- Atlas Agro Awarded $80M USDA Fertilizer Production Expansion Program Grant
- Atlas Agro, USDA, & PNWH2 all selected for Final ‘AIM for Climate’ Cohort to Lead Innovation in Sustainable Agriculture
This week, at COP29 in Baku, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary, Tom Vilsack announced that USDA will provide $80 million to Atlas Agro through the Fertilizer Production Expansion Program to increase domestic fertilizer production, strengthen the agricultural supply chain and spur economic growth in rural communities. This investment in Atlas Agro will lower costs for local farmers by decreasing susceptibility to rising fertilizer prices due to geopolitical events, fluctuating oil prices and lack of competition in the fertilizer industry.
USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack & Atlas Agro CEO Petter Østbø
The Fertilizer Production Expansion Program grant will support the development of Atlas Agro’s Pacific Green Fertilizer Plant (PGF) in Richland, Wash., proposed as the first at-scale, low carbon fertilizer production facility in the world. Atlas Agro’s production process is powered by renewable energy sources to produce green hydrogen, and will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 90%, as compared to traditional fertilizer production methods.
At full operations, Atlas Agro’s plant is designed to produce 700,000 tons of nitrogen fertilizer annually for farmers across the Pacific Northwest region, providing an opportunity for agricultural businesses to access higher-quality fertilizer from a local source, lessen U.S. dependence on foreign-produced fertilizer, and support and secure the domestic food supply.
Additionally, Atlas Agro has been 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 transformative innovation in agriculture, focused on mitigating climate change and ensuring global food security.
Together with their partners, USDA and the Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Association (PNWH2), Atlas Agro’s innovation sprint ‘Scaling Green Nitrogen Fertilizer Production for Global Impact’ will accelerate the expansion of their green nitrogen fertilizer production model with an ambition to have two facilities—one in the U.S. and one in Brazil—reach a final investment decision (FID) by the end of 2025.
In addition to establishing the first two sites in Atlas Agro’s global network of green nitrogen fertilizer facilities, the sprint will foster collaboration with key stakeholders and develop strategies for farmer support and adoption.
Atlas Agro’s focus on developing green fertilizers will significantly reduce the environmental impact of crop production, while increasing resilience across food systems.
Aligning with AIM for Climate’s Vision
The AIM for Climate initiative has seen impressive growth since its inception in 2021, with investments in climate-smart agriculture reaching $29.2 billion and the number of global partners growing to over 800.
The recent AIM for Climate report, AIM for Climate Report: Cultivating Transformative Investments in Climate-Smart Agriculture and Food Systems Innovation outlines key strategies for ensuring the longevity of these efforts.
The report emphasizes the need to scale Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) to achieve the full potential of AIM for Climate’s goals. Atlas Agro’s work, particularly in the development of green hydrogen fertilizers, is a prime example of how public-private partnerships can drive meaningful change. By leveraging investments from both sectors, Atlas Agro aims to scale its innovations and contribute to the broader goal of creating resilient, sustainable agricultural systems worldwide.
As Atlas Agro joins this final AIM for Climate cohort, the company is poised to lead a global movement that will transform agriculture into a powerful force for climate action, and create scale for other applications of green hydrogen.
