Agricultural transformation starts from the soil up 

Feeding a global population of more than eight billion while restoring the planet’s ecosystems demands bold, coordinated innovation. Around the world, communities, companies and governments are proving that it’s possible to nourish both people and the planet through smarter, more sustainable food systems. 

Agri-food systems – spanning farms, markets and supply chains – hold immense potential to drive climate-positive outcomes. They already provide livelihoods to billions and, through innovation, are becoming engines of low-carbon growth. Achieving food security while tackling climate change is no longer a trade-off – it’s a dual imperative that offers opportunities to regenerate ecosystems and build resilient economies and communities. 

Sustainable soil nutrients as the foundation of transformation  

The most natural starting point for this transformation lies in the soil – the living foundation of all agriculture. Across Africa and beyond, forward-thinking initiatives are shifting away from carbon-intensive methods and toward renewable technologies that nurture both productivity and the planet. This transition is unlocking new opportunities for inclusive green growth, innovation and climate resilience. 

Driving the green transition across Africa 

At OCP Group, the world’s leading provider of plant nutrient solutions and custodian of around 70% of the global phosphate reserves used in fertiliser production, we view the global shift towards sustainable agriculture as integral to our corporate vision. Headquartered in Morocco and active across 18 African countries, we are committed to driving this transformation from the ground up. 

Our approach is rooted in local realities, powered by local talent and driven by the ambition of communities who know their land best, particularly the smallholders who comprise some 80% of African farmers. We work hand-in-hand with farmers, governments and global partners to deliver customised fertilisers, improve soil health and build resilient agri-food ecosystems. 

And it is precisely because of this collaborative model, grounded in natural farming wisdom and strengthened by modern soil science and artificial intelligence, that we are able to yield impressive results: our customised fertilisers tailored to local soils and crops boost yields by up to 113% in Ethiopia, 35% in Ghana and 34% in Nigeria – all while reducing costs and improving carbon sequestration. 

We’re investing US$13 billion in a green industrial strategy 

Between 2023 and 2027, we are significantly ramping up investment to lead by example and move alongside the climate transition. This includes investments in: 

• Green ammonia production: Developing a large-scale renewable-powered platform to produce up to one million tons of green ammonia annually by 2027, reducing reliance on fossil-based ammonia, a key input for fertiliser production. 

• Clean energy transformation: Making a decisive transition to 100% wind and solar power by 2027 – a major shift that will fully decarbonise our electricity use, avoiding over three million tons of CO₂ emissions annually, while strengthening our energy independence and long-term cost stability. 

• Net-zero operations: By 2030, we are aiming to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions for Scopes 1 and 2 of our direct and energy-related indirect emissions. By 2040, we are committed to reach carbon neutrality across our entire value chain, addressing Scope 3 emissions generated by our suppliers, partners and product use – a full decade ahead of the Paris Agreement’s global net-zero target. 

• Non-conventional water use: Protecting freshwater is critical. Since early 2025, we have been using 100% non-conventional water sources – desalinated seawater and treated wastewater – to eliminate dependence on freshwater and aiming to achieve a 560 million m³/year desalination capacity by 2026, freeing up vital freshwater for communities and agriculture. 

These efforts mark one of Africa’s most ambitious clean energy transitions and position agriculture as a driver of climate mitigation. 

Investing in education for a trans-generational green transformation  

We believe long-term resilience depends on education, research and sustainability. Through our university, University Mohammed VI Polytechnic, and platforms like INNOVX and Tourba, we award thousands of scholarships and PhD positions across Africa; launch carbon farming pilots that generate new income streams for farmers; and are scaling science-based, sustainable solutions together with partnering with organisations such as the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research, the African Research Universities Alliance and the African Plant Nutrition Institute.  

These initiatives reflect our holistic approach to empowering communities, nurturing talent and driving innovation that sustains both people and the planet. Our goal is to make African agriculture not just carbon neutral, but climate positive. 

COP30 and the path ahead 

As global leaders are gathered at COP30 in Belém, Brazil, it is time to place food systems at the heart of climate action. With the right policies, partnerships and financing, agriculture can drive mitigation, adaptation and inclusive growth. 

OCP Group is already working hard to support this transformation – through sustainable and customised soil nutrients, farmer-centric innovation and a vision built in Africa, for Africa, by Africans. 

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2025 is a critical year for the Paris Agreement. Ten years on, we need to rethink how we frame the challenge. And seeing challenges differently is what business and we are all about. 

ICC is committed to securing what businesses need at the upcoming climate negotiations, COP30, in Belém, Brazil. Learn more about our Opportunity of a Lifetime climate campaign and how to get involved.