Bunge and Nutrien Ag Solutions have announced a strategic agreement to support US farmers in the transition to lower-carbon products.
Nutrien Ag Solutions is the retail division of Nutrien, the “world’s largest” crop inputs company, helping growers achieve the highest yields with sustainable solutions, through a network of crop consultants at over 2,000 global locations.
The agreement is expected to expand sustainable agriculture across shared supply chains in North America and bring whole-acre solutions to food, feed and fuel for customers and end-consumers.
Fernando Candia, Bunge’s vice president of carbon solutions, said: “Making meaningful reductions in greenhouse gas emissions requires collaboration between stakeholders, including farmers, crop input companies and processors. We are pleased to create this new alliance with Nutrien Ag Solutions, which will further strengthen Bunge’s connection with farmers in the US and create value for participants across all our value chains.”
He added that the focus will be on continuing to invest in the Bunge business to support low-carbon initiatives including the implementation of regenerative agriculture best practices to improve soil health, capture carbon and increase biodiversity to minimise emissions.
Initially, the programme will focus on soybeans grown in the regions close to Bunge’s crushing facilities in Council Bluffs, Iowa, and Decatur, Indiana, in the US. It will provide the opportunity for future expansion to other locations and crops such as corn and wheat.
The programme, targeting the 2023/2024 crop season, will include practices such as cover crops, reduced tillage, nutrient management and responsible pesticide use.
Matt Marshall, Nutrien Ag Solutions’ VP of sustainable ag and retail strategy, said: “The implementation of sustainable farming practices that bring additional value to growers for lower carbon products requires a strong and established ally that shares our values”.
He continued: “Through this new alliance, we will increase the implementation of sustainable practices that impact soil health and nutrient use efficiency to bring new revenue opportunities to the field”.
As part of the initiative, Nutrien Ag Solutions plans to provide crop consulting services, custom applications of fertility and/or chemistry, analytical testing of soil, water and tissue, traceability, and data collection via its Agrible platform, which uses predictive agronomic forecasts and sustainability metrics.
Rob Clayton, senior VP of Nutrien Ag Solutions in North America, said that sustainable agriculture is an important part of modern farming and essential for “being stewards of the environment”.
He added: “We are very excited to be working with Bunge to connect growers through the shared purpose of being caretakers of the land”.
Bunge plans to contract with these farmers and manage harvest and post-harvest commercialisation.
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