Anglo American secures additional organic certifications for POLY4 fertiliser

Date:04-29-2024

Anglo American’s multi-nutrient fertiliser product POLY4 is now organically certified in more than 30 regions globally, including the most recent certification from the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA). This marks another important step in the development of the global premium market for polyhalite, the naturally occurring crop nutrient mineral that Anglo American’s Woodsmith mine is being developed to produce in the northeast of England, with first product expected to be delivered to market in 2027.

The demand for more effective and environmentally sensitive fertilisers is expected to increase significantly as farming undergoes a necessary shift towards more sustainable practices, while also meeting demand for better quality food for a growing global population. POLY4 is suitable for widespread commercial use in both traditional and organic farming systems, with organic certification providing valuable assurance in the agriculture marketplace for products that are aligned with these emerging trends.

Tom McCulley, CEO of Anglo American’s Crop Nutrients business, said: ″Farming is changing for the better. The agricultural practices of the past need to evolve urgently towards sustainable solutions for the future. Polyhalite ticks a lot of boxes for the future of food production, being well suited to more balanced crop nutrition solutions that can help to improve yields while supporting soil health and reducing harm to the environment. California is a state that is supporting this critical transition by expanding climate smart agriculture through regenerative farming.

″The organic certification in California is particularly important given the state is the largest producer and consumer of organic products in the USA^[i] and grows over a third of the country’s vegetables and nearly three-quarters of the country’s fruits and nuts^[ii]. Our POLY4 product is particularly well suited to such high value crops, enhancing both yield and quality, so representing significant additional value to farmers.″

POLY4 has already been recognised by eight organic certification bodies around the world, including the international scheme Ecocert, as well as in the UK, Germany, Netherlands and other parts of Europe, and the US & Canada. Globally, Anglo American has completed almost 1,900 commercial field trials of POLY4 application in 43 countries across 90 crops. Anglo American is working with distributors, retailers, co-operatives, blenders and manufacturers across the food value chain to build greater understanding of the full range of food quality, environmental and ultimately commercial benefits of POLY4, including with universities, NGOs, global research institutions and membership associations.

^[i] California Agriculture Organics Report 2021-22, CDFA

^[ii] California Agricultural Production Statistics, CDFA