Nature Safe

What Nature Safe does

Nature Safe is a U.S. organic fertilizer brand operating as a wholly-owned division of Darling Ingredients Inc. (NYSE: DAR), a global circularity company that transforms materials from animal agriculture and food industries into sustainable ingredients. The brand produces a complete line of nitrogen-rich, high-analysis organic fertilizers manufactured from recycled animal proteins, organized into two product families: Commercial Organic Agriculture formulations (including 15-0-1, 13-0-0, 11-5-0, 9-6-1, 8-8-4, 8-5-5, 8-5-1, 7-12-0, and 7-7-7) targeting commercial crop production, and Turf and Ornamental formulations (including 4-0-1, 8-3-5, 9-0-9, 10-0-8, 10-2-8, 12-0-6, 12-2-6, 16-0-2, 20-0-5, 21-3-7, 27-0-2) targeting golf courses, sports turf, and lawncare operators.

The core technical differentiation rests on animal protein-based formulations delivering some of the lowest Carbon-to-Nitrogen ratios in the organic fertilizer category, enabling faster plant nutrient availability than competing organic products, combined with a high Pellet Durability Index (PDI) that minimizes fines and improves transportation, storage, handling, and application characteristics. Products are certified by USDA National Organic Program (NOP) for unrestricted organic crop production, listed by the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI), and registered with CDFA/OIM and WSDA, providing regulatory access into certified-organic farming channels.

Nature Safe generates revenue through direct bulk sales of organic fertilizer to commercial organic growers and professional turf management businesses across the United States. Distribution is supported by manufacturing plants located in multiple U.S. regions, leveraging Darling Ingredients' vertically integrated supply chain for recycled animal-product feedstock. Go-to-market is direct-sales driven, with contact handled via phone (800-252-4727) and email, and brand marketing executed through the Darling Ingredients corporate website and product/certification content. Pricing is not publicly disclosed, requiring direct sales engagement for quote-based bulk orders.

Name

Nature Safe

Legal name

Nature Safe (brand operated by Darling Ingredients Inc.)

Website

https://naturesafe.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Nature Safe is a U.S. organic fertilizer brand owned by Darling Ingredients Inc. that produces animal protein-based NPK fertilizers for commercial organic agriculture and professional turf markets via direct bulk sales across the United States.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Organic Fertilizers

NAICS

Fertilizer and Compost Manufacturing (32531), Pesticide, Fertilizer, and Other Agricultural Chemical Manufacturing (3253)

akta.pro primary industry

Custom Blending & Private-Label Specialty Fertilizers (AFABACAN)

Keywords

• Organic fertilizer products
• Animal protein fertilizers
• Commercial agriculture inputs
• Turf ornamental fertilizers
• Soil nutrition solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

Cold Spring

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Organic Fertilizer Product Sales: Nature Safe generates revenue through the sale of bulk organic fertilizer products to commercial agriculture and turf/ornamental markets. Products include various NPK formulations such as 15-0-1, 13-0-0, 11-5-0, and others for commercial organic farming and turf applications.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

Nature Safe manufactures and sells bulk organic fertilizer products derived from recycled animal proteins for commercial organic agriculture and turf/ornamental markets. The portfolio comprises two product families — Commercial Organic Agriculture (formulations including 15-0-1, 13-0-0, 11-5-0, 9-6-1, 8-8-4, 8-5-5, 8-5-1, 7-12-0, 7-7-7) and Turf & Ornamental (formulations including 4-0-1, 8-3-5, 9-0-9, 10-0-8, 10-2-8, 12-0-6, 12-2-6, 16-0-2, 20-0-5, 21-3-7, 27-0-2) — formulated with low C:N ratios for faster plant availability and high pellet durability for improved handling.

