once that starts getting to the fertilizer plant, we’ve got to restart the fertilizer,” he said.

What to watch next

The capacity targets — 30% nitrogen expansion, 100% potash doubling, 200% phosphate growth — are aspirational without named projects or funding commitments attached. Washington analyst Jim Wiesemeyer said the plan would likely need grants, tax incentives, and loan guarantees beyond existing USDA programs to be effective, while noting that imports will still be essential, particularly for potash from Canada. The DOJ and FTC investigations into fertilizer pricing represent an additional policy lever that could, over time, affect how companies set prices — but enforcement timelines in antitrust cases are typically measured in years.

ATOME, the British developer of green fertilizer projects, has reached final investment decision (FID) on its $665mn low-carbon fertilizer plant in Villeta, Paraguay — the world’s first industrial-scale facility of its kind to clear that milestone.

The Villeta plant will produce 260,000 tonnes per year of low-carbon calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN-27) using 100% renewable baseload hydropower from Paraguay’s Itaipu dam, which co-owns the world’s second-largest hydroelectric station with Brazil. Because the facility runs on hydropower rather than natural gas, it is structurally insulated from fossil fuel price swings — including the nitrogen price spike triggered by the US-Iran conflict and Strait of Hormuz disruption.

The entire Villeta production output is committed under a binding 10-year offtake agreement with Yara International, which will market the fertilizer as part of its Climate Choice product line. Swiss engineering firm Casale will serve as EPC contractor on a fixed-price lump-sum basis.

Project financing comprises $420mn in debt coordinated by IDB Invest, with participation from the International Finance Corporation, European Investment Bank, FMO (the Dutch development bank), and the Green Climate Fund. The $245mn equity investment is led by Hy24, the world’s largest low-carbon hydrogen asset manager. ATOME’s shareholders are expected to ratify the FID in May 2026. Construction is set to begin shortly, with commercial operations targeted by October 2029 at the latest. Over its lifetime, the plant is projected to displace 500,000 tonnes of CO₂e annually.

Olivier Mussat, CEO of ATOME, called the FID a “defining achievement” and described Villeta as a replicable blueprint for fossil-fuel-free fertilizer production at industrial scale in emerging markets. ATOME has indicated plans to replicate the model in other countries with abundant renewable power and large fertilizer import dependencies.

Key facts about the ATOME Villeta project

Nutrien delivered adjusted EBITDA of $1.11bn in the first quarter of 2026, driven by record potash sales volumes and higher global benchmark prices, but its stock fell more than 7% after adjusted earnings per share came in at $0.51 — below analyst expectations of $0.53.

Net earnings attributable to shareholders were $139mn, or $0.27 per diluted share, compared to a near-zero result in Q1 2025. Total revenues rose 18.6% year-over-year to $6.05bn, well ahead of consensus estimates of $5.35bn.

The company’s potash segment posted adjusted EBITDA of $578mn, up sharply from the prior year, as Nutrien increased production from low-cost North American assets and maintained controllable cash costs below $60 per tonne. Potash sales volumes reached a quarterly record, supported by robust demand in Brazil, India, and Southeast Asia. The nitrogen segment also improved, benefiting from higher global benchmark prices tied to Middle East supply disruptions.

Retail adjusted EBITDA was $108mn, a seasonally slower quarter, but crop nutrient sales volumes and proprietary product margins improved in the US and Australia. Nutrien also completed a tuck-in acquisition of a corn belt retail business during the quarter.

Ken Seitz, Nutrien’s president and CEO, said the company “delivered record potash sales volumes and stronger Nitrogen and Retail performance” while taking steps to simplify the business and improve capital efficiency. Nutrien reaffirmed all full-year 2026 guidance ranges: potash sales volumes of 14.1–14.8 million tonnes, nitrogen sales volumes of 9.2–9.7 million tonnes, and retail adjusted EBITDA of CA$1.75–1.95bn. The company expects the first half of 2026 to account for about 70% of full-year retail earnings, consistent with prior years. Free cash flow is expected to be supported by tight global fertilizer supply-demand fundamentals through the rest of 2026.

