Supporting the transition to climate smart fertiliser
Fertilisers are major contributors to tea cultivation, containing the chemical elements that improve the health, quality and productiveness of Camellia sinensis. The plants are particularly dependant on nitrogen, more so than most crops due to their continuous growth and regular harvesting.
While the tea industry has historically relied on synthetic fertilisers to provide nitrogen, their overuse degrades the soil and damages ecosystems. Fertilisers are also the largest single contributor to GHG emissions related to tea production.
To address these challenges, we are forging partnerships across the business, academia, government and beyond. Our five-year research project with Cranfield University, funded by the UK’s Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) through its prestigious Prosperity Partnership Grant, is a significant example. Such cross-disciplinary collaboration will reduce fertilisers related emissions from field while respecting farmers livelihoods and maintaining the quality and resilience of crops in times of drought.
Throughout 2024, we continued to advance the first phase of our strategy, focusing on optimising fertiliser use in tea production. The most rapid reductions come from sustained application of Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) informed by a data – driven approach. This ensures that fertiliser is added at the right time, in the right place and at just the right amount needed on a field-by-field basis.
During the year under review, our GAP research efforts focused on work carried out on our former tea estates in close partnership with Browns Investments.