Fertiliser Management
Fertiliser is one of the biggest sources of farm emissions, responsible for up to 35%.
Protected Urea tackles this by cutting nitrogen losses without sacrificing yield.
The Climate Issue
The food system depends on fertiliser. Farmers use it to grow the grass and crops that feed our animals and fuel our diets. One of the most important ingredients in fertiliser is nitrogen, which helps plants grow faster and stronger. Especially in pasture-based systems, where healthy grass means more milk or meat.
But when common nitrogen fertilisers like urea or CAN are applied without any treatment, much of it escapes into the air as ammonia or nitrous oxide (265 times more potent than CO₂). This causes pollution of the atmosphere and wastes resources.
The Solution: Protected Urea
Protected Urea is a smarter kind of nitrogen fertiliser. It’s just like regular urea, but treated with a special ingredient called a urease inhibitor.
This treatment slows down how quickly nitrogen is released into the soil. That means less nitrogen is lost to the air, and more stays where plants can actually use it. Protected Urea cuts nitrogen loss from 50% to just 10%, saving fertiliser and cutting emissions.
Key Benefits when using Protected Urea
Cut Emissions
Protected Urea cuts nitrogen loss by blocking urease enzymes in the soil, preventing ammonia and nitrous oxide emissions right at the source.
Fertiliser Efficiency
Less nitrogen lost means more available for crops. Protected Urea helps you get more from every kilogram applied, improving yields and reducing input needs over time.
Save Costs
Protected Urea costs less per unit of nitrogen than CAN. Combined with reduced losses, this means real savings, while supporting environmental goals.
Impact of Switching to Protected Urea
Switching to Protected Urea isn’t just a small tweak. It’s a strategic move that brings measurable advantages across your farm’s performance, sustainability, and bottom line. From cutting emissions to improving fertiliser efficiency, here’s what you gain when you make the switch.
Field studies show that switching entirely to Protected Urea can:
- Reduce ammonia emissions by 70–80%
- Lower nitrous oxide emissions by 40–60%
- Deliver up to €46/ha in savings compared to other
- Cut the farm’s total GHG footprint by 7–8% when used at rates of 200–250 kg N/ha
Below, we break down the impact of Protected Urea across three adoption scenarios, based on data from Irish dairy systems.
|
Scenario
|
Price/kg Nitrogen
|
Net Savings/Farm
|
GHG Emissions
|
% GHG Reduction
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
0% Adoption |
€1.62 |
- |
0.960 kg CO₂-eq/kg milk |
0% kg CO₂-eq/kg milk |
|
0% Adoption |
€1.52 |
€1,200 |
0.922 kg CO₂-eq/kg milk |
2.8% kg CO₂-eq/kg milk |
|
100% Adoption |
€1.41 |
€2,402 |
0.906 kg CO₂-eq/kg milk |
5.62% kg CO₂-eq/kg milk |
Considerations
Use with Urea only
Protected urea replaces standard urea or CAN, making it suitable only for farms that already use urea-based fertilizers. Phosphorus and potassium may need to be applied separately to maintain nutrient balance across crop rotations.
Consistent supply
Protected urea use is growing, now accounting for 25% of fertiliser applications across the EU. Adoption is backed by CAP support and policy incentives, but timely supply from distributors remains essential for farm planning.
Minor trade-offs
Protected urea lowers ammonia emissions but can increase nitrate leaching if nitrogen isn’t used quickly. This is managed by applying during active crop uptake, avoiding heavy rain, and maintaining healthy, well-structured soils.
Implementation
Switching to protected urea is simple, but success depends on good planning and execution. Below are practical tips to help you apply it effectively on farm. These will support both environmental goals and day-to-day operations.
1. Secure timely supply. Coordinate closely with your fertiliser supplier to ensure protected urea is available in sufficient quantity during key-spreading windows for your specific crop cycle.
2. Train your team. Ensure all field staff are properly trained in handling and application timing. Apply during peak nitrogen demand, and always avoid wet or waterlogged conditions.
3. Check nutrient balance. Review your complete nutrient plan to ensure phosphorus and potassium needs are fully met, especially when switching from blended fertiliser products.
Behind the Research
ODOS Tech was founded by Cian White and Alejandro Vergara, two sustainability specialists with deep expertise in agricultural climate action.
Cian, a researcher at Trinity College Dublin with a background in environmental science, works on restoring nature to increase biodiversity on farms by using satellite images to track trees, hedgerows, and other habitats. Alejandro, a PhD researcher at University College Dublin, helps farmers measure their carbon emissions footprint and implement mitigation strategies to reduce their impact.
Together, they helped lead the carbon and nature-based work for the Farm Zero C project at Shinagh Farm, one of Europe’s first net-zero dairy pilots. At ODOS, they build smart, science-based tools to help agri-food businesses protect the environment and restore nature.
Research
Teagasc Farm Advisory & Trials
Protected urea is recommended by Teagasc after years of on-farm research showing it delivers equal or better yields than CAN, while reducing nitrogen losses and GHG emissions across pasture and silage.
DAFM Nitrogen Use Strategy
Ireland’s nitrogen strategy promotes protected urea as a key climate-smart fertiliser, helping farms lower ammonia and nitrous oxide emissions in line with EU climate targets and national air quality rules.
IPCC (2019) Fertiliser Guidance
The IPCC recognises protected urea as a proven method for cutting emissions from synthetic fertilisers, highlighting it as a practical, scalable solution to reduce climate impact in livestock-based food systems.
Ready to reduce emissions through Protected Urea?
Talk to our Carbon Footprint & Biodiversity experts on how we can help.