The U.S. Department of Energy has approved a $1.5 billion loan for a new ammonia production project in Indiana, representing the largest federal commitment to domestic nitrogen fertilizer capacity under the Trump administration’s multi-agency expansion initiative.

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins stated on April 29 that the project reflects the administration’s goal to accelerate U.S. fertilizer production within one to two years, despite the significant capital and time required for ammonia plants. The facility will use domestically abundant natural gas as feedstock, which Rollins identified as a strategic advantage for expanding U.S. nitrogen production.

The Indiana loan is part of a broader federal initiative involving the Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Commerce, Department of the Interior, and Army Corps of Engineers to streamline permitting for large industrial projects. Officials stated the initiative aims to reduce approval timelines for fertilizer facilities from several years to weeks or months. Projects investing over $1 billion in U.S. infrastructure may also qualify for support through the Department of Commerce’s investment accelerator program, which manages about $750 billion in financing capacity.

This funding initiative reflects a broader shift in federal policy toward fertilizer supply security. Rollins has called affordable fertilizer access a national security priority, while USDA Deputy Secretary Stephen Vaden has linked market concentration in the fertilizer sector to supply vulnerabilities. The administration has not identified the company behind the Indiana project, but further financing announcements and permitting measures are expected as agencies advance the domestic capacity expansion program.

Chapter 12 farm bankruptcy filings, the federal process intended for family-sized agricultural operations, increased by 46% in 2025, marking the third consecutive annual rise, according to data compiled by the American Farm Bureau Federation. The Midwest and Southeast experienced the most significant regional increases.

These figures indicate increasing pressure on US farms resulting from elevated input costs, persistently low commodity prices, and, most recently, the fertilizer and fuel price shock caused by the Strait of Hormuz disruption. Chapter 12, established in 1986 during the previous major farm debt crisis, enables eligible agricultural producers to reorganize debt and continue operations. It offers greater flexibility than Chapter 11 but imposes annual farm income and debt limits that exclude larger commercial operations.

Farm diesel prices have increased by 46% since the end of February. Anhydrous ammonia prices exceeded $1,100 per ton by late April, representing an increase of approximately 30% over two months. Urea prices have risen by about 50% since the onset of the conflict. These cost increases coincide with the spring planting window, a period when fertilizer and fuel constitute the largest share of operating expenditures for US row-crop farmers.

Approximately one in four US farmers had not secured fertilizer for the 2026 planting season as of the Farm Bureau survey conducted from April 3 to 11. A separate USDA analysis, which will be the first to capture post-crisis per-acre cost data, is expected soon and will offer greater insight into the disruption’s impact on farm margins. The three-year increase in bankruptcies, together with decades of ongoing farm consolidation, has resulted in fewer and larger farms absorbing a greater share of the income variability caused by such disruptions.

Jordan’s Council of Ministers has approved a $1bn investment agreement for the construction of a green ammonia production facility by Jordan Green Ammonia, marking a significant step in the country’s push to develop renewable-energy-based industrial infrastructure.

Details on the project’s production capacity, technology partner, power source, or commercial offtake arrangements have not been publicly disclosed. Jordan has abundant solar resources and has positioned itself as a potential green hydrogen and green ammonia hub serving European and Asian markets, supported by the Jordan National Green Hydrogen Strategy launched in 2022.

The announcement comes as the Middle East conflict around the Strait of Hormuz has placed renewed global focus on green ammonia and alternative nitrogen supply chains that are insulated from natural gas price volatility. Jordan currently imports all of its fertilizer requirements and is exposed to the same supply disruptions affecting other Gulf-adjacent importers.

