BASF and Nutrien collaborate on expanding farmer access to low-carbon biofuel markets
BASF, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, and Nutrien Ltd. have announced a strategic collaboration designed to help farmers gain more value from sustainable farming practices already in use.
Under this collaboration, Nutrien agronomists will work directly with growers to optimize yield potential using practical, on-farm sustainability practices. BASF digital tools—xarvio FIELD MANAGER and xarvio BIOENERGY—will help connect growers with biorefineries and document the carbon intensity of their crops. Together, these tools make it easier for farmers to participate in low-CI biofuel programs, including those supported under the Clean Fuel Production Credit (Section 45Z), and prepare for future low-carbon biofuel markets.
xarvio BIOENERGY is a digital platform that tracks and documents the carbon intensity of corn grown for ethanol production in the United States. It provides growers, agronomists and biorefineries with a reliable way to verify low-CI grain, helping support biofuel production requirements and market participation. When combined with xarvio FIELD MANAGER, which provides field-level agronomic insights, the platform allows verified CI scores to be viewed in a single dashboard. This simplifies recordkeeping and traceability for biorefineries and supports regulatory requirements for low-carbon fuels. The work is part of BASF’s Circalo: Low Carbon Intensity Crops program.
“BASF is committed to helping farmers do the biggest job on Earth through innovation and advancing conservation practices,” said Kyle King, head of digital farming, North America, at BASF Agricultural Solutions. “By working with companies like Nutrien, we can combine advanced digital technologies with deep agronomic expertise to support a more efficient and transparent biofuel supply chain.”
Through this collaboration, Nutrien agronomists will work closely with growers to tailor sustainability practices that align with the unique conditions of each farm. This hands-on, individualized approach ensures sustainability efforts are practical, agronomically sound and aligned with each farmer’s operational goals. The result is a system that helps growers optimize yields while targeting low-CI scores—creating the potential for additional revenue opportunities in today’s evolving biofuel markets.
“This is about meeting farmers where they are and helping them turn the practices they’re already using into real value,” said Sally Flis, director of sustainable ag programs at Nutrien. “Our agronomists are in the field every day, side by side with growers, providing them with information and expertise that helps them make decisions that protect yield, fit their operation and keep their business moving forward. By connecting trusted agronomic advice with digital tools, we’re helping farmers participate in low-carbon biofuel markets without adding complexity to how they farm.”
In addition to its digital tools, BASF offers a portfolio of agronomic solutions—from performance-driven fungicides like Veltyma fungicide, which helps optimize yield potential, to burndown herbicides such as Verdict that support no-till systems and cover cropping. BASF is also committed to expanding low-CI crop feedstocks beyond Section 45Z and into other biofuel markets, helping ensure farmers are recognized for their ongoing innovation and long-term commitment to sustainability.
Together, BASF and Nutrien are creating a scalable approach that delivers value across the biofuel supply chain—from the field to the fuel tank. This work supports domestic biofuel production while helping position U.S. farmers to compete in emerging low-carbon markets globally.
