By: ICN Bureau
Last updated : November 14, 2025 2:17 pm
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At COP30 in Brazil, an alliance of governments, international organizations, and businesses from the food, agriculture, fertilizer, sustainable fuels, and manufacturing sectors has launched the Low-Emission Ammonia Fertilizer (LEAF) Initiative, aimed at accelerating the adoption of low-emission ammonia-based fertilizers.
The LEAF Initiative's primary goal is to decarbonize agriculture by scaling up the use of low-emission ammonia fertilizers, which are vital for global food security. Conventional ammonia production accounts for 510 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions globally, making it a critical sector for climate action. Reducing these emissions while maintaining nutrient supply, food affordability, and security requires broad, industry-wide collaboration supported by public-private partnerships.
The LEAF Initiative is designed to operationalize global efforts, including the Breakthrough Agenda, COP30 Plans to Accelerate Solutions, and bilateral partnerships such as the one between the United Kingdom and Brazil. These frameworks identify key areas for collaboration, all addressed through the LEAF Initiative and its Public-Private Action Statement, launched on November 8, 2025.
Championed by the Hydrogen Council and partners including UNIDO, PepsiCo, 3Degrees Low-Emission Fertilizer Alliance, Rocky Mountain Institute, Centre for Green Markets Activation, World Business Council for Sustainable Development, International Fertilizer Association, Mission Possible Partnership, Hydrogen Europe, and the Ammonia Energy Association, the initiative sets out three core priorities.
The Action Statement remains open for endorsements through November 20, coinciding with the COP30 Thematic Day for Agriculture, Food Systems and Food Security, Fisheries, and Family Farming.
PepsiCo Chief Sustainability Officer Jim Andew said: “The global food system is at an inflection point where scaled investment, enabling policies and collective action are needed to transform agricultural systems, build resilience and safeguard long-term food security."
"At COP30, PepsiCo is proud to support the LEAF Initiative in advancing the adoption of low-emission fertilizer solutions as a means of decarbonizing agriculture while continuing to prioritize support for farmers to do what’s best for their farms, their livelihoods, and the planet.”
Petra Schwager, Chief of the Climate and Technology Partnership Division at UNIDO, added: “UNIDO recognizes the vital role of low-emission ammonia fertilizers in building resilient and sustainable agrifood systems. UNIDO is proud to support the Public-Private Action Statement, helping countries decarbonize fertilizer production while improving food security and promoting sustainable industrial development."
"In particular, through technical assistance, policy advisory and capacity-building tailored to national contexts – especially in developing countries where access to affordable fertilizers remains a critical challenge. UNIDO is committed to scaling up these efforts and invites partners to collaborate in making low-emission fertilizers a cornerstone of resilient, decarbonized food systems.”
Other leaders echoed the initiative’s potential. The Breakthrough Agenda Secretariat said: “By bringing together global stakeholders under a common Public-Private Action Statement for COP30, LEAF helps translate shared ambition into practical solutions, driving progress across three priority areas for low-emission ammonia-based fertilizers: demand creation, standards and certification, and finance.”
Hydrogen Council CEO Ivana Jemelkova added: “COP30 is all about walking the talk, which is why we are proud to convene the LEAF Initiative with first movers across energy and food systems. It’s strong alliances like these that turn ambition into impact through concrete joint action plans – creating lead markets for clean hydrogen and low-emission solutions that drive sustainability, security and resilience.”