International farmers may ease Canadian human capital crunch

As other nations reduce their agricultural footprints in an effort to boost sustainability, their loss could be Canada's human capital gain, a new report suggests. "The immigration of scientists, data engineers, and entrepreneurs has been recognized as critical to Canada’s growth. A similar approach needs to be adopted to attract farmers," the authors wrote. The[...]

Maersk signs first green methanol deal toward dropping fossil fuels

Copenhagen | Reuters -- A.P. Moller-Maersk said on Wednesday it had signed a contract securing green methanol as the world's largest shipping firm gears up to operate its first carbon-neutral ship in 2023. With about 90 per cent of world trade transported by sea, global shipping accounts for nearly three per cent of the world's[...]


Germany considering withdrawal from crop-based biofuels by 2030

Hamburg | Reuters -- Germany's government is considering proposals to phase out the use of biofuels produced from food or animal feed crops by 2030, the German biofuels industry association (VDB) said on Tuesday, adding the measure could increase carbon emissions. German environment minister Steffi Lemke said Jan. 17 she will soon send proposals to[...]

Imperial Oil clears Edmonton renewable diesel plant for construction

Reuters -- Imperial Oil on Thursday announced approval for an investment of $720 million to build Canada's largest renewable diesel facility at its Strathcona refinery near Edmonton. The Calgary-based company said the facility will produce 20,000 barrels per day of renewable diesel and is expected to start production in 2025. Imperial expects regulatory approval for[...]


Facing green push on farm, fertilizer makers look to sea for growth

Winnipeg/Oslo | Reuters -- Two of the world's biggest fertilizer producers, CF Industries and Yara International, are seeking to cash in on the green energy transition by reconfiguring ammonia plants in the U.S. and Norway to produce clean energy to power ships. The consumption of oil for transportation is one of the top contributors to[...]

CNH buys spray boom manufacturing capacity

A Wisconsin company that has supplied aluminum spray booms for Case IH sprayer product lines has been brought in-house. CNH Industrial, owner of the Case IH and New Holland brands, announced May 23 it has bought Specialty Enterprises, which is billed as North America's biggest maker of aluminum spray booms for farm applications as well[...]


New greening programs planned for ag alongside carbon tax hike

A new federal climate plan which further cranks up taxes on carbon emissions also includes pledges of new programs to help sink more carbon into farmland. The government on Friday released the sequel to its 2016 Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change — a "strengthened" climate plan, titled A Healthy Environment and a[...]

Deere tapping into Apple-like tech model to drive revenue

Bondurant, Iowa | Reuters -- Deere and Co. has sold its tractors and other equipment to farmers for decades, but the world's largest agriculture machinery manufacturer is tearing a page from the technology world's playbook -- combining cutting-edge hardware with software and subscription models to drive revenue growth. In a world with a dwindling number[...]


No poop for you: Manure supplies run short as fertilizer prices soar

Chicago | Reuters -- For nearly two decades, Abe Sandquist has used every marketing tool he can think of to sell the back end of a cow. Poop, after all, needs to go somewhere. The Midwestern entrepreneur has worked hard to woo farmers on its benefits for their crops. Now, facing a global shortage of[...]

Grains, oilseeds not included in Greens' plans for biofuel

The federal Green Party's plan to move Canada to zero emissions by 2050 supports the near-term use of plant-based biofuels -- "but not from food that could otherwise feed Canadians." Ahead of Monday's federal election, the party released a climate action plan dubbed "Mission: Possible" that would ban the use of internal combustion engines in[...]