Stop all urea: here are the alternatives for fertilizing corn

Directive 2024/2881 aims to reduce air pollution and sets an ambitious goal: to reach near-zero levels by 2050. This goal includes stricter limits for nitrogen oxides and particulate matter. Furthermore, the directive requires the regulation of the use of unprotected solid urea, which, if distributed superficially, is subject to high losses due to volatilization. This directive is directly applicable in Italy with the Council of Ministers' resolution of June 20, 2025, which establishes the ban on the use of urea from January 1, 2028, in the regions of the Po Basin. This change marks a significant shift that forces the sector to seek alternatives for fertilizing corn. Urea has three strong points: The response to the Air Quality Directive has already been addressed and defined in many EU countries, often within the framework of the implementation of previous regulatory measures, such as the Nitrates Directive (table 1). A brief examination of some solutions for granule protection ...