Responsible fertilizer use
OCP Nutricrops takes a responsible, science-based approach to fertilizer use — ensuring reliable access to high-quality products while meeting customer and regulatory expectations.
Our science based approach
OCP Nutricrops, a subsidiary of OCP Group, the custodian of 70% of the world’s known phosphate reserves, is committed to providing trusted and reliable phosphate-based plant nutrition solutions to farmers and partners around the world.
Phosphorus is one of the three primary macronutrients vital to healthy plant growth. We know the power of phosphate in our products, but we also know that how they are used can be as important. A key principle of this is the 4Rs. Applying fertilizers from the right source, at the right rate, at the right time, and in the right place is key to ensuring plants and soils use fertilizer to its maximum and avoid wastage.
OCP Nutricrops supports and adheres to the regulations of every market where it operates.
We support a science-based approach towards regulation which balances the sustainability of plant nutrition products alongside regional and global food security pressures, economic competitiveness and farmer livelihoods.
Empowering responsible use
We are committed to helping our customers use fertilizers responsibly. Phosphorus enables farmers to protect and improve their soils while increasing productivity and income. We strongly support and encourage the implementation of farming practices . These include:
- Implementing good agricultural practices like conservation agriculture techniques such as soil cover, reduced tillage, and the use of organic amendments.
- Applying fertilizers according to the principles of the 4Rs (right source, right rate, right time, right place) which helps maintain optimal soil nutrient levels, preventing both saturation and deficiencies.
- Avoiding excess nitrogen in the soil, as overapplication of nitrogen impacts the pH of soils and increases the leaching of nitrate, contaminating aquifers, and the volatilization of ammonia (NH3) and the emissions of nitrous oxide (N2O – a greenhouse gas almost 300x more powerful than CO2) as well as increasing solubility to trace elements such as cadmium.
Understanding cadmium
Cadmium is a naturally occurring element in most phosphate rich sedimentary rocks and as a result, is present in phosphate-derived products such as fertilizers.
As one of the world’s leading suppliers of phosphate-based fertilizers, we have developed the technology to safely reduce the naturally occurring cadmium content in our products.
OCP Nutricrops strictly adheres to the regulations of all markets where we operate. As of 1st February 2025, our phosphate fertilizer products across the EU contain less than 20mg/kg P₂O₅ of cadmium – which is three times lower than the regulatory limit of 60 mg/kg set by EU Regulation 2019/1009. By the end of 2025, all global fertilizer products will align with this threshold.
Q&A
OCP Nutricrops develops and produces market-leading customized soil nutrition solutions and services. OCP Nutricrops works with farmers in 97 countries to enhance soils to improve crop yields and quality and protect the environment. Through research and education programs, OCP Nutricrops empowers farmers to use fertilizer responsibly, unlocking the potential of soils.
The 4Rs are at the heart of our customization strategy:Right source: Matching fertilizer type to crop needs.
Right time: Making nutrients available when crops need them.
Right rate: Matching the amount of fertilizer with soil and crop needs.
Right place: Applying nutrients where crops can use them.
OCP Nutricrops strictly adheres to the regulations of all markets where we operate, including with respect to trace elements such as cadmium. In the European Union, our phosphate fertilizer products contain less than 20mg/kg P₂O₅ of cadmium, three times below the cadmium content threshold set in this market.
Yes, as of 1st February 2025, our phosphate fertilizer products across the EU contain less than 20mg/kg P₂O₅ of cadmium – which is three times lower than the regulatory limit of 60 mg/kg set by EU Regulation 2019/1009. By the end of 2025, all global fertilizer products will align with this threshold.
To support clearer product labelling and make this quality standard more visible to partners and customers, we are labelling our European product lines under the official low cadmium designation – with labelled products set to carry the “Low Cd” pictogram as this process rolls out.
OCP Nutricrops is already using advanced processes to reduce the amount of naturally occurring cadmium in our fertilizer products. As part of our long-term commitment to sustainability and resource efficiency, we will build on this progress by integrating cadmium recycling into our circular economy approach from 2026. This work is made possible by our extensive and ongoing investment in research and development.