Novel Fertilizer Technologies and their modes of action

The global agricultural sector faces significant challenges as it tries to improve nutrient use efficiency while minimizing environmental impacts. Conventional fertilizers often suffer from low nutrient recovery efficiency, particularly for nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and micronutrients.

With the goal of enhancing efficiency, novel fertilizers are becoming essential for sustainable agriculture. These fertilizers include slow- and controlled-release formulations, microbial coatings, nanofertilizers, and other enhanced-efficiency technologies. However, adoption remains limited due to high costs, scalability concerns, and regulatory hurdles.

Nutrient use efficiency and its challenges

NUE refers to the effectiveness of nutrient uptake by crops and is mainly measured by recovery efficiency. This relates to the nutrients taken up by crops relative to the amount applied.

The recovery efficiency of fertilizers is influenced by factors such as soil type, application method, environmental conditions, and crop characteristics. For nitrogen, the global recovery efficiency is around 50%, while for phosphorus, it can be as low as 3–35% in the year of fertilizer application.

Nitrogen fertilizers are prone to losses via leaching, runoff, volatilization, and microbial immobilization. Technologies such as inhibitor-treated fertilizers and controlled-release products are designed to reduce these losses and enhance efficiency.

Phosphorus binds strongly to soil particles, making it less available to plants. That’s why the efficiency of phosphorus fertilizers is particularly low in the first year of application, but much higher in the long term.

Micronutrient fertilizers also suffer from low recovery efficiency due to strong soil retention in the short term. Yet, foliar application can improve recovery efficiency.

Examples of Novel Fertilizer Technologies

Inhibitor-treated fertilizers are also known as stabilized fertilizers that use chemical inhibitors to slow nitrogen conversion processes in the soil, thus reducing losses. Common inhibitors include urease and nitrification inhibitors. They help mitigate ammonia volatilization and nitrous oxide emissions but often only offer modest yield increases.

Fertilizer coatings control nutrient release and minimize losses. Coatings can be made from synthetic materials, biodegradable polymers, and/or comprise microbial inoculants. Future developments include “smart” coatings that aim to respond to plant signals, enhancing synchronization with crop demand.

Carrier technologies rely on materials such as layered double hydroxides, metal-organic frameworks, and graphene-based carriers to modify nutrient release rates. While promising, challenges remain in achieving cost-effective and scalable manufacturing.

Nanomaterials can improve nutrient use efficiency due to their high surface area and controlled release properties. However, regulatory, environmental, and economic challenges hinder widespread adoption. Field validation is required to confirm agronomic benefits and safety.

Barriers to adopting novel fertilizers

Despite their potential, novel fertilizers face significant barriers:

1. Costs: Advanced formulations are often more expensive than conventional fertilizers currently used in agriculture.
2. Field validation: Many products lack robust, independent field trials to demonstrate effectiveness.
3. Manufacturing complexity: Scaling production while maintaining cost-effectiveness is challenging.
4. Regulation: Safety and environmental concerns require stringent testing.
5. Logistics: Novel formulations must be easy to transport, store, and apply.

Evaluating novel fertilizers

To evaluate novel fertilizers, four key aspects must be considered:

1. Mode of action: Scientific validation of how the product enhances nutrient use efficiency.
2. Agronomic & environmental performance: Rigorous field trials under real-world conditions.
3. Handling & logistics: Ensuring product stability, safety, and ease of application.
4. Manufacturing & cost: Economic viability and sustainability in production.

Roles of key stakeholders

Governments

• Establish policies to incentivize innovation.
• Streamline regulatory frameworks to facilitate adoption.
• Provide financial incentives for sustainable fertilizer technologies.

Industry

• Invest in R&D for fertilizers with enhanced efficiency.
• Collaborate with researchers to improve formulations.
• Ensure transparency in product claims and benefits.

Researchers

• Develop and validate novel formulations.
• Conduct independent, rigorous field trials.
• Engage with industry and policymakers to bridge the research-to-market gap.

Farmers

• Participate in field evaluations of novel fertilizers.
• Advocate for transparent, performance-based product information.
• Support sustainable nutrient management practices.

The future of novel fertilizers

Novel fertilizers hold great potential to improve crop productivity while reducing environmental impacts. However, widespread adoption requires overcoming economic, technical, and regulatory challenges.

Collaboration among governments, industry, researchers, and farmers is crucial to advancing fertilizer technologies that are both effective and sustainable. With the right policies, research, and market incentives, the future of agriculture can be both productive and environmentally responsible.