Reducing Chemical Fertiliser Use Across Our Growing Operations

Reducing reliance on chemical fertilisers is an important part of Fresh Del Monte Produce’s wider sustainability strategy. Our progress towards a 25 percent reduction reflects a practical shift in how nutrients are planned, applied and measured across agricultural operations. The aim is to support productive farms while protecting soil, waterways, biodiversity and the communities connected to them.

For Australian consumers, this work has particular relevance. Fresh produce is a regular part of household shopping in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and regional centres, while supermarkets and food-service businesses increasingly expect growers to demonstrate responsible resource use. Our sustainability reporting brings these efforts together through the sustainability programme, covering environmental protection, healthy food choices, community development and ethical business practices.

Why Fertiliser Efficiency Matters

Plants need nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium to grow, but applying more than crops can use creates avoidable risks. Excess nutrients may move through soil into drains, creeks and groundwater, contributing to algal growth and changing aquatic ecosystems. Over-application can also affect soil structure and increase the emissions associated with manufacturing, transporting and applying fertiliser.

A reduction in chemical fertiliser use is therefore about precision rather than simply using less at any cost. Crops still require adequate nutrition for healthy yields and consistent quality. The focus is on matching applications to crop needs, soil conditions, weather patterns and harvest expectations so that nutrients are available where and when plants can use them.

Measuring Progress Towards 25 Percent

The 25 percent reduction is a clear performance objective against which agricultural practices can be reviewed. Establishing a reliable baseline is essential: teams need to know the quantity and type of fertiliser applied, the area treated, the crop cycle and the resulting productivity. This information helps distinguish genuine efficiency gains from changes caused by seasonal conditions or shifts in production.

Progress is best assessed over time rather than through a single growing season. Rainfall, temperature, soil variability and pest pressure can all influence nutrient requirements. By combining field records with crop observations and soil testing, farm teams can identify whether lower applications are maintaining plant health and yields. This creates a stronger basis for continuous improvement across growing regions.

Transparent reporting also matters to customers and business partners. Australian shoppers are accustomed to reading sustainability claims on packaging and retailer websites, but they increasingly expect those claims to be supported by measurable actions. Reporting a defined reduction target gives stakeholders a clearer way to understand the direction of travel and the work still required.

Building Better Nutrient Plans

One of the main methods for reducing synthetic fertiliser is more detailed nutrient planning. Soil tests can reveal existing nutrient levels and help agronomists avoid applying inputs that are already abundant. Tissue testing and crop monitoring provide another layer of information by showing how plants are absorbing nutrients during the season.

Application timing is equally important. Splitting fertiliser into smaller, targeted applications can reduce the amount exposed to heavy rain or irrigation immediately after treatment. Precision equipment can place nutrients closer to the root zone, while calibrated machinery helps prevent overlaps at field edges and around turning areas.

Organic matter, compost and approved biological inputs may also contribute to a balanced nutrient programme where conditions are suitable. These materials are not a universal replacement for all mineral fertilisers, and their use must be managed carefully. Their value depends on nutrient analysis, maturity, application rates and local soil conditions.

Connecting Fertiliser And Water Stewardship

Water management and fertiliser efficiency are closely linked. When irrigation is excessive or poorly timed, nutrients can move below the active root zone or leave fields through runoff. More accurate irrigation scheduling helps plants receive water when they need it, allowing nutrient applications to remain available for crop uptake.

This is relevant to Australian conditions, where farms may operate through intense summer heat, irregular rainfall and water restrictions affecting nearby communities. Growers supplying markets in Queensland or northern Australia must account for heavy seasonal rainfall, while operations in drier regions need to protect every megalitre. The work described in our review of pineapple water use shows why water efficiency and nutrient stewardship should be considered together.

Healthy ground cover, drainage planning and erosion controls can further reduce nutrient losses. Maintaining vegetation near waterways and managing field surfaces helps slow runoff during storms. These measures protect surrounding habitats while improving the farm’s ability to retain valuable nutrients.

Supporting Soil Health Over Time

Soil is a long-term production asset, not simply a medium for holding plant roots. Better soil structure can improve water infiltration, reduce erosion and support microbial activity. Practices such as cover cropping, controlled traffic, crop residue management and reduced disturbance may help build healthier growing conditions over multiple seasons.

Soil health also supports resilience during periods of climatic stress. In Australia, growers and communities are familiar with the effects of drought, heatwaves, flooding and bushfire smoke. A soil profile with stronger organic matter and better moisture-holding capacity can give crops more stability when conditions change rapidly.

The benefits are difficult to capture through one headline number, which is why regular monitoring is important. Testing can track nutrient balances, pH, salinity and organic matter, while field observations can identify compaction or erosion. This evidence supports decisions that reduce chemical inputs without compromising responsible food production.

Protecting Waterways And Local Communities

Reducing fertiliser losses helps protect rivers, wetlands and coastal environments. This is significant in Australia, where agricultural catchments connect inland production areas with sensitive systems such as the Great Barrier Reef lagoon, the Murray–Darling Basin and coastal estuaries near major population centres. Nutrient runoff is only one pressure on these environments, but careful farm management can help limit its contribution.

The approach also aligns with everyday expectations around clean water. Households in Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth regularly think about water security, while communities in regional areas experience the consequences of changing rainfall and catchment conditions more directly. Responsible nutrient use supports the broader principle that agricultural production should coexist with healthy local ecosystems.

Water treatment and farm stewardship involve different tools, but both depend on preventing contamination before it becomes difficult to manage. Research into chemical-free systems illustrates the wider interest in reducing chemical reliance in water-related applications. On farms, the priority remains using the right nutrient, in the right amount, at the right time and in the right place.

Working With Farmers And Supply Partners

A reduction target can only succeed when farm teams, agronomists, technical specialists and supply partners share the same expectations. Training helps employees understand application records, equipment calibration, soil sampling and safe handling. Regular reviews allow successful methods to be adapted for different crops, soils and climates.

The Australian market adds practical pressure for credible progress. Supermarkets, independent grocers and hospitality businesses are responding to shoppers who want fresh food with a smaller environmental footprint. At the same time, growers must meet food safety, quality and productivity requirements. A responsible programme therefore needs to connect environmental goals with reliable supply and sound farm economics.

Legislation and standards also shape this work. Australian states and territories regulate agricultural chemicals, while workplace health and safety rules govern storage, transport and handling. Water access, irrigation approvals and catchment protections can vary between jurisdictions. Compliance is the baseline; reducing unnecessary fertiliser use goes further by addressing environmental performance as part of everyday farm management.

Turning Progress Into Lasting Practice

A 25 percent reduction is meaningful because it creates a measurable direction for action, but the long-term value lies in the systems behind it. Better data, targeted applications, soil improvement, water efficiency and employee capability can reinforce one another. These practices make it easier to identify where further reductions are possible and where crop health requires a different approach.

The work also supports a broader sustainability agenda that includes protected-land monitoring, tree planting, sustainable sourcing and educational programmes. Each area contributes to healthier agricultural landscapes and stronger relationships with communities. Progress will continue to depend on careful measurement, regional knowledge and openness about both achievements and remaining gaps.

For customers in Australia and around the world, responsible production begins with the way food is grown. The next step is to review the latest fertiliser application records from each growing region and use the findings to set the next season’s nutrient plan.