SAUDI ARABIA- Chemical manufacturing company SABIC Agri-nutrients is collaborating with American companies ADM and BiOWiSH to help farmers achieve high productivity through sustainable farming practices. 

Several ADM units, such as the Farm Direct Fertilizer and Climate-Smart Ag Origination teams, are teaming up with SABIC AN and BiOWiSH for this pilot. 

Through these collaborative efforts, SABIC aims to help reduce the carbon footprint in the agricultural supply chain. 

“SABIC Agri-Nutrients is committed to carbon neutrality by 2050, and we do so by launching new products that enable sustainability throughout our value chain,” said Radwan Abdallah, senior manager, of SABIC AN.

This partnership comes after the company obtained the world’s first independent certifications for low-carbon ammonia and blue hydrogen from TÜV Rheinland Group.

SABIC’s agri-nutrient products include BiOWiSH-powered Bio-Enhanced Urea Fertilizer powered by technology based on prior peer-reviewed research. 

This fertilizer has the ability to reduce greenhouse gas emissions compared to traditional urea, as well as the potential to increase the sequestration of atmospheric carbon dioxide into the soil.

It uses cutting-edge technology to improve nutrient delivery to crops, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and enhance atmospheric carbon dioxide absorption, the company said.

Focusing on a 50,000-acre pilot project, farmers will use SABIC’s bio-fortified urea for the 2023 agri-nutrient season and enroll in ADM’s Re: Generations program, which provides financial and technical support for producers who are adopting existing regenerative farming practices or those who have recently begun to adhere to them.

This regenerative program ultimately attaches positive environmental impacts to food, feed, and fuel ingredients created by ADM, and it demonstrates the good work producers do as stewards of the land, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and improving water quality, soil health, and biodiversity.

The pilot project with SABIC will collect data that will advance emission reduction concepts using biofortified urea.

Besides facilitating data collection, ADM is also offering financial rewards to the growers involved.

Earlier this year, SABIC Agri-Nutrients Company acquired a 49% stake in the ETG Inputs Holdco Limited (EIHL).

Its acquisition of ETG Inputs Holdco Limited was part of Sabic Agri-nutrients’ strategy to integrate the value chain and include the blending and distribution of agri-nutrients in the global markets. 

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