OPENING OF THE BIO-FERTILIZER RESEARCH CENTER

Grupa Azoty launches the Research and Development Center for biofertilizers in its Gdańsk plants

The Grupa Azoty Group continues to implement green projects in the Agro segment. For this purpose, in its Gdańsk plants, i.e. Grupa Azoty Fosfory, it launches the Research and Development Center for Biofertilizers.

The decision to open the Center at Grupa Azoty Fosfory is related to the company's extensive experience in the field of fertilizer formulas meeting the needs of sustainable agriculture. Thus, taking into account its competencies and technological background, Grupa Azoty Fosfory will act as the Capital Group's competence center in the area of biofertilizers. 

It is worth pointing out that since 2021, multi-ingredient fertilizers from the Fosfarm line, produced in accordance with the principles of sustainable development, including the circular economy, have been produced in the Gdańsk plants on dedicated infrastructure. This infrastructure will be used in the next planned research and development projects - this time related to biofertilizers. These projects include, among others: development of a technology for the production of mineral-organic fertilizers, or development of a technology for the production of fertilizers using ashes from biomass combustion. It is also planned to build a new pilot installation with the support of funds from the European Funds for Modern Economy Program "Smart Path" with an assumed budget of PLN 6,000,000.

As the Ministry of State Assets, we are aware that the European Green Deal imposes very ambitious environmental protection goals on Polish farmers. This makes us all the more pleased with the development of Grupa Azoty's portfolio in the direction of providing farmers with access to modern products that meet the most stringent environmental standards – said Karol Rabenda, Undersecretary of State in the Ministry of State Assets.

Modern agriculture is currently facing many challenges related to the European Green Deal. Fertilizer producers are required to use smart, environmentally friendly technologies. At Grupa Azoty, we have the technological background and over 95 years of experience that allow us to respond to the requirements of sustainable agriculture, while securing the production goals of farmers. I have no doubt that the Research and Development Center for Biofertilizers will set trends in the field of effective and at the same time environmentally safe fertilizer formulas - says Tomasz Hinc, President of the Management Board of Grupa Azoty SA

 The decision to launch the Research and Development Center for Biofertilizers in Gdańsk is a natural step in the development of our portfolio in the Agro segment. The Fosfarm line introduced to the market by Grupa Azoty Fosfory enjoys increasing trust among our customers, hence the decision to entrust our Gdańsk plants with the task of developing the area of biofertilizers in the Group. Of course, with the support of research infrastructure and experience of experts from the entire Capital Group. As a Capital Group, we can boast of a number of projects that meet the needs of sustainable agriculture, an example being the line for the production of humic acids under the name Tohumus. More projects ahead of us – says Grzegorz Kądzielawski, Vice-President of the Management Board of Grupa Azoty SA

 The launched Research and Development Center for Biofertilizers in Gdańsk, as another competence center, will closely cooperate with other research and development units in the Capital Group, including from R&D Center in Tarnów. This cooperation will be based on both the sharing of research and testing infrastructure, as well as joint implementation of fertilization projects in the Group, such as obtaining a phosphate fertilizer for organic farming.

In our activity, the most important goals are always care for: the environment, high-quality products and energy-saving production. By closing the water circuit in the plant, using waste heat from chemical processes to produce energy, or giving waste a "second" life, we make sure to have as little impact on our planet as possible. Multi-million investments in increasing energy efficiency will not only allow us to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but will also ensure our energy independence. We want to create modern products, manufactured in accordance with the principles of sustainable development and circular economy, which will be environmentally friendly and affordable for farmers. Taking advantage of the high competences of our engineering staff, the synergy resulting from the fact that we are part of the Grupa Azoty Capital Group and with the financial support of European funds, we are starting to create a modern Research and Development Center for Biofertilizers - indicates Wojciech Dawidziuk, President of the Management Board of Grupa Azoty Fosfory.

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Grupa Azoty is the undisputed leader of the domestic fertilizer market and one of the key capital groups in the fertilizer and chemical industry in Europe. It occupies the second position in the European Union in the production of nitrogen and compound fertilizers, it also has a strong position on the markets of such products as melamine, polyamide, OXO alcohols, plasticizers and titanium white. Investments are an important pillar of Grupa Azoty's strategy, with the largest project being Polimery Police, implemented by the special purpose vehicle Grupa Azoty Polyolefins. It is one of the largest investments in the Polish and European chemical industry, which will enable the diversification of Grupa Azoty's business activities, and will also have a positive impact on Poland's position in the plastics segment and will strengthen the country's energy and raw material independence.

In 2021, Grupa Azoty published its strategy until 2030, which is a plan of specific actions driven by the Group's climate and energy transformation. The announced strategy is the Group's response to the requirements of the European climate policy. Detailed projects in the field of e.g. green industrial energy, emission reduction and decarbonisation are described in the key project "Zielone Azoty".