A new groundbreaking research initiative to increase fertiliser efficiency and reduce environmental impacts

Australia is embarking in a groundbreaking national research initiative aimed at equipping grain growers with innovative tools to boost nitrogen use efficiency while cutting down on-farm greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Central to this effort is the investigation of new enhanced efficiency fertilisers (EEFs), which employ advanced chemical or physical methods to control the release of nitrogen, ensuring plants receive this critical nutrient when they need it most.

By improving the synchronisation between fertiliser nitrogen supply and crop demand, EEFs hold the potential to reduce nitrogen losses, offering both environmental, agricultural and economic benefits. The project is spearheaded by the University of Melbourne, which will lead a four-year, $17.33 million venture funded by the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC). The project brings together a coalition of research organisations and industry players, including CSBP Limited, Incitec Pivot Fertilisers, Nutrien Ag Solutions, N-Shield, and Fertiliser Australia.

Associate Professor Helen Suter, the project’s lead from the University of Melbourne, noted that while a number of EEF technologies are already available in the market, their effectiveness across different climates and agroecosystems – as well as their true economic and environmental impact – remain underexplored within the grains industry. The research aims to close this gap, offering new insights and practical solutions to farmers across Australia.

Read more on the initiative here.

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