The $1bn project, if constructed, would position Jordan as a small but symbolically significant producer of green ammonia in a region where conventional ammonia production has been disrupted. Detailed project parameters, financing arrangements, and a construction timeline are expected to emerge as the government moves from approval to contracting. Watch for an engineering contract announcement and power purchase agreement as key next milestones.

Loop Chemicals, a startup spun out of the Massachusetts Climatetech Studio, has licensed a thermochemical looping ammonia technology from Sandia National Laboratories to develop a distributed manufacturing platform for the U.S. fertilizer market.

The chemical looping platform was developed at Sandia in collaboration with Arizona State University and uses a novel process that offers the potential for lower capital intensity relative to conventional Haber-Bosch ammonia production. Loop Chemicals said it will initially focus on bringing production closer to farms, reducing the transport costs and supply-chain vulnerabilities that have driven up nitrogen fertilizer prices during the current Strait of Hormuz disruption.

The company is applying a competitive grant award from the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center toward construction of a prototype reactor, with technical support from both Sandia and Arizona State. In later phases, Loop plans to expand beyond fertilizers into ammonia as an alternative fuel and hydrogen carrier.

Dan Doble, co-founder and CEO of Loop Chemicals, said the company’s mission is to localize ammonia production to strengthen US fertilizer supply chains, reduce dependence on foreign imports, and improve farm gate economics. The Sandia license adds momentum to a growing pipeline of distributed ammonia startups — including Talusag in Iowa and Shomax — targeting rural markets with modular, lower-carbon production systems.

Loop has not disclosed a commercialization timeline or funding raised beyond the initial grant. The prototype reactor stage will be a key test of the technology’s capital cost claims before any commercial deployment.

Can chemical looping disrupt the century-old Haber-Bosch ammonia process?

Indian fertilizer importer IPL has issued counterbids in its tender to purchase 1.2 million metric tons of diammonium phosphate (DAP), seeking lower prices after receiving offers from 18 traders and producers.

IPL requested suppliers to match the lowest offers, setting counterbid levels at $935 per metric ton cfr for the East Coast and $930 per ton cfr for the West Coast. The tender closed on May 7.

Trading firm Indagro submitted the lowest offers, with 40,000 tons for the east coast and 30,000 tons for the west coast. Total DAP offers reached 2.325 million tons, nearly double the requested volume. Of this, 965,000 tons were for the East Coast and 1.36 million tons for the West Coast.

IPL has not yet responded to triple superphosphate (TSP) offers received under the same tender. Suppliers submitted a total of 410,000 tons of TSP.s.

Source: Argus Media

Petrobras has suspended fertilizer production at two nitrogen facilities after operational incidents, raising concerns about the reliability of Brazil’s efforts to restore domestic fertilizer manufacturing.

Petrobras informed Argus Media that operations at the Araucaria Nitrogenados (Ansa) complex in Paraná have been suspended since April 30 due to a compressor room incident. The facility had only recently resumed operations after being idle since 2020. Ammonia sales from the site continue as normal, and Petrobras will announce a timeline for restarting fertilizer production at a later date.

Ansa has an annual production capacity of 720,000 metric tons of urea, 475,000 metric tons of ammonia, and 450,000 cubic meters of Arla 32 diesel emissions-control fluid. Petrobras also confirmed that operations at the Fafen Sergipe fertilizer unit in northeastern Brazil were halted due to a power supply failure that damaged operational systems. The company expects production to resume later this month and reports that existing inventories have prevented supply disruptions.

The Fafen Sergipe unit resumed ammonia production at the end of 2025 after an extended idle period under previous operator Unigel. Petrobras reported the plant was operating at about 90% of its nameplate urea capacity in early March, or roughly 1,800 metric tons per day. The facility can produce up to 650,000 metric tons of urea, 450,000 metric tons of ammonia, and 320,000 metric tons of ammonium sulfate annually.

A third fertilizer unit, Fafen Bahia, recently reduced output for maintenance on its pumping system. Petrobras stated that production has since increased but did not disclose current operating rates at the Bahia plant.

