Northbrook: CF Industries Holdings and biofuels producer POET have launched a pilot project with major agricultural cooperatives to develop a low-carbon fertilizer supply chain aimed at reducing emissions from corn farming and ethanol production, reports Business Wire.
The initiative brings together WinField United, the crop inputs arm of Land O’Lakes, along with agricultural cooperatives NuWay-K&H, New Cooperative and Farmer’s Cooperative. The pilot seeks to show how using low-carbon nitrogen fertilizer can lower the overall carbon footprint of corn and support the production of lower-emission ethanol for domestic use and exports.
Under the project, participants will monitor certification of the low-carbon fertilizer produced by CF Industries as it moves through distribution networks to retailers and finally to corn growers in Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri and Nebraska. POET will then use the corn grown with this fertilizer at its ethanol plants in Minnesota, Iowa and Nebraska. The first deliveries and field applications of low-carbon ammonia fertilizer were completed in the fall of 2025.
POET estimates that corn produced under the pilot could be used to make about 5–6 million gallons of ethanol with a lower carbon footprint.
A senior executive at CF Industries said fertilizers produced with lower emissions offer a clear and measurable way to cut the environmental impact of bioethanol production. He added that working with POET, WinField United and the cooperatives shows that a full low-carbon ethanol supply chain—from fertilizer production to farming to fuel—can be achieved.
POET’s leadership said the company is focused on creating new opportunities for farmers while supporting rural economies. According to the company, the pilot adds another option to reduce the environmental impact of ethanol while also delivering economic benefits to farming communities.
CF Industries produces low-carbon ammonia at its Donaldsonville Complex by capturing carbon dioxide released during production and storing it underground. At full capacity, the site can produce up to 1.9 million tonnes of low-carbon ammonia each year, enough to supply fertilizer for roughly 19–22 million acres of corn.
Paul Barr, Senior Director – Procurement, Operations and Transportation, WinField United Crop Nutrients said joining the pilot was a natural decision because it supports a sustainable supply chain from production to end use. The company noted that its cooperative network is committed to environmental responsibility and advancing low-carbon practices that support farmers and long-term agricultural sustainability.
