By Alice McFarlane

Nutrien releases environmental, social and governance report

Apr 19, 2021 | 4:54 PM

Nutrien Ltd. had set goals to address the challenge of sustainably feeding a growing global population while protecting the planet.

The 2021 Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Report includes a program to reward farmers for greenhouse gas reduction practices.

Nutrien vice president of sustainability Candace Laing said the company wants to transform agriculture through six commitments that address feeding the planet sustainably, supporting environment and climate action, driving inclusive agriculture, and helping meet the United Nations’ Zero Hunger Sustainable Development Goal.

“We’ve produced so much more on existing land, avoided famine, maintained carbon sinks, however, we need to do it again and that’s the big goal,” Laing said. “In addition to producing more on existing land, now we need to produce even more on existing or less land, while we provide climate solutions as well.”

Nutrien is taking steps to set up a program to compensate farmers for greenhouse gas reductions by setting up a carbon program for growers. Soil health is critical, and Laing said they want to encourage farmers to follow sustainable agriculture practices.

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“So we can ensure growers are compensated for the carbon assets they’re probably already generating and will be generating,” she said.

How do you ensure growers get paid for their carbon sequestration?

Laing said it is a complicated question. Nutrien has pilot projects in the ground this growing season across North American including Saskatchewan.

“We are testing out protocols and the rules that allow us to work with growers and actually get a verified carbon credit after the end of the growing season,” Laing said. “That actually goes on a carbon exchange where they can be bought and purchased by other companies.”

Another part of the commitments includes achieving a 30 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and investing in new technologies that transition to low-carbon fertilizers, including blue and green ammonia.

Nutrien will host a stakeholder update on ESG and its carbon program at its annual meeting May 17.

Nutrien provides crop inputs and services to 500,000 growers around the world through a network of 294 retail facilities in Canada.

The complete report is available here.

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alice.mcfarlane@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @farmnewsNOW