Petrobras stated that restarting the Bahia and Sergipe units allowed the company to supply about 10% of Brazil’s urea market in the first quarter of 2026. The company noted that all three fertilizer plants experienced extended periods of “hibernation,” resulting in equipment degradation and increased maintenance needs after resuming operations.

Brazil continues to rely heavily on fertilizer imports despite government initiatives to rebuild domestic production. According to the Brazilian fertilizer distributor association Anda, the country consumed over 49.1 million metric tons of fertilizer in 2025, with about 88% imported. Petrobras has connected the restart of its fertilizer operations to Brazil’s national fertilizer strategy, which seeks to reduce dependence on foreign supplies.

PepsiCo and Fertiberia have announced a long-term agreement to expand the use of low-carbon fertilizers across European agriculture, targeting emissions reductions in the production of crops used for snack brands including Lay’s, Doritos, Ruffles and Cheetos.

Under the partnership, Fertiberia will progressively supply PepsiCo with up to 150,000 metric tons annually of its Impact Zero crop nutrition products by 2030. These fertilizers are expected to cover around 400,000 acres (162,000 hectares) of farmland growing potatoes, corn, sunflower, sugar beet and rapeseed across Europe. The program will initially expand in France, Romania, Serbia, Greece and Turkey and increase activity in Spain and Portugal.

The agreement follows pilot projects in Spain and Portugal during the 2024-2025 growing seasons. PepsiCo said using Fertiberia’s low-carbon fertilizers reduced emissions from potato farming by up to 15% and from corn farming by 20%. The products are manufactured using green hydrogen instead of natural gas in ammonia production, reducing greenhouse gas emissions from fertilizer manufacturing by up to 63%, according to the companies.

PepsiCo said the collaboration is expected to raise the share of low-carbon fertilizers in its European supply chain to around 50% by 2030 when combined with existing supplier agreements. Fertilizer production and use currently account for about half of the company’s average potato carbon footprint in Europe, making it a major focus in its broader emissions reduction strategy.

In addition to fertilizer supply, the companies said they will provide farmers with technical support and digital agriculture tools to improve nutrient efficiency and monitor regenerative farming practices. Fertiberia said its technology portfolio includes slow-release fertilizers and nitrification inhibitors designed to reduce nutrient losses while maintaining crop productivity.

Environmental headlines often focus on climate change, habitat loss, and declining insect populations, leaving many people wondering how they can make a meaningful difference. According to the National Garden Bureau, one of the most effective solutions may begin at home — in the garden.

Pollinators such as bees, butterflies, moths, and hummingbirds depend on flowering plants and safe nesting spaces to survive. Yet expanding urban development and intensive landscaping practices have reduced the habitats these species rely on. Even small gardens, container planters, or balcony spaces can become valuable feeding and sheltering areas that help reconnect fragmented habitats across neighborhoods and cities.

Migratory species such as the Monarch butterfly depend on frequent nectar “fuel stops” during their long journeys across North America, while many native bees spend their entire lives within a very small radius and may never leave a single garden.

The basics of a pollinator-friendly yard

Creating a pollinator habitat does not require a complete landscape redesign. Many gardeners already provide some of the essential elements pollinators need:

• Flowering plants rich in nectar and pollen
• Hollow-stemmed plants for nesting
• Bare patches of soil for ground-nesting bees
• Fallen logs, leaves, brush piles, or rocks for shelter

Experts recommend reducing or eliminating chemical insecticides, which can harm beneficial insects alongside pests. Herbicides can also remove critical food sources that pollinators depend on throughout the growing season.

Instead, gardeners are encouraged to adopt Integrated Pest Management (IPM), a gardening approach that relies on observation, biodiversity, and natural predator-prey relationships to manage pests with minimal chemical intervention.

Choose diverse plants for season-long blooms

Plant diversity is one of the most important features of a successful pollinator garden. Different pollinators are attracted to different flower shapes, colors, and bloom times.

