Key Takeaways
- BASF and Nutrien have announced a strategic collaboration connecting BASF's xarvio® digital tools with Nutrien's agronomic expertise to help farmers participate in low-carbon biofuel markets.
- xarvio BIOENERGY tracks and documents the carbon intensity of corn grown for ethanol, enabling verified CI scores to be viewed alongside field-level insights in a single dashboard.
- The collaboration supports participation in low-CI biofuel programs including those backed by the Clean Fuel Production Credit under Section 45Z.
- Nutrien agronomists will work directly with growers to tailor sustainability practices that are agronomically sound and aligned with each farm's operational goals.
- The work is part of BASF's Circalo: Low Carbon Intensity Crops program, with ambitions to expand into biofuel markets beyond Section 45Z.
BASF and Nutrien Combine Digital Tools and Agronomic Expertise for Low-CI Crops
BASF and Nutrien Ltd. have announced a strategic collaboration designed to help U.S. farmers capture value from sustainable farming practices already in use. The partnership pairs BASF's xarvio® FIELD MANAGER and xarvio BIOENERGY digital platforms with Nutrien's on-farm agronomic network to create a pathway for growers to document crop carbon intensity and participate in low-carbon biofuel markets.
xarvio BIOENERGY tracks and documents the carbon intensity of corn grown for ethanol production in the United States, providing growers, agronomists, and biorefineries with a verified way to confirm low-CI grain. When combined with xarvio FIELD MANAGER, verified CI scores can be viewed in a single dashboard — simplifying record-keeping, supporting traceability, and meeting regulatory requirements for low-carbon fuels.
Collaboration Targets Section 45Z and Emerging Biofuel Markets
The collaboration is designed to help growers participate in programs supported under the Clean Fuel Production Credit under Section 45Z, as well as to prepare for future low-carbon biofuel markets. Kyle King, Head of Digital Farming, North America at BASF Agricultural Solutions, said the partnership combines advanced digital technologies with deep agronomic expertise to support a more efficient and transparent biofuel supply chain.
The work is part of BASF's Circalo: Low Carbon Intensity Crops program, with plans to expand low-CI crop feedstock programs beyond Section 45Z into additional biofuel markets, helping ensure farmers are recognized for their sustainability practices more broadly.
Nutrien Agronomists Bring On-Farm Expertise to Carbon Intensity Programs
Under the collaboration, Nutrien agronomists will work directly with growers to tailor sustainability practices to the unique conditions of each farm. Dr. Sally Flis, Director of Sustainable Ag Programs at Nutrien, described the approach as meeting farmers where they are and helping them turn practices already in use into tangible financial value — without adding complexity to how they farm.
The individualized agronomic approach is designed to help growers optimize yields while achieving low-CI scores, creating the potential for additional revenue streams in evolving biofuel markets.
BASF Pairs xarvio Digital Tools With Broad Agronomic Portfolio
In addition to xarvio, BASF offers agronomic solutions that support the sustainability practices underpinning low-CI crop programs, including Veltyma® fungicide for yield optimization and Verdict® herbicide to support no-till systems and cover cropping. Together, the two companies aim to create a scalable approach that delivers value from the field to the fuel tank, supporting domestic biofuel production while positioning U.S. farmers to compete in emerging global low-carbon markets.
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