Fertilisers play a critical role in food production and security. At the peak of gas prices in 2022, gas accounted for 90% of the variable production cost of nitrogen fertilizers, resulting in a 149% increase in nitrogen fertiliser prices for EU farmers as of September 2022 compared to September 2021. This surge was even more significant compared to 2020, with the price of fertilisers reaching historical highs, peaking at a 350% increase, and averaging around 250%.
The Hague, 1st of March 2024 – With a funding of 4.841.203,33 €, AgEnRes (Analysing of Fossil-Energy Dependence in Agriculture to Increase Resilience against Input Price Fluctuations), a Horizon Europe-funded project, is set to revolutionise sustainable farming practices across Europe, addressing pressing challenges in the sector, particularly concerning fossil fuel dependence, including mineral fertilisers and greenhouse gas emissions.
“High and volatile prices of fossil fuels and mineral fertilisers impact investment behaviour, farm income, resilience of the agricultural sector as whole and food security. I am confident that AgEnRes will come up with financial tools and integrated assessments supporting policy design, that will increase fossil fuels and fertiliser productivity, decrease emissions to the environment and contributes to improved and more stable farmers income and stable food prices for consumers” – John Helming, AgEnRes coordinator.
AgEnRes is comprised by a consortium of 13 research institutions and organisations working together on developing innovative solutions to enhance fossil fuel and mineral fertilisers efficiency and reduce environmental impact, driving sustainable transformation in the agricultural sector through innovation, collaboration, and knowledge exchange.
By leveraging cutting-edge research and technology, the project strives to promote resource-efficient farming methods while ensuring economic viability and environmental sustainability. The project’s objectives include:
- Developing advanced analytical tools, including the AgEnRes toolbox, to monitor and model fossil fuel including mineral fertilisers usage and GHG emissions at various levels of the agricultural supply chain.
- Conducting comprehensive socio-economic analyses to evaluate the adoption potential of energy-efficient innovations.
- Develop price risk management instruments to cope with price fluctuations
- Facilitating capacity building and training initiatives to empower stakeholders with the knowledge and skills needed to implement sustainable practices.
By achieving these goals, we will gain a deeper insight especially into how farm income, farm structural change, energy consumption, and GHG emissions intersect. This effort will result in better decision support systems, integrated into the AgEnRes toolbox, to assist farmers in mitigating energy dependence and greenhouse gas emissions. Ultimately, this will foster greater awareness and uptake of sustainable agricultural practices among stakeholders.
By bringing together researchers, policymakers, farmers, and industry experts, AgEnRes encourages collaboration and knowledge exchange to co-create solutions tailored to the needs of the agricultural sector, ensuring widespread adoption and impact.
Join AgEnRes in its mission to advance energy and resource efficiency in agriculture, driving sustainable prosperity and environmental stewardship across Europe.
Contact Information
For media inquiries, please contact:
- John Helming; AgEnRes Project Coordinator, Senior Researcher at Wageningen Economic Research | agenres@wur.nl | Stichting Wageningen Research
- Diego Ibáñez Rodríguez; Communication Manager | diego.rodriguez@geonardo.com | GEONARDO
Join the conversation
- Website: agenres.eu
- LinkedIn: @AgEnRes
- X (Formerly known as Twitter): @AgenresEU
- YouTube: @AgenresE
