There is one word that characterizes Atlas Agro’s work in 2024 – collaboration.
As 2024 comes to an end, the Atlas Agro team reflects on milestones in our mission to drive decarbonization through innovation in agriculture. Our achievements this year demonstrate both our capacity for growth and our commitment to reshaping the global food and agriculture sector through the production of green nitrogen fertilizer, at scale. While our team has accomplished a lot, much work remains on the journey to sustainable food and farming.
Public-Private Partnerships
- USDA Fertilizer Production Expansion Program Grant
At COP29, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack announced an $80 million grant to Atlas Agro through the Fertilizer Production Expansion Program (FPEP). This substantial investment will support the development of our Pacific Green Fertilizer (PGF) plant in Richland, Washington, proposed as the first at-scale, low carbon fertilizer production facility in the world.
“This grant represents a significant step forward in our efforts to decarbonize agriculture,” said Atlas Agro CEO, Petter Østbø. “We value the USDA’s support as we progress towards providing farmers in the Pacific Northwest with the green, locally produced, high-quality fertilizer they need.”
- Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Hub Phase 1 Grant Award
In July, the Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Association (PNWH2) received the first portion of funding from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for a multiyear deal to leverage $1 billion of federal funds to support building a clean hydrogen network in the Pacific Northwest region.
Our Pacific Green Fertilizer plant is an anchor agricultural project for the Hub. The Phase 1 Grant Award underscores the transformative potential of PGF within the broader regional hydrogen economy.
- AIM for Climate Innovation Sprint
Atlas Agro was selected for the final cohort of the Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate (AIM for Climate), a global initiative designed to accelerate climate-smart agriculture solutions. Launched by the United States and the United Arab Emirates, AIM for Climate is a five-year initiative (2021-2025) that brings together government, business and research organizations to drive innovation in agriculture, focused on mitigating climate change and ensuring global food security.
Together with our partners, USDA and the Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Association, Atlas Agro’s innovation sprint ‘Scaling Green Nitrogen Fertilizer Production for Global Impact’ will accelerate the expansion of the green nitrogen fertilizer production model with an ambition to have two facilities—PGF in the U.S. and Uberaba Green Fertilizer (UGF) in Brazil—reach a final investment decision (FID) by the end of 2025.
U.S. & Brazil Project Momentum
- Completion of PGF FEED and Environmental Impact Studies
In 2024, the PGF team reached several technical milestones with the completion of the Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) study, and received the environmental determination of non-significance (DNS) from both state and federal agencies. This positions us to begin construction on a facility that will play a significant role in advancing green fertilizer production. When fully operational, the PGF plant is designed to produce 700,000 tons of nitrogen fertilizer annually for farmers across the Pacific Northwest region, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions by more than 95% compared to traditional fertilizer production methods.
- Completed feasibility study and first permits issued for UGF
We completed the feasibility study for UGF after a bidding process that involved more than 20 engineering and construction companies from the Americas, Europe and Asia. Additionally, UGF received its preliminary water permit from Brazil’s National Water Agency (ANA), and an ordinance from the Ministry of Mine and Energy (MME) defining the grid connection point for the transmission line.
- UGF Project Selected for ITA
Atlas Agro’s Uberaba Green Fertilizer (UGF) project was selected to join the Industrial Transition Accelerator (ITA) platform in October. The ITA aims to accelerate the implementation of decarbonization solutions in heavy industrial sectors globally. As one of the first projects to join the ITA in Brazil, Atlas Agro will collaborate with the platform to address key challenges in energy transition and decarbonization. The project recently completed the pre-engineering phase, and was selected as part of ITA’s focus on expanding green investments in Brazil, decarbonizing agricultural activity and advancing Brazilian neo-industrialization.
- Brazil Climate & Ecological Transformation Investment Platform
Atlas Agro’s $1.15 billion initiative to build UGF, Brazil’s first industrial-scale green fertilizer plant, was selected as one of the first six projects for the Brazil Climate & Ecological Transformation Investment Platform (BIP). The UGF facility will utilize 100% clean energy from renewable sources to produce low-carbon nitrogen fertilizers. This project is expected to prevent the emission of more than one million tons of carbon equivalent annually and produce 530,000 tons of fertilizers per year, significantly contributing to the decarbonization of Brazilian agriculture and reducing the country’s dependence on imported fertilizers.
Strategic Partnerships and Events
- Marketing & Distribution Offtake with International Raw Materials Ltd (IRM)
Atlas Agro and IRM announced a strategic offtake agreement for green nitrogen fertilizer from Atlas Agro’s PGF facility. This partnership will provide farmers with the highest quality, locally produced crop nutrients to improve yield and crop quality, while supporting meaningful decarbonization of the agricultural supply chain.
- Casa dos Ventos Agreement
Casa dos Ventos and Atlas Agro signed a strategic partnership to provide renewable energy to Atlas Agro’s UGF plant in Uberaba, Minas Gerais. Casa dos Ventos is a leading renewable energy developer in Brazil, and this agreement marks a significant step in combining our expertise in sustainable agriculture with their clean energy capabilities.
- Inclusion in the WIPO Green Technology Book
At the World Intellectual Property Organization – WIPO Green Technology Book launch event at COP29, Atlas Agro’s Minimum Entropy Nitrate Technology (MENT), which reduces the cost of building and drives safety and operational efficiencies, was highlighted as an emerging technology solution for renewable energy and energy efficiency. WIPO’s new Green Technology Book, Energy Solutions for Climate Change, includes more than emerging 200 technology solutions that will support scaling clean energy, improving energy efficiency and driving a more sustainable future.
- Expanded Presence at Industry Events
Atlas Agro’s participation in key food, ag and climate tech events including NYC Climate Week, the Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting, events at COP29 hosted by the USDA, Industrial Transition Accelerator (ITA), World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the Reuters Transform Food and Agriculture USA conference showcased significant interest in the company’s innovative approach to disrupting traditional fertilizer production methods.
As we enter 2025, Atlas Agro is poised to build on the successes of 2024. Our focus will be on:
- Commencing construction of the PGF plant in Washington
- Completing FEED for the UGF plant in Brazil
- Expanding our global partnerships and market reach
- Continuing to innovate in sustainable fertilizer production technologies
Atlas Agro’s 2024 achievements have created a strong foundation, but we recognize that the real impact of our efforts will only be realized in the years to come. As we reflect on a year of considerable progress, we’d like to thank our partners, employees and stakeholders for their continued trust, support and commitment to collaboration. Together, we will continue to address the challenges ahead and work to radically accelerate global industrial decarbonization across food and agriculture.
