Wastewater to Fertilizer Breakthrough

San Jose News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Jun 28, 2026 · 1m

California farmers are reeling from fertilizer prices that have skyrocketed 125% since 2020, threatening crop yields and farm viability. But scientists at Lawrence Livermore National Lab are pioneering a breakthrough: turning wastewater into nitrogen fertilizer using an electrochemical reactor. Originally designed to clean contaminated groundwater, the tech now extracts nitrates and converts them into ammonia—offering a dual solution to pollution and fertilizer shortages. Early tests are promising, and with funding to scale up, the goal is a commercial device by 2028, potentially…