The Grupa Azoty Group continues to implement green projects within its Agro segment. To this end, it has opened an R&D Centre for Biofertilizers at its Gdańsk-based plant Grupa Azoty Fosfory.
The decision to open the R&D Centre for Biofertilizers was made considering the company’s extensive experience in fertilizer formulations that address the needs of sustainable agriculture. With its competencies and technological facilities, Grupa Azoty Fosfory will serve as the Group’s competence centre for biofertilizers.
It should be noted that since 2021 part of the Gdańsk-based company’s infrastructure has been specifically used to manufacture Fosfarm compound fertilizers in line with the principles of sustainable development, including circular economy. This infrastructure will be used to implement further R&D projects, this time involving biofertilizers.The projects will include development of a technology for manufacturing organic-mineral fertilizers or development of a technology for manufacturing fertilizers using biomass ash. There are also plans to build a new pilot unit using funding from the European Funds for a Modern Economy programme – ‘Smart Path’, with a planned budget of PLN 6,000,000.
“We are aware that the European Green Deal imposes highly ambitious environmental goals on Polish farmers. We are all the more pleased that the Grupa Azoty Group has decided to expand its offering by including modern fertilizer products which meet the most stringent environmental standards,” said Karol Rabenda, Deputy Minister of State Assets.
“Today, modern agriculture is facing numerous challenges posed by the European Green Deal. European fertilizer manufacturers are required to use smart, environmentally-friendly technologies. The Grupa Azoty Group’s technological facilities and more than 95 years of experience make it possible to address the needs of modern, sustainable European agriculture. The Gdańsk R&D Centre for Biofertilizers will set new trends in designing effective and environmentally-friendly fertilizer formulations,” said Tomasz Hinc, President of the Management Board of Grupa Azoty S.A.
“The decision to open the R&D Centre for Biofertilizers in Gdańsk is a natural step in expanding our portfolio in the Agro segment. Fosfarm fertilizers marketed by Grupa Azoty Fosfory enjoy growing popularity among our customers, hence the decision to task the Gdańsk-based plant with the development of the Group's biofertilizer business line, naturally with the support of research infrastructure and expertise of specialists from the entire Group. Our Group can boast a number of projects addressing the needs of sustainable agriculture. One example is the production line for humic acids under the Tohumus brand. Further implementations lie down the road,” said Grzegorz Kądzielawski, Vice President of the Management Board of Grupa Azoty S.A.
The new R&D Centre for Biofertilizers in Gdańsk is another competence centre that will be working closely with the Group’s other R&D units, including the R&D Centre in Tarnów. This cooperation will involve sharing research and test infrastructure as well as joint implementation of fertilizer projects within the Group, such as obtaining phosphate fertilizer for organic farming.
“Environmental protection, high-quality products and energy-efficient production have always been among our business priorities. We save water by applying a closed water cycle in our production plants, use waste heat from chemical processes to produce energy, give waste a ‘second life’, and strive to minimise our impact on the planet. Huge outlays on enhancing energy efficiency not only reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but also give us energy independence. Our intention is to manufacture modern, affordable and environmentally-friendly products that will be made in line with the principles of sustainability and circular economy. Leveraging the excellent skills of our engineers and the synergies from being part of the Grupa Azoty Group, with additional support from the EU funds, we are setting out to build a modern R&D Centre for Biofertilizers in Gdańsk,” said Wojciech Dawidziuk, President of the Management Board of Grupa Azoty Fosfory.