ARLINGTON, VA - February 12, 2026. The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) released its latest Sustainability Report this week, detailing measurable progress in energy efficiency, emissions reduction and water stewardship across the U.S. fertilizer industry. The report matters to American farmers, agribusiness leaders and policymakers because fertilizer production directly affects crop yields, input costs, nutrient efficiency and the broader U.S. agricultural supply chain.

The latest sustainability assessment from The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) underscores how the U.S. fertilizer sector is aligning environmental stewardship with agricultural productivity - a critical balance as producers face volatile commodity prices, evolving farm bill debates and tightening environmental regulations.

TFI President and CEO Corey Rosenbusch emphasized that fertilizer remains foundational to global food security. He noted that the industry's sustainability strategy is centered on reducing production emissions, improving nutrient use efficiency and advancing innovation at both manufacturing facilities and on-farm application.

One of the report's most significant findings shows that participating companies generated 1.17 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity from waste heat, reducing reliance on fuel combustion. For U.S. agriculture professionals, this signals progress in lowering the carbon intensity of fertilizer production - a key issue as food companies, grain buyers and export markets increasingly demand traceability and lower embedded emissions across the supply chain.

In parallel, reporting companies invested an average of $1.49 billion annually over three years to modernize operations. These capital expenditures supported improved production efficiencies, lower energy use and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. Such investments are particularly relevant as domestic fertilizer capacity and pricing directly affect farmers' input costs and margins.

Water efficiency remains a growing concern across agricultural regions facing drought pressure and regulatory scrutiny. The report indicates that companies recycled or reused 200 million gallons of water, equivalent to approximately 1.5 billion single-use water bottles.

For growers and agronomists focused on sustainable agriculture and precision nutrient management, these improvements reinforce broader efforts to protect water quality while maximizing yields. Efficient manufacturing upstream can complement on-farm conservation practices, including precision agriculture tools that optimize fertilizer application rates.

In 2024 alone, reporting companies captured 10.9 million metric tons of CO2 equivalent during fertilizer manufacturing. This development is significant as federal climate policy and USDA conservation programs increasingly emphasize emissions reductions across the agricultural value chain.

With the next farm bill negotiations expected to address conservation funding, crop insurance incentives and climate-smart commodity initiatives, fertilizer industry performance metrics could influence policy discussions. Lower emissions intensity may help position U.S. producers competitively in global markets where sustainability benchmarks are becoming trade considerations.

Since 2013, TFI has tracked sustainability metrics covering worker safety, innovative product development and nutrient stewardship. Improved nutrient use efficiency supports higher crop yields while minimizing environmental runoff - a key issue in watersheds such as the Mississippi River Basin.

For U.S. farmers managing tight margins, advances in enhanced-efficiency fertilizers and precision application technologies can translate into stronger return on investment. By aligning manufacturing sustainability with agronomic performance, the fertilizer sector plays a central role in supporting both productivity and environmental compliance.

The 2026 Sustainability Report positions the fertilizer industry as an active participant in the transition toward climate-smart agriculture. At a time when supply chain resilience, geopolitical uncertainty and input price volatility remain top concerns, continued domestic investment may provide greater stability for livestock and crop producers alike.

As agricultural stakeholders evaluate long-term sustainability strategies, TFI's data offers measurable benchmarks that could shape industry standards, regulatory frameworks and producer decision-making in the years ahead.

To explore the full report and read member success stories, click here .