CF Industries Holdings, Inc., a global leader in hydrogen and nitrogen products, and POET, the world’s largest biofuels producer, have partnered with major agricultural cooperatives to launch a pilot project aimed at creating a low-carbon fertilizer supply chain. The initiative seeks to demonstrate how low-carbon nitrogen fertilizers can significantly reduce the carbon intensity of corn and support the production of low-carbon ethanol for motor fuel and export markets.
The pilot involves WinField United—the crop inputs and insights division of Land O’Lakes, Inc.—alongside agricultural cooperatives NuWay-K&H, New Cooperative, and Farmer’s Cooperative.
Under the program, participants will track the carbon intensity certification of CF Industries’ low-carbon fertilizer as it moves through the distribution network, retail channels, and ultimately to corn growers across Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, and Nebraska. POET will then use the corn grown with this fertilizer at its ethanol production facilities in Minnesota, Iowa, and Nebraska. The consortium successfully completed the first distribution and application of low-carbon ammonia fertilizer in fall 2025.
POET anticipates that corn produced using low-carbon ammonia could generate an estimated 5-6 million gallons of ethanol with reduced carbon intensity.
“Fertilizers manufactured with a lower carbon intensity provide a quantifiable and certifiable method of decarbonizing bioethanol inputs,” said Bert Frost, executive vice president and chief commercial officer of CF Industries. “We are proud to collaborate with POET, WinField United, NuWay-K&H, New Cooperative, and Farmer’s Cooperative to demonstrate the viability of a low-carbon ethanol value chain that connects low-carbon fertilizers to retailers, farmers, and ethanol production.”
“At POET, we’re always working to expand markets for farmers and support Midwest economies,” added Christian McIlvain, president of POET Grain. “This trial offers an additional pathway to reduce the carbon intensity of our bioethanol, delivering both environmental and economic benefits to rural communities.”
CF Industries produces low-carbon ammonia at its Donaldsonville Complex by capturing CO₂ emissions generated during ammonia production and permanently storing them underground. At full capacity, the facility can produce up to 1.9 million tons of low-carbon ammonia annually, enough to supply fertilizer for 19-22 million acres of corn.
“Collaborating on this pilot program to build a sustainable supply chain from production to the end user was an immediate yes,” said Paul Barr, senior director of procurement, operations, and transportation at WinField United Crop Nutrients. “Together with CF Industries and our member-owners, we are driving innovation and growth for the future of agriculture. Our cooperative system is committed to environmental stewardship and leadership in low-carbon initiatives, applying best practices to benefit American farmers and advance agricultural sustainability.”