Gardeners should aim to maintain at least three blooming plants throughout the growing season — from early spring to late fall — to ensure consistent food availability.

Native plants are especially valuable because pollinators have evolved alongside them for thousands of years. However, many non-invasive ornamental flowers and herbs also provide excellent nectar and pollen resources.

Popular pollinator-friendly plants include:

• Cosmos
• Zinnias
• Lavender
• Salvia
• Sage
• Joe Pye weed
• Wild bergamot
• Dill, which serves as a host plant for Black swallowtail butterfly caterpillars

Butterflies and moths also require host plants where they can lay eggs and support caterpillars during their larval stage.

Вon’t over-clean the garden

One of the simplest ways to support pollinators is to leave parts of the garden undisturbed.

Roughly 90% of native bee species nest underground, making bare soil patches especially important. Thick mulch layers and landscape fabrics can prevent bees from reaching the soil surface.

Dead wood and dried flower stems also provide nesting cavities for solitary bees. Gardeners can leave spent stems standing through winter and cut them back gradually in spring.

Fallen leaves should also remain in garden beds during colder months, as many butterflies and moths overwinter in leaf litter as caterpillars, chrysalids, or adults.

Pollinator gardening for apartments and small spaces

Pollinator gardening is not limited to large yards. Apartment residents can support wildlife with container gardens planted with flowering species.

A single planter filled with pollinator-friendly flowers can provide food in otherwise difficult urban environments. Small bee houses may also offer nesting space for cavity-nesting bees.

Patience pays off with native plants

Many native plants spend their first years developing deep root systems before producing vigorous above-ground growth. While this slower establishment period can test gardeners’ patience, it ultimately creates landscapes that are more drought-tolerant and resilient.

Newly planted gardens benefit from watering during the first year and light mulching to retain moisture and suppress weeds. Over time, living ground covers and mature plantings naturally reduce maintenance needs.

Every garden can make a difference

Whether gardeners add a few flowering plants to existing beds or transform sections of lawn into pollinator habitat, every space contributes to a broader ecological network.

The National Garden Bureau says even small individual actions can collectively create meaningful environmental benefits by supporting biodiversity and strengthening pollinator populations across communities.

About the Author: This article was prepared by the National Garden Bureau, a nonprofit organization that serves as the marketing and educational arm of the gardening industry. It works to inspire and inform consumers about gardening by promoting the use of seeds, plants, and related products in homes, gardens, and workplaces. NGB draws on expertise from its member companies and horticultural professionals to provide reliable, industry-backed information.

Mosaic reported a net loss of USD 258 million for the first quarter of 2026, compared to net income of USD 238 million a year earlier. The loss reflects higher raw material costs and restructuring charges related to Brazilian operations. Diluted loss per share was USD 0.81, and adjusted EBITDA was USD 416 million.

Mosaic stated that results were significantly impacted by USD 442 million in charges from idling its Araxá and Patrocínio facilities in Brazil, including asset write-downs, severance, and accelerated depreciation. The company also noted that record sulfur prices and limited ammonia supplies are reducing phosphate margins worldwide. With sulfur prices surpassing USD 1,200 per tonne, Mosaic withdrew its full-year phosphate production guidance, initiated partial curtailments at its Louisiana and Bartow operations, and reduced output in Brazil.

Despite lower earnings, Mosaic reported stable potash market fundamentals, supported by strong North American demand and record imports by China and Brazil in the first quarter. Potash operating earnings increased to USD 177 million from USD 157 million a year ago, driven by higher prices. The company maintained its 2026 potash production guidance at about 9 million tonnes and reduced planned capital expenditures for the year to USD 1.25 billion by deferring less urgent projects.

Cargill will invest €150 million (about USD 163 million) to expand and modernize its sunflower processing facility in Saint-Nazaire. This initiative aims to strengthen the company’s position in Western Europe’s plant-protein feed market and reduce reliance on imported protein meal.

