Frack to Fork: Fossil Fertilizers Harm Health, Climate, and Food Systems

The document details the environmental and health impacts of the fossil fertilizer supply chain, noting that 58% of global production is powered by fossil fuels (primarily gas). It links these inputs to cancer, respiratory illness, and the creation of marine dead zones, while highlighting nitrous oxide as a potent greenhouse gas. The authors propose phasing out synthetic fertilizers in favor of agroecological practices to support a global population of 10 billion.

• Global fertilizer production is heavily dependent on fossil fuels, which power approximately 58 percent of production. Within this fossil share, gas accounts for about 70 percent, coal for around 26 percent, and oil for roughly 1 percent, while renewables make up less than 1 percent.
• The production and use of fossil fertilizers are linked to severe health risks and environmental disasters. Fracking for gas used in production is associated with asthma, preterm births, and leukemia. Additionally, nitrate contamination in drinking water is a risk factor for 'blue baby' syndrome (infant methemoglobinemia), thyroid disease, colorectal cancer, and neural tube defects.
• Fossil fertilizers contribute to significant ecological degradation and climate change, accounting for roughly 2.1 percent of global emissions. Nitrous oxide emissions from these fertilizers have a global warming potential 273 times that of carbon dioxide and are the primary stratospheric ozone-depleting emission. Nutrient pollution from these sources is the main human cause of marine dead zones, including one in the Gulf of Mexico exceeding 6,000 square miles.

APA

Hodge, T., Tostado, L., & Jurca, L. (n.d.). Frack to Fork: Fossil Fertilizers Harm Health, Climate, and Food Systems. Center for International Environmental Law. https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Frack-to-Fork_Aug_V13.pdf

Chicago

Hodge, Taylor, Lisa Tostado, and Lindsey Jurca. Frack to Fork: Fossil Fertilizers Harm Health, Climate, and Food Systems. Center for International Environmental Law, n.d. https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Frack-to-Fork_Aug_V13.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Hodge |first1=Taylor |last2=Tostado |first2=Lisa |last3=Jurca |first3=Lindsey |title=Frack to Fork: Fossil Fertilizers Harm Health, Climate, and Food Systems |publisher=Center for International Environmental Law |url=https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Frack-to-Fork_Aug_V13.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{hodgendfrack, author = {Hodge, Taylor and Tostado, Lisa and Jurca, Lindsey}, title = {{Frack to Fork: Fossil Fertilizers Harm Health, Climate, and Food Systems}}, institution = {Center for International Environmental Law}, url = {https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Frack-to-Fork_Aug_V13.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }