At just 22, Thomas Norman from Illabo, NSW, is leading a bold initiative to reshape the future of Australian agriculture.
As one of the 2025 evokeAG Groundbreakers - announced on Monday - Mr Norman is piloting the application of green anhydrous ammonia fertiliser for broadacre cropping through his family business, Clean Green Ag.
The initiative, run in partnership with FarmLink Research, is conducting field trials to test the practical applications of green anhydrous ammonia, a carbon-neutral fertiliser that could reduce scope 3 carbon emissions by up to 15%. This innovation marks a critical step towards meeting Australia’s 2030 carbon targets.
Whilst commercial volumes of green ammonia are currently unavailable, Mr Norman believes it will be a critical player in meeting future carbon targets.
Ammonia is a rich source of nitrogen which is essential for plant growth, making it an effective fertiliser. Without ammonia, and the technology which goes into producing it, the world’s population would be very different and facing extreme food scarcity.
Grey ammonia is the combination of nitrogen and hydrogen using the Haber-Bosch process, with natural gas as the hydrogen source and air for nitrogen. Traditional ammonia is “grey” because it uses natural gas in the production method.
“My grandfather has been sowing with grey ammonia for over 30 years,” Mr Norman said.
“He was actually one of the leaders in bringing it to our region. We know the targets are coming, and we will be ready.”
Green ammonia fertiliser, unlike conventional or “brown” ammonia made from fossil fuels, is produced using renewable energy, air, and water, resulting in significantly lower greenhouse gas emissions.
Mr Norman’s work aims to demonstrate how this product can address one of agriculture’s biggest challenges: the emissions caused by nitrogen fertilisers.
“Nitrogen fertilisers are the largest single source of scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions on broadacre cropping farms,” Mr Norman said. “Clean Green Ag is set up to commercially and sustainably meet these targets.”
The Norman family have modified and retooled their seeder to enable the safe application of ammonia under different crop types at sowing. Pic: Supplied
Farming innovation runs in the Norman family, who have worked the land since 1909. When Mr Norman moved to the farm from Sydney in 2020, he became the fifth generation to carry on this legacy.
The Norman family, including his grandfather Ray Norman and father Murray Norman, run a 2000ha mixed farming operation and have been using anhydrous ammonia for more than 20 years.
Over this time, they have modified and retooled their seeder to enable the safe application of ammonia under different crop types at sowing.
This project has created an opportunity for the Norman family to demonstrate results through the data collected from FarmLink to draw on their first-hand experience using their modified seeder to sow with ammonia on a commercial scale.
“We’ve retooled and innovated as farmers do, as our family has been doing for generations,” he said.
Today, his trials focus on wheat and canola crops, testing various rates of grey ammonia and urea to address three core questions:
How much will greenhouse gas emissions be reduced by green ammonia use?
What are the safe application rates to avoid seedling death?
How do nitrogen losses and efficiency compare between fertiliser types?
The trials will also demonstrate the farm’s broader decarbonisation journey, tracking soil carbon and emissions data.
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For Mr Norman, being part of evokeAG provides a platform to showcase his work on a global stage. Pic: Supplied
Mr Norman is passionate about sparking wider conversations about sustainability in agriculture.
“It’s a very complex issue, and there’s no simple solution,” he said.
“There’s lots of talk about 2050 and carbon neutrality, but we need to start taking steps now. We want to encourage others to talk with their consultants and communities—what are you doing in your area? Because it’s coming.
“I’m not saying this solution will work for everyone, but through Clean Green Ag, we want to raise awareness,” he said.
“We believe this is a big part of farming’s future and sustainability.”
For Mr Norman, being part of evokeAG provides a platform to showcase his work on a global stage.
“I love taking opportunities like this,” he said. “It’s an exciting chance to connect with industry leaders and bring new exposure to our trials.”
Working with an industry professional, participants will receive in depth mentoring before, during and post the evokeAG. 2025 event, and a bursary post-event to further support their goals.
Mr Norman is deeply rooted in his community. He serves as an active member of the local Rural Fire Service (RFS), contributes to the Riverina Ag Network, and participates in the Rural Management Strategies group, which supports young leaders on family farms.
As Australia’s agricultural sector faces mounting pressure to adapt to a low-carbon future, innovators like Tom Norman are demonstrating that proactive steps today will secure a more sustainable tomorrow.
“Fixing the roof before it rains is always better,” he said. “Once it starts, it’s too late.”
