Collaboration combines digital agriculture tools, agronomic expertise and sustainability programs to help growers unlock new revenue opportunities

Chemical and agricultural solutions major BASF and crop inputs giant Nutrien Ltd. have announced a strategic collaboration aimed at helping farmers participate more easily in emerging low-carbon biofuel markets while generating additional value from sustainable farming practices already in use.

The partnership brings together BASF’s digital farming technologies and Nutrien’s agronomic advisory network to support growers in documenting the carbon intensity (CI) of crops and connecting them with biorefineries seeking low-carbon feedstocks.

At the centre of the initiative are BASF’s digital platforms — xarvio FIELD MANAGER and xarvio BIOENERGY — which help farmers measure, verify and manage the carbon intensity of corn grown for ethanol production in the United States.

The collaboration is designed to simplify participation in low-carbon fuel programs, including those supported under the U.S. Clean Fuel Production Credit, also known as Section 45Z, while preparing growers for future sustainability-linked biofuel markets.

“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.”

Building a Traceable Low-Carbon Supply Chain

xarvio BIOENERGY functions as a digital verification platform that tracks and documents the carbon intensity of crops destined for ethanol production. When integrated with xarvio FIELD MANAGER, the system provides growers, agronomists and biorefineries with a unified dashboard offering field-level agronomic insights and verified CI scores.

The companies said the technology helps simplify traceability, regulatory compliance and record-keeping requirements for low-carbon fuel programs.

The initiative forms part of BASF’s Circalo: Low Carbon Intensity Crops program, which focuses on scaling sustainable agricultural practices and supporting low-emission biofuel supply chains.

Under the partnership, Nutrien agronomists will work directly with growers to tailor sustainability practices according to the specific conditions and operational goals of individual farms. The companies said this field-level approach is intended to ensure that sustainability measures remain practical, yield-focused and economically viable.

“This is about meeting farmers where they are and helping them turn the practices they’re already using into real value,” said Dr. Sally Flis, Director of Sustainable Ag Programs at Nutrien. “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.”

Sustainability Meets Commercial Opportunity

Beyond digital tools, BASF said it will continue supporting low-carbon farming systems through its portfolio of crop protection products and agronomic solutions. These include fungicides such as Veltyma fungicide and herbicides like Verdict herbicide, which support practices such as no-till farming and cover cropping.

The companies also indicated that the collaboration could help expand low-carbon crop feedstocks beyond current policy frameworks such as Section 45Z into broader global biofuel markets.

By integrating sustainability data, agronomic guidance and digital traceability systems, BASF and Nutrien aim to create a scalable model that delivers value across the biofuel supply chain — from farms and biorefineries to fuel producers and end consumers.

The initiative comes as global demand for low-carbon fuels accelerates amid tightening climate regulations and increasing pressure on agricultural supply chains to demonstrate measurable sustainability outcomes.