Organic fertilizers: the challenge of transforming abundance into autonomy.

Waste produced throughout agricultural supply chains and in urban centers accumulates approximately 8,57 million tons of nutrients annually, much of which is still lost due to lack of utilization.

The topic gains relevance given the country's high dependence on imported inputs. Approximately 85% of the Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), and Potassium (K) consumed in agriculture comes from abroad. In 2025, fertilizer deliveries to the Brazilian market totaled 49,1 million tons, the highest volume in the historical series, of which about 85% corresponded to imported products. Exchange rate fluctuations directly affect the cost of these products. International crises affect the supply of these inputs. To reduce this exposure, the National Fertilizer Plan foresees that the share of imports will decrease to a level between 45% and 50% of demand by 2050.

This goal depends on the simultaneous advancement of different supply chains. Organomineral fertilizers have an estimated potential to supply up to 25% of NPK. Agricultural byproducts and residues can meet a similar portion of the phosphorus demand. Agromineral fertilizers can provide up to 10% of potassium, while bio-inputs have an estimated capacity to supply 10% of nitrogen and phosphorus. These alternatives do not eliminate mineral fertilizers, but they can make their use more efficient.

Raw materials are plentiful here. Rural activities and processing industries generate approximately 3,85 billion tons of waste per year. This volume represents a potential production of 1,18 billion tons of organic fertilizer annually. Considering recoverable nutrients, this contribution could correspond to between 25% and 30% of national demand.

The market indicates that producers are incorporating these technologies. In 2025, sales of biofertilizers reached R$ 883 million, a 77% increase compared to the previous year. During the same period, organic fertilizers generated R$ 1,081 billion and grew by 58,5%. The organomineral segment reached R$ 2,810 billion, a result 9% higher than in 2024.

One of them is logistics. Waste is produced in different regions and often has a high moisture content. As the value per ton tends to be low, freight costs can make its use unfeasible in distant areas. Regional supply chains would help reduce this problem. Processing at the source would reduce the material's moisture content, while granulation would facilitate its application, transport, and marketing.

Expansion also depends on standardization and quality control. Since the composition varies according to origin, each residue requires proper characterization and treatment. It is necessary to control sanitary risks and the presence of heavy metals. Brazil generates more than 300 tons of dry sludge per year, a volume that could double by 2033 with the expansion of sanitation. Its agricultural use is possible, provided it meets the safety requirements stipulated in current regulations.

Another important aspect is the carbon returned to the soil. The 89,1 million tons of organic carbon present in the residues are equivalent to approximately 327 million tons of CO₂. This does not mean that all of this carbon will be stored. Some of it is stabilized in the soil, while another part returns to the cycle. Even so, the incorporation of organic matter increases the cation exchange capacity and favors water retention. With better physical and chemical conditions, the soil sustains greater biological activity. This contribution, in terms of comparison and quantity, is equivalent to recovering the approximately 20 million hectares of degraded pastures existing in the country.

Converting this volume of waste into agricultural inputs requires coordination between the productive sector and the public sector, with support from research. This conversion can enable new processing units, and tax incentives would help expand distribution. Applied research should improve processes and adapt them to local conditions. Reliable market information will provide security for investments. Brazil already has the raw materials and capable companies. What is lacking is ensuring that these fertilizers reach the field in a regular and safe manner, at a competitive cost.

*Per Roberto Levrero, president of the Deliberative Council of Abisolo