Fertiberia will supply its high-tech, green hydrogen-based fertiliser – Impact Zero – across approximately 400,000 acres (~162,000 hectares) of farmland, used to grow ingredients for PepsiCo’s popular brands including Lay’s, Doritos, Cheetos and Ruffles

PepsiCo and Fertiberia have announced a long-term partnership to scale the use of green hydrogen-based fertilisers across Europe, marking a major step in the companies’ efforts to reduce agricultural emissions and advance regenerative farming practices.

Under the agreement, Fertiberia will progressively supply PepsiCo with up to 150,000 tonnes of its “Impact Zero” crop nutrition solutions annually by 2030. The programme is expected to support farming operations across nearly 400,000 acres, or around 162,000 hectares, of agricultural land used to cultivate potatoes, corn, sunflower, sugar beet and rapeseed — key ingredients used in PepsiCo brands including Lay’s, Doritos, Ruffles and Cheetos.

The initiative will initially expand across France, Romania, Serbia, Greece and Turkey, while strengthening existing operations in Spain and Portugal. The companies said additional European markets are expected to be added in the coming years.

The announcement follows a pilot programme conducted in Spain and Portugal, where the use of Fertiberia’s low-carbon fertiliser reduced emissions from potato farming by up to 15 per cent and corn farming by 20 per cent.

Fertiberia’s fertiliser products are manufactured using green hydrogen instead of natural gas, enabling greenhouse gas emissions reductions of up to 63 per cent during production. The products also incorporate technologies such as slow-release formulations and biological inhibitors designed to improve nutrient efficiency, minimise nitrogen loss and support crop productivity.

The collaboration is expected to increase the share of low-carbon fertiliser used within PepsiCo’s European agricultural supply chain to around 50 per cent by 2030 when combined with the company’s broader supplier agreements.

Globally, fertilisers account for roughly 2 per cent of total greenhouse gas emissions. PepsiCo said fertiliser production and usage currently contribute nearly half of the average carbon footprint associated with potato farming in its European operations, making fertiliser transition a critical component of its decarbonisation strategy.

The programme also supports PepsiCo’s wider sustainability commitments, including its target to implement regenerative, restorative or protective agricultural practices across 10 million acres globally by 2030. The initiative is also aligned with PepsiCo’s goal to reduce Scope 3 forest, land and agriculture greenhouse gas emissions by 30 per cent by 2030 compared with a 2022 baseline.

“We’re working to lead the way on regenerative agriculture and helping to build a more resilient agricultural supply chain,” said Archana Jagannathan, Chief Sustainability Officer, PepsiCo Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

“Switching to low-carbon fertiliser is one of the strongest levers we have to reduce agricultural emissions, and use of digital technology can complement this journey towards food system transformation. We’re excited by the success of our pilot in Spain and Portugal and look forward to scaling this ambitious partnership across Europe,” Jagannathan added.

In addition to supplying low-carbon fertilisers, the partnership will provide farmers with technical guidance and digital precision agriculture tools aimed at optimising fertiliser application and supporting regenerative farming practices.

David Herrero, Chief Operating Officer at Fertiberia, said the collaboration demonstrates how innovation and partnerships can accelerate sustainability transformation across agriculture.

“Since 2022, we have been developing lower-carbon hydrogen-based fertilisers powered by cutting-edge technology such as NSAFE, the world’s first bio-inhibitor of nitrification that prevents nitrogen losses and accelerates the transformation of European agriculture,” Herrero said.

“This collaboration with PepsiCo is not just about fertilisers. It is about demonstrating the importance of collaboration and showing that innovation, when shared, can drive both climate action and food security across Europe,” he added.

Farmers participating in the programme said the transition to low-carbon fertiliser has integrated smoothly into existing agricultural operations.

Herdade da Malhadinha, a Portuguese farm participating in the initiative, said it used Impact Zero fertiliser across 30 acres of potato cultivation during the programme’s second year.

“The fertilisation method is technically identical to our usual practice and does not alter our daily operations,” the farm said. “This project with PepsiCo allows us to move towards more sustainable, low-carbon agriculture while redefining how food will be produced in the future.”