V6 Agronomy and Port of Johnstown form partnership to streamline fertilizer supply chain

V6 Agronomy, a Canadian crop nutrition firm, has entered a long-term partnership with the Port of Johnstown to establish a fertilizer import terminal that will serve as its logistics base in Eastern Canada, the companies said las Friday, May 9, 2025.

The terminal, expected to be operational by late 2025, will manage inbound shipments of enhanced-efficiency and phosphate fertilizers, aiming to reduce supply volatility and improve delivery times for Canadian growers. It also supports outbound exports of prairie-grown pulse crops to the EU and MENA regions.

The project forms part of V6 Agronomy’s strategy to localize fertilizer production and streamline distribution. The company is also building a granulation facility in Maitland, Ontario, set to become North America’s first commercial-scale producer of clean-tech compound fertilizers.

“This agreement supports a closed-loop logistics model,” said Ryan Brophy, chief executive of V6 Agronomy. “It reduces dependence on foreign supply and creates a streamlined corridor for both import and export volumes.”

The Port of Johnstown offers trimodal access—marine, rail, and truck—via the St. Lawrence Seaway and CN Rail. The agreement enables direct vessel-to-rail and rail-to-vessel handling, which may shorten transit times and reduce handling costs.

Local officials in Edwardsburgh Cardinal, which owns the port, said the partnership advances regional economic development and positions the township as a node for climate-aligned agri-logistics.

The agreement includes environmental performance goals. V6 Agronomy is working with Trent University to quantify the impact of its fertilizer formulations on soil health and emissions. It is also partnering with Mangrove Systems to integrate lifecycle tracking of carbon and nitrous oxide emissions, offering producers potential access to carbon credits and improved ESG reporting.

For agribusiness stakeholders, the agreement could increase input reliability, reduce freight exposure, and support compliance with sustainability standards.

“This is the first logistics partnership of this scale at the port,” said Deputy Mayor Steve Dillabough. “It reflects our long-term commitment to investing in export capacity and farm input infrastructure.”

V6 Agronomy develops fertilizer products and soil solutions for growers and retailers in Canada and international markets. The Port of Johnstown is a regional hub for bulk commodities and grain handling in Eastern Ontario.