PepsiCo testing low-carbon fertilizers

Bradenton, Fla.-PepsiCo has called upon Yara International ASA and Toronto-based Outlook Resources to find a greener fertilizer to reduce the carbon footprint of growing oranges for its popular Tropicana product. The world-wide soft drink giant first thought transportation was the culprit, but later concluded that a large part came from natural gas-produced nitrogen. Both fertilizer producers are testing their product in the same Florida orange grove. Yara has a calcium-based fertilizer, but no details are available. Toronto-based Outlook Resources is testing an organic formula that in some cases utilizes orange peels from a nearby process plant. “It’s two very different approaches to a low carbon fertility product,” explained Ash Seha, Outlook Resources vice president of business development. “The feedstock for ours is organic material from a number of different inputs, allowing for sort of a flux going through development including agriculture wastes and what is available locally. It could be manures of different sorts … chicken litter or cow manure, or it could be food wastes, depending on what is available and what is the need for the fertilizer.” Seha said Outlook Resources strives to obtain source materials as close as possible to the location where they will be used, which means a further reduction in the carbon footprint. He said the pilot project started with the growing season in mid-February, and the first results will be available within the next 90 days when “we take a look at the budding of the plant.” Sandro Pippobello, director of premium offerings for Yara North America, said, “We’ve been using our new environmental technology to produce lower-carbon fertilizers with great success. In addition to our fertilizer production technology, we’re excited to bring our expertise in plant nutrition to a project that has the potential to both improve agricultural practices associated with orange production and make a positive contribution to growers’ profitability. With PepsiCo’s support, we have an opportunity to make significant breakthroughs in several critical areas ?Çô the environment, crop quality, and profitability.”