Wedoany.com Report-Nov. 10, Ballance Agri-Nutrients, in collaboration with Yara, has initiated a pilot program for a reduced-carbon lineup of specialty fertilizers tailored for horticulture and arable farming. The products target growers supplying international food producers.

Aaron Stafford, National Corporate Accounts and Technical Services Manager at Ballance, notes that export agreements increasingly mandate carbon footprint measurement and reduction for farmers and growers.

“Some of the world’s largest household grocery brands, from PepsiCo to supermarket chains like Waitrose in the United Kingdom, have committed to partner with growers that can track and reduce their carbon footprint, as they face tighter regulations and reporting requirements that carry across their entire supply chain,” he says.

“This range will contribute to a lower overall carbon footprint, particularly in the premium food and fibre export space where New Zealand tends to occupy.”

Fertilizer supports approximately 41 percent of New Zealand’s agricultural exports by enhancing crop and fiber yields efficiently.

The Yara Climate Choice fertilizers are manufactured using either renewable ammonia—produced with renewable energy—or carbon capture and storage technology. These methods lower the production carbon footprint by up to 70 percent compared to Yara’s conventional products.

Beda Merkelbach, Yara Senior Vice President for Asia-Pacific, states that New Zealand marks the initial launch location for this range in the region.

“Working together across the supply chain with innovative solutions will help cultivate a better future for agriculture and food production. We’ve been working with Ballance for some time to be able to bring this range to New Zealand and they’ve been an incredibly supportive partner,” he says.

Stafford emphasizes that while New Zealand maintains strong standards in efficient farming, geographic distance to major markets such as Europe presents ongoing logistical considerations.

“It’s important for New Zealand growers looking to be part of these supply partnerships have the choice and ability to use as many levers as they possibly can to remain competitive,” he says.

“Yara is a global leader in producing lower footprint fertilisers. Their standard range that we import already has some of the cleanest compound NPK fertilisers in the market, thanks to use of catalytic converters in its manufacturing plants which reduces emissions.”

“The Climate Choice range offers further improvements from that base.”

The pilot includes three established products: YaraBela CAN, YaraMila Complex, and YaraLiva Nitrabor. These fertilizers are widely applied in vegetable and kiwifruit cultivation and are recognized for reliability among users.

This initiative provides growers with practical tools to meet evolving buyer specifications for sustainability metrics. By integrating lower-carbon inputs, producers can align with supply chain expectations without compromising yield performance.

The partnership leverages Yara’s manufacturing advancements and Ballance’s distribution network to deliver verified emission reductions at the farm level. The selected fertilizers maintain nutrient efficacy while addressing environmental criteria demanded in premium export channels.

New Zealand’s position in high-value food and fiber markets benefits from such targeted innovations. The pilot phase allows real-world validation of carbon savings across diverse growing systems, supporting data-driven decisions for broader adoption.

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