PepsiCo and Fertiberia Seal 150,000‑Ton Green‑Hydrogen Fertiliser Deal to Cut EU Crop Emissions

Context Europe’s agriculture accounts for roughly 2 % of global greenhouse‑gas output, with fertilizers a major driver. PepsiCo, a leading snack and beverage producer, sources key ingredients—potatoes, corn, sunflowers, sugar beets and rapeseed—from more than 160,000 hectares across the continent. The company has pledged to raise low‑carbon fertilizer use to 50 % of its European supply chain by 2030 as part of a broader goal to cut Scope 3 emissions by 30 % from 2022 levels.

Key Facts - Fertiberia, a Spanish fertiliser maker, will deliver up to 150,000 tons of its Impact Zero product to PepsiCo each year through 2030. Impact Zero is produced with green hydrogen—hydrogen generated from renewable electricity—rather than natural gas, cutting its own greenhouse‑gas footprint by up to 63 %. - A pilot in Spain and Portugal already showed a 15 % reduction in CO₂ emissions on potato crops and a 20 % reduction on corn when using Impact Zero. - The rollout will start in France, Romania, Serbia, Greece and Turkey, with simultaneous expansion into Spain and Portugal, and plans to add more EU markets. - PepsiCo will pair the fertiliser supply with digital tools and precision‑farming advice to help farmers optimise application rates and minimise nutrient loss. - Archana Jagannathan, PepsiCo’s Head of Sustainability for EMEA, called low‑carbon fertilisers “a key tool” for cutting agricultural emissions. Fertiberia’s COO David Herrero highlighted the NSAFE bio‑inhibitor that reduces nitrogen loss, further improving environmental performance.

What It Means The agreement scales a proven emissions‑reduction technology from a limited pilot to a continent‑wide supply chain. If the 15‑20 % emission cuts observed in the pilot hold at scale, PepsiCo could lower the carbon intensity of its European potato and corn output by millions of tonnes of CO₂ each year. The partnership also demonstrates a market for green‑hydrogen fertilisers, potentially accelerating similar deals as EU climate policies tighten. Success will hinge on farmer adoption and the reliability of renewable‑energy‑derived hydrogen at the volumes required.

Looking ahead, watch for the first full‑year impact reports from the expanded rollout and any follow‑on agreements that extend the model to other crops or regions.