As the global population rises, urbanization accelerates, and climate change intensifies, agriculture is confronted with two main challenges:
achieving food security (To feed a projected 9.7 billion people by 2050, agricultural output must rise by 30%) while addressing the challenges of sustainability and climate change.
Those challenges create a unique opportunity for OCP Nutricrops to lead the shift toward more sustainable, resilient, and productive agriculture, putting our mission into action where it matters most.
Climate Positivity
To address the urgent need to cut global carbon emissions, OCP Nutricrops is uniquely positioned to lead the sustainability transition in agriculture. This leadership is enabled by three key advantages:
1. Access to Morocco’s abundant green energy potential, particularly solar and wind, which supports low-carbon industrial processes.
2. A strong commitment to agronomic innovation, notably the promotion of the 4Rs principles and nutrient separation, to address specific crop and soil needs. OCP Nutricrops is leveraging its integrated R&D ecosystem, including UM6P, Innov’X, and a network of international universities and research institutions.
3. A forward-looking commercial and leadership vision, focused on scaling sustainable fertilizer solutions through investment, farmer partnerships, and data-driven product deployment.
Aligned with OCP Group’s decarbonization targets—carbon neutrality on Scope 1 and 2 by 2030, and Scope 3 by 2040—OCP Nutricrops is working to reduce its carbon footprint through greener production models and a shift away from nitrogen-intensive formulations.
Beyond internal reductions, OCP Nutricrops aims to empower farmers to decarbonize their operations by offering customizable, high-efficiency fertilization solutions.
Additionally, through the exploration of new business models aimed at developing carbon farming practices that turn soils into carbon sinks, OCP Nutricrops will work to contribute to climate mitigation while regenerating soil health, transforming degraded lands into fertile, resilient ecosystems.
Customization – a resilient model of agriculture
Significant progress in agricultural yields has been achieved over recent decades thanks to intensive agriculture and the use of standard fertilizers with increasingly complex formulations that consolidate multiple macronutrients.
However, this practice is increasingly evaluated, as new studies on its impact become available. There is growing evidence that these formulations may be less effective (undermining economic efficiency) or, if improperly used, potentially harmful to the environment. For example, only 20% of the nitrogen applied in food production enters the food chain. The rest causes nutrient imbalances in soils, increases nitrogen emissions, and pollutes rivers and groundwater, without contributing to yield improvement.
These findings underscore the need to rethink conventional fertilizer use and shift toward customized practices, tailored to each soil and crop type, practices better suited to address environmental challenges, especially climate change.
OCP Nutricrops proudly supports this shift by offering solutions that not only align with the 4Rs of nutrient stewardship (Right source, Right rate, Right time, Right place) and incorporate the latest scientific and technological innovations, but also act as enablers of sustainable agriculture.
Circular economy: value unused materials
We are committed to recovering and utilizing all the high-value-added resources contained in phosphate rock, beyond phosphorus, as well as in the by-products from our operations.
Circular economy: Cadmium
Cadmium is a naturally occurring element in most phosphate rich rock and as a result, can be present in phosphate-derived products such as fertilizer.
As one of the world’s leading suppliers of phosphate fertilizer, we have ensured that our products have always strictly complied to the regulations of the markets we operate in and this relates to cadmium as well as other trace elements.
In the European Union, our phosphate fertilizer products contain less than 20mg/kg P₂O₅ of cadmium, three times below the cadmium content threshold set in this market. By the end of 2025, our entire global range of products will operate at this level. This work is made possible by our extensive and ongoing investment in research and development. As part of our long-term commitment to sustainability and resource efficiency, we will build on this progress by integrating cadmium recycling into our circular economy approach from 2026.
Beyond cadmium, OCP Nutricrops is actively developing innovative technologies to valorize all metals naturally present in the environment, reinforcing our commitment to sustainability and resource efficiency.
Circular economy: Phosphogypsum
OCP Group and OCP Nutricrops are committed to responsible effluent management practices, with a particular focus on phosphogypsum, a secondary resource that is created during the conversion of phosphate rock into phosphoric acid. Phosphogypsum can be valorized in diverse applications, unlocking its potential to contribute significantly to environmental sustainability.
Water and electricity pledges
In keeping with the Group’s sustainability ambitions, we have a clear commitment to the use of clean energy and non-conventional water sources. We are committed to:
- 100% of renewable electricity, from sources such as wind, solar, and co-generation, by 2027
- 100% of water use from non-conventional sources by 2025
Investing in our green investment journey
Our commitment to bold, purpose-driven progress is backed by OCP Group’s green investment program totaling $13 billion for 2023–2027. This program is anchored in a deep commitment to sustainability while responding to the growing demand for more responsible products.
This ambitious program will allow us to support food security by addressing emerging fertilizer demand, while shaping a sustainable agriculture addressing soil preservation, climate change, and farmer resilience.
Explore our ESG Report to discover how we’re building a more sustainable future