Brazil and Venezuela pursue organic fertilizer alternatives

Efforts to increase agricultural autonomy through organic and mineral-based fertilizers are gaining momentum in Brazil and Venezuela.

In Brazil, the country faces high dependency on imported nutrients, with approximately 85% of Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), and Potassium (K) consumed in crops coming from abroad. To mitigate risks from exchange rate fluctuations and international supply crises, the National Fertilizer Plan aims to reduce imports to between 45% and 50% of demand by 2050. Brazil produces roughly 3.85 billion tons of waste annually, which could potentially yield 1.18 billion tons of organic fertilizers, covering 25% to 30% of national demand. Biofertilizer sales in 2025 reached R$ 883 million, a 77% increase from the previous year.

In Mérida, Venezuela, authorities are proposing the use of local phosphate rock to replace synthetic agrochemicals. The Secretary for Ecosocialist Transformation, Science, and Technology, Félix Barloil León, announced plans to develop a multidisciplinary team to process phosphate. The region holds an estimated 149 billion metric tons of phosphate rock. The initiative aims to start with an artisanal process producing 500 tons of phosphate daily for organic fertilizers to protect the soil, water, and air in the Andean páramo region.