BASF, Nutrien team up to link farmers with low-carbon biofuel markets

BASF and Nutrien have agreed to work together to help farmers connect crop production with emerging low-carbon biofuel markets, as incentives tied to emissions intensity begin to take hold in the US.

Nutrien’s agronomists will work directly with growers to adjust farming practices with an eye on both yields and carbon intensity, while BASF’s digital platforms will be used to measure and document emissions tied to crop production. The goal is to make it easier for farmers to qualify for programs linked to lower-carbon fuels, including the Clean Fuel Production Credit Section 45Z.

A central component of the effort is BASF’s xarvio BIOENERGY platform, which tracks the carbon intensity of corn used in ethanol production, alongside its xarvio FIELD MANAGER system that provides field-level agronomic data. Together, the tools are intended to give growers and biofuel producers a standardized way to verify emissions data and meet reporting requirements.

Nutrien’s agronomy teams will tailor recommendations to individual farms, focusing on practices such as nutrient management and conservation approaches that can influence emissions without reducing output. BASF, for its part, aims to expand the use of verified low-carbon feedstocks beyond current U.S. programs into other fuel markets over time.

Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.