Origin Fertiliser rebrands and expands into North East

Origin Fertiliser has rebranded to Origin Soil Nutrition, as part of its shifting focus to provide specialist fertiliser blends with additional crop inputs for individual farms.

Its range of custom fertiliser products allows farm businesses to add up to 14 specific nutrients, such as boron and zinc, as part of the fertiliser application process.

The firm’s advisers work with farm businesses to analyse soil tests to suit particular fields and fix deficiencies, with the intention of achieving a “better and less” approach to fertiliser usage.

See also: Carbon tax on fertiliser due to hit farms and food prices

Michael Pater, managing director of Origin Soil Nutrition, said the business is not just about chemical fertilisers, and that it supplies a complex range of products that go into farming.

He added that these specialist products help to improve efficiency, reduce pollution, and cut carbon footprints.

A trial was carried out by Origin on grassland, with one half of a field receiving standard fertiliser products and the other half receiving a specific fertiliser blend to match the soil nutrients and at a lower nitrogen rate.

The daily liveweight gains were found to be 20% higher for the lambs which grazed on the custom blend, despite it having a lower nitrogen rate.

This resulted in a 4.5:1 return on investment for the producer based on fertiliser costs and farmgate lamb prices.

Expansion

As part of Origin’s expansion, the firm has opened a new £7.5m facility at the Port of Tyne, South Shields, to reach customers in the north of England and southern Scotland.

The state-of-the-art site is expected to supply up to 80,000t each year, with products being individually weighed by the bag and again on the weigh bridge.

Its location at the Port of Tyne will enable it to be supplied with product from larger vessels from around the world.

James Alcorn, head of procurement at Origin, said the business already works with a range of suppliers from the UK, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Morocco and Israel.

Profits

Irish parent company, Origin Enterprises, which also runs UK agronomy firm Agrii, made a pre-tax profit of €52.4m (£44m) in the financial year to 31 July 2024.

This was down from €68.4m (£57.5m) during the previous financial year.

Agriculture accounted for 93% of the firm’s €2bn (£1.7bn) revenue, while the UK and Ireland accounted for 60% of revenue by area.