PepsiCo expands low-carbon fertilizer partnership with Fertiberia across Europe

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.