Yara International is to build one of the world’s largest factories for specialty crop nutrition products and biostimulants in Yorkshire. Once complete, Yara will have doubled production capacity for its YaraVita range of products, with virtually all the plant’s output expected to be exported around the world.
The new factory will be constructed 30km from Yara’s site at Pocklington – the former Phosyn foliar fertiliser premises it acquired in 2006. It is scheduled to be operational by the end of 2025 and has the potential for further expansion.
The YaraVita portfolio includes over 130 products to increase crop yields and quality, including foliar sprays, fertiliser and seed coatings and biostimulants. The formulated nutrient compositions are designed meet specific crop needs throughout the growing season. The company says sales of YaraVita specialty crop nutrition products and biostimulants have grown fivefold in the last 20 years, with the new plant intended to allow the business to increase its footprint in the specialty crop nutrition sector which is one of the fastest growing markets in agriculture.
Yara cites MarketsandMarkets estimates that the global specialty fertilizer market will grow at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.8% in the 2022 and 2027 period, while analyst DunhamTrimmer projects the CAGR for biostimulants will increase by more than 12% between 2018 and 2030.
“As a global company with production plants and employees all over the world, Yara could have built this plant anywhere, but we chose the UK,” notes Jari Pentinmäki, managing director of Yara UK. “We are delighted that we are able to support UK agriculture in this way and we know that our current employees in Yorkshire will be excited that production will remain there, just as it has been since 2009.”
“What began in Yorkshire is set to stay in Yorkshire for the next exciting leg of the Yara journey,” adds David Tomkinson, operations director at Yara UK and son of the Phosyn founder John Tomkinson. “These products are formulated to meet the specific needs of crops throughout the growing season and to help them increase their resilience to climate change.”
Mónica Andrés Enríquez, executive vice president for Europe at Yara International, says: “Our specialty crop nutrition products help farmers increase yields and quality without increasing land use. That not only benefits farmers but is also good for the planet.”
“It’s no wonder that this market is growing exponentially. Amid today’s food security and climate change challenges, it’s more important than ever to feed the world with nutritious food while also protecting the planet.”
Rejane Souza, Yara’s senior vice president of global innovation, adds: “If one nutrient is lacking or under stress, crop growth, yield and quality can be reduced. Specialty crop nutrition products are complementary to traditional mineral fertilizers and are crucial for achieving balanced crop nutrition. Although only needed in small amounts, they can make a big difference for farmers and are critical to ensure a lower carbon footprint for food production by increasing yield per unit of land.”