Product overview

Nature Safe is a brand of organic fertilizer products offered by Darling Ingredients, providing a complete line of nutrient-rich, natural, and eco-friendly commercial organic fertilizers for soil and plant nutrition. The product portfolio consists of two main categories: Commercial Organic Agriculture fertilizers (including formulations 15-0-1, 13-0-0, 11-5-0, 9-6-1, 8-8-4, 8-5-5, 8-5-1, 7-12-0, and 7-7-7) designed for commercial crop production, and Turf and Ornamental fertilizers (including formulations 4-0-1, 8-3-5, 9-0-9, 10-0-8, 10-2-8, 12-0-6, 12-2-6, 16-0-2, 20-0-5, 21-3-7, 27-0-2, 9-0-9, 5-6-6) designed for golf courses, sports turf, and lawncare markets. Both product lines feature animal protein-based formulations with low carbon-to-nitrogen ratios for faster plant availability.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Commercial Organic Agriculture Products: Bulk fertilizer products for organic and conventional crop production in commercial farming, including formulations such as 15-0-1, 13-0-0, 11-5-0, 9-6-1, 8-8-4, 8-5-5, 8-5-1, and 7-12-0.
• Turf and Ornamental Products

Products and services

• Nature Safe 15-0-1
• Nature Safe 13-0-0
• Nature Safe 11-5-0
• Nature Safe 9-6-1
• Nature Safe 8-8-4
• Nature Safe 8-5-5
• Nature Safe 8-5-1
• Nature Safe 7-12-0
• Nature Safe 7-7-7
• Nature Safe 4-0-1
• Nature Safe 8-3-5
• Nature Safe 9-0-9
• Nature Safe 10-0-8
• Nature Safe 10-2-8
• Nature Safe 12-0-6
• Nature Safe 12-2-6
• Nature Safe 16-0-2
• Nature Safe 20-0-5
• Nature Safe 21-3-7
• Nature Safe 27-0-2
• Nature Safe 5-6-6

Quantifiable outcome

• Products become available to plants quicker than other organic fertilizers due to low C:N ratios

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• BioConsortia: BioConsortia develops microbial and biological fertilizer products targeting commercial agriculture. An emerging player that intersects with Nature Safe's organic/biostimulant positioning through alternative nutrient-efficiency technologies.

Broad incumbents

• Yara International: Yara is a global crop nutrition company expanding into specialty and organic fertilizer lines. A broad incumbent whose moves into premium and bio-based products create competitive pressure on niche organic players like Nature Safe.
• Nutrien Ag Solutions: Nutrien is the world's largest fertilizer producer with a retail agronomy network that distributes specialty and organic products. Comparable as a broad incumbent with organic offerings competing for the same commercial grower wallet.
• ICL Group: ICL is a global specialty minerals and fertilizer company with organic and controlled-release product lines serving agriculture and turf. Larger scale and broader portfolio; competes with Nature Safe in specialty/biological fertilizer segments but is not exclusively organic.

Direct peers

• Actagro: Actagro produces specialty fertilizers and soil health products with a focus on carbon-based and biologically active formulations for commercial agriculture. Overlaps with Nature Safe in serving organic and conventional commercial growers seeking enhanced nutrient efficiency.
• Whitney Farms: Whitney Farms produces organic-based granular and plant food products for lawn and garden retailers and commercial users. Comparable to Nature Safe in NPK-based organic positioning and granule format, though oriented more toward retail.
• Down To Earth Fertilizers: Down To Earth makes organic fertilizers from natural sources including animal- and plant-based meals, serving commercial agriculture and horticulture markets. Closely comparable to Nature Safe in formulation philosophy (natural inputs, organic certifications, granular formats).
• Sustane Natural Fertilizer: Sustane manufactures organic and natural fertilizers from animal and plant-based sources for agriculture and turf markets. Directly competes with Nature Safe in the organic fertilizer category, serving similar commercial growers and turf managers with NPK formulations.
• Milorganite: Milorganite is a biosolids-based organic nitrogen fertilizer primarily sold into the turf, lawncare, and golf course segments. Directly comparable to Nature Safe's Turf & Ornamental line in terms of organic positioning, granule format, and target buyer (professional turf managers).
• The Espoma Company: Espoma produces a broad line of organic fertilizers for both consumer lawn/garden and professional growers. Overlaps with Nature Safe on organic NPK formulations, certification posture, and the commercial agriculture/professional channel.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/naturesafe
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCFQGp2J0gMuM-dBTJ1a3PZA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nature-safe-natural-and-organic-fertilizers
• Instagraminstagram.com/darlingingredients
• Facebookfacebook.com/naturesafefertilizers

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Nature Safe