The PepsiCo and Fertiberia pilot program for the use of Impact Zero low-carbon crop nutrition solutions launched last year has already delivered its first results, and the first Lay’s and Ruffles potatoes with reduced emissions during their growing process have already hit the Spanish market. In total, almost 9,000 tons of high-quality potatoes grown on about 200 hectares of fields in Álava, La Rioja and Burgos have been produced, and emissions have been reduced by 85,000 kg of CO₂e thanks to the use of sustainable fertilizers. This more environmentally friendly crop produced 3,000 tons of potato chips at the PepsiCo plant in Burgos.

PepsiCo potato farmers who have participated in the first phase of the project are very satisfied with the results and benefits of using these new crop nutrition solutions, the first on the market to be produced from green H₂. Its production minimizes CO₂ emissions by eliminating natural gas from the production process and replacing it with renewable energy sources. The Impact Zero line not only reduces CO₂ emissions from crops, but also improves their yield by incorporating cutting-edge technologies that guarantee their environmental effectiveness and agronomic efficiency.

“The results of this pilot test have very satisfactorily met our expectations as well as those of our farmers. The Impact Zero line has helped us reduce the carbon footprint of our potato crops by 15%. This represents one more step towards achieving our goal of reducing carbon emissions in the countryside, to reach zero net emissions by 2040,” said Christian Cerezo, head of the Agriculture Department at PepsiCo Southwest Europe. “Together with Fertiberia, we strengthen our role as agents of change through innovation, promoting a sustainable future for our country’s agricultural sector,” he adds.

Moreover, Alfredo Segura, Sales Director at Grupo Fertiberia, said, “the success of the first phase of this partnership confirms that our Impact Zero meets its goals to reduce emissions and also with regard to essential aspects such as agronomic efficiency. We will continue working with PepsiCo. to further reduce our carbon footprint with an increasingly technical fertilization plan, which will provide even better results.”

This partnership reaffirms PepsiCo and Fertiberia’s commitment to environmental sustainability and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), sharing the common goal of achieving efficient decarbonization in agriculture. The collaboration with Fertiberia is part of PepsiCo Positive, the company’s strategy with sustainability at its core to accelerate its transformation and promote a positive impact on both the planet and people, which also includes, as a fundamental pillar, supporting the communities where it operates to improve their livelihoods.