Monash scientists urge caution on green nitrate fertiliser claims

Monash University researchers called for greater rigour in green nitrate fertiliser research on Monday, warning that recent breakthrough claims require further scrutiny before being considered market-ready.

A review by the Monash School of Chemistry examined 50 published studies claiming to have produced green nitrate fertilisers and found none had successfully created a sustainable alternative to existing products, according to a statement from the university.

The researchers identified serious contamination issues where naturally occurring atmospheric contaminants were incorrectly recorded in the final product, undermining claims of successful green nitrate production.

Associate Professor Alexandr Simonov highlighted the significant challenge facing researchers in this field.

“What we need to see in the research is disruptive innovation in the material and process designs to achieve this important goal,” Simonov said.

“Invention of a commercially viable green nitrate technology is a longed-for trophy for both academia and industry.”

Nitrate fertilisers are essential for helping agriculture meet global food demands, but current manufacturing processes contribute approximately 2 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions. Researchers are working on producing nitrate directly from air and water using renewable energy, but progress has been hampered by technical challenges.

Dr Mattia Belotti, a Research Fellow at Monash, suggested implementing a regulatory framework with practical, low-cost recommendations to help scientists avoid common research pitfalls.

“We want to support innovation by helping researchers get it right from the start,” Belotti said. “The path forward requires careful, well-designed science and we need to be realistic about where we are and what still needs to be done.”

Sir John Monash Distinguished Professor Douglas MacFarlane emphasised the potential benefits of successful green nitrate development, including allowing farmers to become independent from large-scale fertiliser supply chains.

“However, we are not there yet, and researchers might need to rethink the strategies currently explored in this critically important field,” MacFarlane said.

The research paper was published in the journal Joule.

Picture: credit Joule