The project will enable the facility to produce high and super-high protein sunflower meal for the animal feed sector, replacing lower-protein meal. Cargill stated that this investment will offer French sunflower growers a stable domestic market as sunflower cultivation increases nationwide. Alexis Cazin, president of Cargill’s Agriculture and Trading business in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, said the project will connect local farmers with rising demand for higher-value feed ingredients and support France’s competitiveness in global feed markets.

The investment includes upgrades to the plant’s energy infrastructure to reduce its environmental impact. Cargill stated that a new biomass boiler fueled by sunflower hulls will reduce natural gas consumption by over 100 gigawatt-hours annually and lower carbon dioxide emissions by about 20,000 metric tons per year, representing roughly 90% of the site’s emissions. Excess sunflower hulls will be processed into biomass pellets for external customers, including district heating systems.

Construction is set to begin in November 2026, with commissioning planned for March 2029. The Saint-Nazaire facility currently employs 75 people, and the expansion will create seven additional jobs. The project is supported by ADEME and the France 2030 industrial investment initiative.

Cargill stated that the Saint-Nazaire project is part of a broader investment program in France, which also includes approximately €25 million (USD 27 million) in Baupte, €50 million (USD 54 million) in Saint-Cyr-en-Val near Orléans, and €61 million (USD 66 million) for upgrades at its Haubourdin site. The company has operated in France since 1964 and currently runs 14 sites employing about 2,000 people nationwide.

CF Industries confirmed it is on track to begin construction in 2026 on its large-scale blue hydrogen and ammonia complex, further expanding its low-carbon fertilizer and energy production capacity in the U.S.

The project will produce blue ammonia and blue hydrogen from natural gas, using carbon capture and storage technology, significantly reducing carbon dioxide emissions compared to conventional methods. This development supports the company’s broader strategy to supply low-carbon fuels to agricultural, industrial, and energy markets.

CF Industries continues to invest in clean ammonia production as governments and industries seek alternatives to higher-emission fuels. Blue ammonia is considered a potential low-carbon fuel for shipping and power generation, while hydrogen is expected to support decarbonization in heavy industry and transportation.

The company reported that engineering and development work is progressing, with construction targeted to begin before year-end. Once completed, the facility is expected to be one of the largest blue ammonia and hydrogen production sites in North America.

Key facts about CF Industries’ Blue Point project

A recent study published in Nature indicates that long-term climate warming contributes to the spread of antibiotic resistance in soils. Over an 11-year period, researchers observed a nearly 24% increase in the abundance of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in warmed grassland soils. These findings suggest that climate change may serve as an additional driver of antimicrobial resistance, alongside the established factors of antibiotic misuse and overuse.

The study, conducted from 2009 to 2020 on experimental tall-grass prairie plots, simulated future climate scenarios by increasing soil temperatures by 3 degrees Celsius with infrared heaters. Rainfall patterns were also manipulated to replicate drought and extreme precipitation, and vegetation was cut annually to simulate grazing and harvesting. Advanced genetic sequencing methods, such as shotgun metagenomics and GeoChip analysis, demonstrated that warming increased both the abundance and mobility of ARGs, thereby facilitating the transfer of resistance traits between bacterial species.

The results indicated that elevated temperatures favored the proliferation of Actinomycetota, a bacterial group that naturally harbors numerous resistance genes. Warming also led to an increase in genes conferring resistance to glycopeptides and rifamycins, both of which are critical antibiotic classes. Laboratory analyses revealed that bacteria isolated from warmed soils exhibited greater resistance to 22 antibiotics compared to those from cooler plots. Additionally, an increase in resistance genes associated with plant pathogens was observed, suggesting that climate warming may further complicate the management of crop diseases in agriculture.

