CONTENT FROM NUTRIENFROM THE STRAWBERRY FIELDS OF CALIFORNIA TO THE
apple orchards of New England, 2.6 million farmers
work hard to put food on America’s tables. Though
gratitude is shown to farmers nationwide every
Oct. 12 on National Farmer’s Day, this year, as theworld continues to battle a climate crisis, it’s impor-
tant to also acknowledge the ways farmers across the
country are helping to mitigate the effects of climate
change through sustainable practices.
Nutrien, the world’s largest provider of crop
services, inputs, and solutions, works directly with
farmers to develop these innovative solutions for
protecting the planet. “ We work side by side with nearly
500,000 farmers around the world. Every action we
take is in service to helping them succeed,” says
Mayo Schmidt, who grew up on his family’s farm in
Kansas and is now president and CEO of Canada-
based Nutrien.
To address not only climate change but also the
challenge of producing food for a world population
projected to reach nearly 10 billion by 2050, Nutrien
is implementing its Feeding the Future Plan, based
around commitments targeting environmental, social,
and governance imperatives. “A key priority,” Schmidt
says, “is enabling farmers to adopt sustainable and
productive agriculture practices on the 75 million acres
that Nutrien influences globally.”
As part of that effort, the company has launched
a comprehensive carbon program, which incentivizes
farmers to utilize agronomic methods proven to
increase soil carbon sequestration, a process in which
carbon dioxide is removed from the atmosphere
and stored in the soil, thereby reducing harmful
emissions. Nutrien has more than 3,500 agronomists
and crop consultants who work in farmers’ fields,
using proprietary digital tools to analyze
their soil, calculate carbon content, and
devise sustainable—and ultimately more
profitable—growing plans.
“ The pilot carbon program now un-
der way is proving to be a huge success,
with over 200,000 acres under cultivation
across the U.S. and Canada,” Schmidt
reports. “ We are taking a pilot approach,
backed by science and data, and working
with strategic partners across the value
chain to test different practices and
protocols. Those insights will ensure we can
effectively scale the program more broadly
with our growers.”
Another component of the Feeding the
Future Plan is inclusive agriculture, which
helps diverse growers, such as women
and Indigenous farmers, access capital to
purchase goods and services.
“Eliminating inequities in agriculture
requires bold leadership and a focus on
extending opportunities for those who have
faced historic disparities,” Schmidt says.
“ We are committed to transforming
agriculture. And this is just the beginning.” ■WORKING WITH
FARMERS AROUND
THE WORLD TO FEED
A GROWING PLANET
Nutrien is leading the next evolution
in sustainable agriculture.