May 25, 2023

Yara plans UK plant to make, export specialty crop products

Yara International plans to build a United Kingdom production plant for specialty crop nutrition products and biostimulants designed to increase yields and improve quality.

The plant will be one of the largest in the world for these products, which will be distributed globally.

The new plant will allow Yara to increase its footprint in this specialty crop nutrition business, one of the fastest growing markets in agriculture. Sales of YaraVita specialty crop nutrition products and biostimulants have grown five-fold in the past 20 years. These products are formulated to meet the specific needs of crops throughout the growing season and to help them increase their resilience to climate change.

The plant, to be built close to the company’s existing site in Yorkshire, U.K., will allow Yara to double the capacity of its YaraVita products when the facility is expected to be operational by the end of 2025. Production capacity can be expanded, if needed. Virtually all the output from the plant will be exported to markets around the world.

“Our specialty crop nutrition products help farmers increase yields and quality without increasing land use,” Mónica Andrés Enríquez, executive vice president for Europe at Yara International, said in a news release. “That not only benefits farmers but is also good for the planet.

“It’s no wonder that this market is growing exponentially,” she said in the release. “Amid today’s food security and climate change challenges, it’s more important than ever to feed the world with nutritious food while also protecting the planet.”

The global market for specialty fertilizers is projected to grow at compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.8% between 2022-27, according to MarketsandMarkets. The CAGR for biostimulants is growing at an even higher rate — more than 12% — DunhamTrimmer estimates, referring to the period from 2018-30.

Just like humans, plants need all essential nutrients to thrive. Specialty nutrients provided by foliar fertilizers (applied to the leaf or fruit) are just as vital for crop growth and quality as nutrients applied to the soil via traditional mineral fertilizers. Biostimulants for plants are just like taking vitamins for humans. This helps the plants adapt better to climate change and improve nutrient use efficiency.

“If one nutrient is lacking or under stress, crop growth, yield and quality can be reduced,” Rejane Souza, senior vice president of global innovation at Yara International, said in the release. “Specialty crop nutrition products are complementary to traditional mineral fertilizers and are crucial for achieving balanced crop nutrition.

“Although only needed in small amounts, they can make a big difference for farmers and are critical to ensure a lower carbon footprint for food production by increasing yield per unit of land,” Souza said in the release.

Around 3,000 trials have been conducted to test the quality of YaraVita products. The trials have resulted in higher yields, typically increasing by 3% to 8% and as much as 30%. Higher yields and improved crop quality increase farmers’ profitability and return on investment.

Yara is a global leader in specialty crop nutrition products and one of the biggest producers in Europe. The company has more than 50 years of agronomic expertise in foliar nutrients and biostimulants and more than 100 years of agronomic knowledge in crops and soils. This extensive knowledge enables Yara to offer a comprehensive range of crop nutrition solutions combined with agronomic advice and digital tools.