Sustainability criteria are embedded into every stage of new technology development.
Our 12 sustainable innovation criteria, shown in the outer circle, are aligned to specific UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), shown in the inner circle, throughout our innovation process.
Focused on five UN SDGs
We are pushing the boundaries toward more sustainable agriculture through the UN SDGs that align best to our core business and value creation activities, and shared goals:
Learn more about our sustainable innovation criteria
Not only must each new product help farmers solve challenges in their fields, it also must contribute to the UN SDGs and have at least one significant sustainable advantage over those in the market today. Additionally, our process ensures there is no decline in performance across any of the criteria thresholds, as compared to market standards.
With our more sustainable technology, farmers can maximize productivity and profitability while helping to minimize their environmental impact.
Winter canola: partnering for a renewable future
In 2024, we successfully expanded our US Winter Canola Program with Bunge and Chevron to grow more feedstocks for the renewable fuels market.
Value for farmers
Through this collaboration, farmers in the Mid-South US plant our proprietary winter canola hybrids (that produce plant-based oil) in a double crop rotation with soybeans. The program helps farmers increase earnings, preserve soil health, and support a more sustainable future.
Value for nature
Adding winter canola to a rotation provides a cover crop which can enhance soil health by holding more nutrients, water, and carbon in the soil.
Enhancing disease resistance through gene editing
Our R&D pipeline includes an early-stage seed solution that packages multiple disease-resistant native traits into a single location in the genome, aiming to protect against the leading corn diseases in North America, which cost farmers over $1.2 billion in annual losses1.
Value for farmers
This concept is intended to simplify disease management and potentially reduce the need for additional crop protection product applications.
Value for nature
This approach helps preserve soil health, minimize production stress, and reduce environmental impact by enhancing disease resistance in crops.
Boosting plant health with biologicals
Utrisha™ N is an innovative biostimulant that improves nutrient use efficiency and provides supplemental nitrogen directly to plants; helping farmers protect their crops and increase their yield potential.
Value for farmers
It is the first biostimulant verified through the United States Department of Agriculture’s Process Verified Program, which assures farmers of product quality. It is also certified by the Organic Materials Review Institute for use with organic crops.
Value for nature
Utrisha N supports nature and biodiversity by improving nitrogen use efficiency, reducing the impact of excess nitrogen on the environment, and promoting healthier ecosystems.
Elevating nutrition in everyday foods
In 2024, we announced Trusource™ wheat, a high-fiber durum designed to enhance the nutritional profile of everyday foods. It aims to meet consumer preferences and demonstrate how agricultural innovation can help address nutritional gaps in modern diets.
Value for farmers
This innovation helps farmers meet the growing demand for healthier foods, potentially increasing their profitability and sustainability.
Value for consumers
It delivers great taste and texture, as well as improved nutrition, and is easily integrated into a variety of foods like pasta and baked goods.
- Grey Leaf Spot, Anthracnose leaf blight & stalk rot, Southern Rust, Northern Leaf Blight | Source: CPN Report for US & CA market, years 2017-2023.