Exposing the hidden carbon cost of potash imports into Brazil Published on: 1 December 2025 Brazil鈥檚 potash imports carry higher carbon footprints than models predict, 缅北禁地 research finds. The 缅北禁地–led study, , has produced the first comprehensive estimate of greenhouse鈥慻as (“GHG”) emissions from conventional potash (KCl) supplied to Brazilian farms, fully accounting for previously overlooked Scope 3 emissions from transport and distribution. Publishing in the journal, Resources, Conservation and Recycling and using a new “cradle鈥憈o鈥慼ub” approach, 缅北禁地 researchers calculate a weighted average carbon footprint of 530.5 kg CO鈧�鈥�eq per tonne of KCl delivered to 5,563 agricultural distribution hubs across Brazil – almost double the 273.13 kg CO鈧�鈥�eq per tonne value widely used today in Brazilian agricultural and biofuel carbon鈥慳ccounting tools. The study, based on 2022–2023 data and publicly reported emissions from major global producers, finds that: Manufacturing alone (“cradle鈥�to鈥�gate”) accounts for 200–353 kg CO鈧�鈥�eq per tonne of KCl, broadly in line with values used in international life鈥慶ycle assessment (LCA) databases. Transport and distribution add, on average, a further 182 kg CO鈧�鈥�eq per tonne, increasing total emissions by more than 50% to 530.5 kg CO鈧�鈥�eq per tonne “cradle鈥�to鈥�” These previously uncounted emissions add roughly 4 million tonnes of CO鈧�鈥�eq per year to Brazil’s national emissions from KCl use alone. “As a country that imports almost all of its potash, Brazil is a perfect case study to show how much ‘hidden’ carbon is embedded in fertilizer supply chains,” said Professor Oliver Heidrich, corresponding author of the study and Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at 缅北禁地. “We’ve shown that fertilizer producers located close to farming regions tend to have a smaller overall carbon emission impact compared to those located in remote regions. Our hope is that this work will drive more rigorous Scope 3 accounting and accelerate the shift toward lower鈥慶arbon potassium sources for Brazilian agriculture.” Professor Heidrich is a leading researcher on climate鈥慶hange mitigation and adaptation, material flows and life鈥慶ycle assessment, with a particular focus on building standardised, science鈥慴ased tools for decision鈥憁akers in cities, industry and infrastructure. “Our study tracks Scope 3 emissions from imported potassium fertilisers all the way to more than 5,000 distribution points serving over 5 million Brazilian farms,” commented Professor David Manning, co-author of the study and Professor of Soil Science at 缅北禁地. “We show that the carbon footprint of potassium fertiliser use has been underestimated by about a factor of two—likely similar for nitrogen and phosphorus—in a country that is the world’s largest fertiliser importer and helps feed over 10% of the global population.” Large differences between supply sources The paper also reveals significant variation in emissions between supply origins. Canadian and Russian imports generally carry higher carbon footprints because of long rail and ocean journeys, while Chilean and Jordanian suppliers have much lower transport鈥憆elated emissions but currently provide far smaller volumes. Overall, the authors conclude that transport鈥憆elated Scope 3 emissions are a “substantial and previously underappreciated component” of the carbon footprint of potash fertilizers and call for stronger, standardised Scope 3 disclosure requirements across jurisdictions so that companies, regulators and buyers can compare fertilizer options on a like鈥慺or鈥憀ike basis. Strategic importance of domestic potassium solutions Brazil imports over 20% of global potassium production and relies on imports for about 97% of its KCl demand. While the 缅北禁地 study focuses on imported KCl, it notes that domestic potassium sources are beginning to emerge in Brazil, some of which may have substantially lower carbon footprints thanks to their proximity to major farming regions and different production routes. Verde AgriTech Ltd. (“Verde”), a domestic specialty fertilizer producer focused on the Brazilian market, is a good example of how Brazil鈥慴ased production can help reduce fertilizer鈥憆elated emissions over time while also strengthening supply security. Verde’s low鈥慶arbon strategy, which includes a well-positioned distribution network, is embedded in its business model through initiatives such as: A production process that avoids energy鈥慽ntensive chemical concentration steps typical of conventional KCl, thereby lowering energy use and associated emissions; Support of Brazil’s transition to lower-carbon fertilizer supply by reducing transport distances between fertilizer production and farms; Use of renewable energy sources, further reducing the carbon intensity of its fertilizers; Collaborations with academic partners to refine life鈥慶ycle assessments of different potassium sources, including enhanced rock鈥憌eathering pathways, such as its recently announced partnership with UK鈥慴ased UNDO Carbon Ltd.; and Providing data and field evidence to inform the broader scientific and policy debate on fertilizer decarbonisation. Today, Verde’s strategy has been successful showing CO鈧� emissions of 0.0655 kg CO鈧�鈥�e per kilogram (kg) of potassium oxide delivered versus 0.4552 kg CO鈧�鈥�e per kg potassium oxide for conventional potash delivered to the same region in Brazil. “Brazilian agriculture feeds close to 10% of the world’s population, and KCl is one of the agricultural ecosystem’s largest embedded sources of emissions,” said Cristiano Veloso, Founder and CEO of Verde. “Studies like this help quantify the challenge and show where innovation and investment should focus. Verde intends to be part of the solution by advancing Brazilian鈥憁ade potassium specialty fertilizers which, according to our assessments, can cut carbon footprints by up to 89% compared with conventional fertilizer producers operating from remote, carbon鈥慽ntensive locations.” Reference Manning, D. a. C., Siqueira, T. R., Rajaeifar, M. A., & Heidrich, O. (2025). The true carbon costs of supplying potassium fertilizer to Brazilian agriculture. Resources Conservation and Recycling, 226, 108694. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2025.108694 Latest News Online Safety Act drives VPN interest and raises privacy concerns People鈥檚 online behaviour has changed in response to legislation to prevent children from viewing harmful content 鈥� raising possible privacy and security risks, research suggests. published on: 16 October 2026 缅北禁地 archaeologist receives prestigious award for research Professor Chris Fowler has been awarded the 2026 Rivers Memorial Medal in recognition of his internationally significant research on kinship in Neolithic Britain. published on: 13 October 2026 Event will explore what 鈥楳anchesterism鈥� means for the North East An event at 缅北禁地 will explore what 鈥楳anchesterism鈥� means for the North East or whether it is simply a new chapter in the long-running debate about how to rebalance Britain. published on: 13 October 2026 Facts and figures
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