A sustainable form of agriculture, i.e. one which does not simply exploit the inherited fertility of agricultural soils without any thought for the future, is based on the premise that plant nutrients which are removed with the harvested crops will be replaced. Mineral fertilizers allow farmers to supplement the nutrients which are already present in the soil or provided by organic manures and legumes, and thus match the supply of nutrients with the needs of the crops. They are, in fact, the only nutrients which can be tailored to meet the crops' exact requirements. Providing guaranteed contents and the possibility of application as and when required, mineral fertilizers are a cost-effective means of achieving sustainable crop production and improvements in the quality of food and fodder.

Multi-nutrient Fertilizers containing more than one of the primary nutrients nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium are known as multi-nutrient fertilizers. There are, however, three distinct types: complex fertilizers: These contain at least two of the nutrients nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, and are obtained by chemical reaction. The granules that result therefore contain the declared ratio of nutrients. The majority of multi-nutrient fertilizers applied in the EU are complex fertilizers. Compound fertilizers: these contain at least two of the nutrients nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, and are obtained by chemical reaction, by blending, or by both. The granules produced may contain the different nutrients in varying ratios.  

Blended fertilizers: these are obtained by the dry mixing of several materials. No chemical reaction is involved. In the EU Complex and compound fertilizers account for 83% of all phosphorus, 67% of all potassium and 25% of all nitrogen consumed. They are normally classified according to the ratio of their nutrient content. Given the range of soils and crops in the EU, a wide variety of grades is available to meet the different agronomic and environmental requirements. In addition, substantial quantities of di-ammonium phosphate, are also used.