A new global dataset from the University of Minnesota's Institute on the Environment shows that the world's use of fertilizers has more than doubled since 1980, with wide differences in how much is used in different regions. The study, led by Deepak Ray, a research professor at the Institute, and co-authored with experts from the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center and the International Fertilizer Association, provides detailed data on how much nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium fertilizers are applied to crops in every country from 1980 to 2022. This dataset includes information on 156 different crops, as well as pastures and forests, offering the first continuous global record of fertilizer use at the level of individual crops. The analysis found that regions that once had high and sometimes excessive fertilizer use, like parts of Europe in the early 1980s and parts of China in the early 2000s, are now reducing their fertilizer use. In contrast, countries that had very low fertilizer use 40 years ago, such as Ethiopia and Vietnam, are increasing their application rates. However, regions like sub-Saharan Africa still use very little fertilizer. If these areas increased their use, they could significantly boost crop yields. Balancing fertilizer use—ensuring enough is used to maximize crop yields without overusing it—can help feed the world while protecting the environment. But achieving this balance requires detailed, up-to-date data on fertilizer use, which has been previously unavailable in a comprehensive form. This new dataset was created by compiling 800,000 existing data points and using special software to fill in gaps and provide a complete picture. According to Ray, the dataset helps identify regions where the right amount or combination of fertilizers is not being used to achieve the best crop yields. It also highlights areas where too much fertilizer is being used, which can be costly and harmful to the environment. Too little fertilizer can reduce crop yields, which limits food production and farmer incomes. On the other hand, too much fertilizer can cause soil acidification, which prevents crops from absorbing nutrients, and nutrient runoff that leads to "dead zones" in oceans. Excess fertilizer can also produce nitrous oxide, a potent greenhouse gas that is about 300 times more effective at trapping heat than carbon dioxide. With this detailed crop-specific fertilizer data, countries can create targeted strategies to manage nutrients more efficiently, reducing the need for fertilizer imports and emissions while increasing food production. Achim Dobermann noted that the challenges related to fertilizer use vary by region: some areas need to use nutrients more efficiently, while others need better access to fertilizers to close the gap in crop yields. This dataset provides a clearer view of these differences, helping to support decisions that improve both food security and environmental sustainability. The full dataset and the software used to create it are available through the University of Minnesota Technology Commercialization for free academic use. A snapshot of the data from around 2020 is also available with open access on the Dryad data repository.