The Climate Question, The Climate Question, Can fertilisers go green?

The Climate Question

The Climate Question

Can fertilisers go green?


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April 14, 2024

26 minutes

Available for over a year

Ammonia has revolutionised the way we produce our food, helping us to grow much, much more... But it’s also helping to grow global greenhouse gas emissions too.

Synthetic fertilisers are actually responsible for around 5% of the planet-warming gases going into the air - that’s more than deforestation.

In this episode, Graihagh Jackson examines this challenge that modern agriculture poses to the climate, and finds out whether it’s possible to cut emissions from fertiliser use without cutting food production at the same time. She’ll also be joined by local reporters in Kenya to hear about innovative projects aiming to tackle this problem and turn farming green.

Do you have a climate question you’d like answered? E-mail us: [email protected]

Presenter: Graihagh Jackson

Reporters in Kenya: Michael Kaloki and James Gitaka

Producer: Ben Cooper

Researcher: Octavia Woodward

Production co-ordinator: Brenda Brown

Sound engineer: Tom Brignell

Editors: Simon Watts and Sophie Eastaugh