More than a century ago, the Haber-Bosch process transformed agriculture and helped feed a rapidly growing global population. By making it possible to produce nitrogen fertilisers at industrial scale, it became one of the most influential technological breakthroughs of the twentieth century.
Today, a growing number of experts are asking whether Europe is approaching another defining moment in fertiliser production.
In a recent Euronews opinion article, Magnolia Tovar (Future Cleantech Architects) argued that Europe must fundamentally rethink how fertilisers are produced if it wants to strengthen food security, industrial competitiveness, and energy resilience in the decades ahead.
It is a timely observation.
A system built on fossil fuels
The modern fertiliser industry remains heavily dependent on natural gas. Conventional ammonia production relies on gas both as a feedstock and as an energy source, making fertiliser production highly exposed to fluctuations in energy markets.
This vulnerability became painfully visible during Europe's energy crisis. As gas prices surged following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, fertiliser plants across Europe faced unprecedented cost pressures, with significant production capacity temporarily taken offline.
More recently, geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and concerns over shipping routes such as the Strait of Hormuz have once again highlighted how closely fertiliser availability is linked to global energy and logistics systems. A significant part of global fertiliser exports pass through this strategic corridor.
For a continent that depends on reliable access to fertilisers to maintain agricultural productivity, these risks can no longer be viewed as temporary disruptions
Beyond energy security
The debate is often framed as an energy challenge, but it is increasingly becoming an issue of food security and industrial strategy.
Europe has spent decades reducing dependence on imported fossil fuels in sectors such as electricity generation and transport. Yet much of the fertiliser system remains tied to imported gas and globally concentrated production networks. This creates strategic vulnerabilities that extend far beyond the chemical industry.
As Rabobank recently noted, Europe's nitrogen fertiliser sector faces mounting pressure from high energy costs, decarbonisation requirements, and global competition, forcing the industry to reconsider its long-term production model.
The opportunity for a new generation of fertiliser technologies
The good news is that alternatives are emerging.
Across Europe, researchers, innovators, and industrial companies are exploring new ways to produce nitrogen fertilisers using renewable electricity, air, and water rather than fossil fuels. These technologies aim to reduce emissions while creating more resilient and flexible production systems.
Just as renewable electricity is transforming energy systems, electrified fertiliser production has the potential to transform nutrient production. Smaller, distributed production facilities could complement existing large-scale plants, reducing dependence on volatile gas markets and long international supply chains.
A defining moment
The original Haber-Bosch process helped define the twentieth century. The question now is what will define the twenty-first.
Europe's future food security will depend not only on farmers, soils, and crop genetics, but also on the resilience of the systems that supply essential nutrients. As the Euronews article highlights, fertiliser production is no longer simply an industrial activity. It is increasingly a strategic capability.
The next Haber-Bosch moment may not be about producing more nitrogen. It may be about producing it differently.
