Biofertilisers and enhanced efficiency fertilisers – solutions for the future

The rising costs of fertilisers, disruptions in supply chains due to COVID-19 and global conflicts, and a focus on soil health have led to increased interest among growers in using alternative inputs for improved cropping systems. Recycled organics derived from intensive livestock operations and food waste contain valuable nutrients and organic matter, which can enhance soil characteristics, increase crop productivity, reduce reliance on inorganic fertilisers, and promote resilient farming systems. The Incitec Pivot Fertilisers’ (IPF) Australia biofertilisers (ABF) is made with a sterilised and dried organic waste materials from poultry sheds, combined with inorganic chemicals, resulting in organo-mineral granules that provide necessary nutrients, organic matter, and labile carbons in a single granule. ABF technology is one example of efficient waste recycling where most of the nutrients and carbon are retained from the waste as opposed to being lost to the atmosphere as greenhouse gases, in alignment with the principles of circular economy. The main barriers to adoption are the high capital cost of building in Australia and the cost of renewable energy to run the process. Similar challenges are faced by other emerging technologies such as green ammonia. Perhaps the greatest opportunity for farmers is to adopt inhibitors which can minimise gaseous and leaching losses from existing nitrogen fertilisers. Nitrogen fertilisers are essential to crop production, but more than half of the fertiliser applied to crops is lost due to leaching or volatilisation. The IPF inhibitors can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80% from fertilisers and in some cases allow rate reduction without impacting yield and quality of produce. IPF conducted a study comparing their patented technologies of biofertilisers and nitrification inhibitors with standard farming practices for celery cultivation in East Victoria, demonstrating similar crop yields, reduced emissions and providing application efficiency.