The authors emphasized that these findings underscore the environmental dimension of antimicrobial resistance, which is projected to cause up to 10 million deaths annually by 2050 if not addressed. The study concluded that climate warming may accelerate antimicrobial resistance at both genetic and ecological scales, with significant implications for human health, food production, and environmental sustainability. The researchers recommended further investigations across diverse ecosystems and climate regions to more comprehensively assess the risks associated with warming soils.

Sources: Nature, Phys.org

A 37-year soil warming experiment in Massachusetts demonstrates that prolonged warming can destabilize forms of soil carbon previously considered resistant to decomposition. This process may create an additional feedback loop that accelerates climate change.

Since the late 1980s, researchers at Harvard Forest have heated underground soil plots by 5°C (9°F) above ambient temperatures, establishing the world’s longest-running soil warming experiment. The study indicates that decades of elevated temperatures have altered microbial activity, enabling microbes to decompose persistent organic matter and release additional carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

“Soil holds more carbon globally than the atmosphere and all plant life combined,” the researchers stated. They noted that the gradual breakdown of these carbon reserves became evident only after decades of continuous warming. These findings challenge longstanding assumptions that certain forms of soil organic matter remain effectively sequestered for centuries.

Jerry Melillo, a distinguished scientist at the Marine Biological Laboratory and co-author of the study, explained that microbes play a central role in recycling nutrients and decomposing organic matter in forest ecosystems. As warming alters microbial communities, the loss of soil carbon may accelerate. Researchers further noted that incorporating these long-term soil responses into climate models could improve projections of future warming.

The study, titled “Three decades of continuous warming in temperate forests destabilizes persistent forms of soil organic matter,” was published on April 7, 2026, in Science of The Total Environment.

Sources: Science of The Total Environment study abstract; Harvard Forest

A field study conducted in Brazil’s Amazonas state demonstrated that small amounts of Amazonian dark earth, or terra preta, significantly accelerated early growth of native tree species on degraded land. These findings underscore the importance of soil microorganisms in tropical forest restoration.

Researchers observed that pink trumpet tree seedlings treated with Amazonian dark earth grew up to 55% taller and developed stems up to 88% thicker within 180 days compared to untreated controls. Brazilian firetree seedlings also exhibited increases, growing approximately 20% taller and 15% thicker. The study was conducted on a former cassava field in Itacoatiara, Amazonas, by scientists from the University of São Paulo’s Center for Nuclear Energy in Agriculture, Embrapa Eastern Amazon, and the National Institute for Amazonian Research.

The research, published in BMC Ecology and Evolution, examined the influence of Amazonian dark earth on microbial communities surrounding plant roots, rather than focusing solely on nutrient content. According to lead author Anderson Santos de Freitas, treated plants exhibited substantial shifts in fungal populations, with increases in beneficial microorganisms and declines in potential pathogens. These microbial changes may account for the enhanced growth response, particularly in the pink trumpet tree, which is generally more challenging to establish on degraded land.

Amazonian dark earth is a fertile, anthropogenic soil developed over centuries by pre-Columbian communities through the accumulation of organic matter and controlled burning. As these soils are legally protected, researchers emphasized that the objective is not to extract terra preta for direct application, but to investigate the biological and ecological mechanisms underlying its effectiveness. Tsai Siu Mui, coordinator of the broader project, stated that the long-term goal is to identify microbes and soil processes that could facilitate scalable restoration strategies without dependence on fertilizers or herbicides.

The field trial included two native species with distinct ecological roles: the fast-growing Brazilian firetree and the pink trumpet tree, valued for both timber production and ecological restoration. Seedlings were established without the use of fertilizers, herbicides, or supplemental irrigation beyond natural rainfall. After six months, all plants survived.

Researchers cautioned that these findings represent preliminary results from a single experimental site involving 72 plants and two species. The complete three-year dataset remains under analysis. Nevertheless, the study indicates that restoring microbial relationships in degraded soils may serve as a valuable approach for tropical forest restoration and ecosystem recovery.

Sources: BMC Ecology and Evolution, The Brighter Side of News