Fertiberia, a European leader in high value-added, low-carbon plant nutrition, has announced the launch of NSAFE® in the Netherlands and Germany, a pioneering technology that provides a new strategy to achieve nitrogen use efficiency and soil protection.
NSAFE, the result of more than six years of research, is a bio-inhibitor capable of significantly reducing nitrogen losses, protecting soil microbial biodiversity, and boosting crop yields.
Initially, it will be integrated into two fertilizers from Fertiberia TECH's NERGETIC COMPLETE range: Nergetic Complete DZ+ NSAFE and Nergetic Complete DS+ NSAFE.
Its commercialisation in both countries will be carried out through Van de Reijt Meststoffen B.V., the Dutch subsidiary of Grupo Fertiberia.
Advanced microbiological technology
NSAFE protects nitrogen and extends its activity, preventing losses through leaching or volatilisation, as it remains available in the soil for longer and allows plants to assimilate it more slowly without altering the soil microbiome. This feature is particularly relevant in the Netherlands and Germany, where nitrogen use efficiency and soil health are key agricultural policy priorities.
NSAFE is highly efficient because, unlike inhibitors that target ammoniacal nitrogen(NH4+), it acts directly on nitric nitrogen (NO3-), assimilating it into its organic structure as protein and releasing it as organic nitrogen at the end of its life-cycle.
Scientific validation and efficacy data
To obtain registration and market acceptance, NSAFE-treated fertilizers underwent rigorous laboratory and field testing in collaboration with European research centres and universities, including the University of Lisbon, the Technical University of Madrid (Universidad Politécnica de Madrid), the University of León, Wageningen University (Netherlands), Ghent University (Belgium), the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), and AGROSOLUTION (France).
The results consistently demonstrated that NSAFE improved nitrogen use efficiency and crop productivity while contributing to soil protection and environmental impact reduction:
- Reduction in nitrogen leaching: 40 trials conducted in pots and leaching columns demonstrated an average reduction of 20%.
- Reduction in N2O emissions: 5 trials recorded reductions between 20% and 60%.
- Improvement in agronomic efficiency and field productivity: over 70 field trials demonstrated:
- Agronomic nitrogen efficiency: an average increase of 70%.
- Yield increases: herbaceous crops > 7%, woody crops > 19%, and horticultural crops > 10%.
NSAFE has also achieved commercial success and high customer satisfaction in Spain and Portugal since 2023, establishing itself as a reliable and efficient solution under real farming conditions.
The launch of NSAFE in the Netherlands and Germany aligns with Grupo Fertiberia's global strategy to lead the sustainable transformation of the agricultural sector. This launch expands the Group's international presence, and represents a decisive step toward a more sustainable, efficient, and environmentally responsible European agriculture.