Resource Innovation Institute (RII) has assembled a council of global business and environmental leaders to advise the non-profit on its efforts to serve the needs of agricultural producers facing climate risk and technology adoption.

The new Strategic Advisory Council–composed of senior leaders from business, investment, government and philanthropic communities–will shape RII’s strategic plan, which will be announced this fall.

“Agriculture is changing. Many producers are shifting toward various forms of ‘indoor’ cultivation, which is driving a need to holistically quantify resource impacts and support farmers of all kinds,”

said Derek Smith, Executive Director of Resource Innovation Institute.

“Governments, utilities, investors and producers need data-driven solutions to identify the most efficient, productive and profitable cultivation approaches. Our role as a trusted non-profit organization with five years of expertise on these issues is to lead the measurement, adoption and celebration of the most efficient agricultural ideas. We are appreciative of the commitment of our Strategic Advisory Council to help guide our planning.”

RII recently began work on a three-year USDA Conservation Innovation Grant designed to advance a data-driven market transformation strategy that targets greater resource efficiency in emerging ‘controlled environment’ horticultural sectors, including greenhouses and vertical farms growing a range of crops, from microgreens to tomatoes to berries. RII is developing the strategy in partnership with the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE).

Since its founding as a non-profit organization in 2016, RII has established:

• The world’s largest privacy-secured data framework containing standardized and comparable cultivation facility environmental performance data
• A multi-sector funding model, including governments, foundations, utilities and industry leaders
• A subject matter expert network, which provides peer-reviewed technical guidance on resource-efficient cultivation practices

Now, with global partnerships under development, RII is poised to be a leader in the development of international standards to guide decision-makers toward a resilient agricultural future.

The Strategic Advisory Council is providing input on key strategic issues including:

• Serving producers – Fine-tuning a model to support producers with data- and privacy-secure resource benchmarking services to accelerate efficiency, productivity and profitability
• Aligning funding – Leveraging global public, private and philanthropic dollars to magnify returns on impact investments ranging from climate resilience to advancement of racial and social equity
• Engaging the value chain – Establishing transparent market mechanisms to provide credible asset valuation, leadership recognition and consumer education

The organizations represented by RII’s Strategic Advisory Council members include:

• Budding Solutions
• Equilibrium Capital
• Farmers Conservation Alliance
• Fifth Season
• Fluence by OSRAM
• Ford Foundation
• LegacyWorks Group
• Lomo Plateado
• Greenwich Biosciences
• Grodan
• HortAmerica
• MAPS
• McGill University
• Poseidon Partners
• Schneider Electric
• The Sustainable Finance Company
• Tress Capital
• World Business Council for Sustainable Development
• World Wildlife Fund

Source: Resource Innovation Institute

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Nutrien also launched six commitments to address the challenge of sustainably feeding a growing global population while protecting the planet. The Feeding the Future Plan has action pathways to help transform agriculture by the year 2030:

• Enable growers to adopt sustainable and productive agricultural products and practices on 75 million acres globally
• Launch and scale a comprehensive Carbon Program, empowering growers and the agriculture industry to accelerate climate-smart agriculture and soil carbon sequestration while rewarding growers for their efforts
• Achieve at least a 30 percent reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (Scope 1 + 2) per tonne of our products produced*
• Invest in new technologies and pursue the transition to low-carbon fertilizers, including blue and green ammonia
• Leverage our farm-focused technology partnerships and investments to drive positive impact in industry and grower innovation and inclusion
• Create new financial solutions for growers to strengthen social, economic and environmental outcomes in agriculture

The world’s population is expected to reach 10 billion people by the year 2050, and innovation is needed to increase food production for generations to come. The Feeding the Future Plan reflects Nutrien’s commitment to drive systemic change by helping to scale sustainable and inclusive agriculture. It also includes Nutrien’s commitment to set science-based climate emissions targets through the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).

Nutrien’s 2021 ESG Report is a valuable tool for investors and other stakeholders to review Nutrien’s key material ESG risks and opportunities.

Executive Commentary

Chuck Magro, President and CEO, Nutrien, said,

“Nutrien is focused on meeting the United Nations’ Zero Hunger Sustainable Development Goal in the coming decade by helping growers increase food production in a sustainable manner. Our 2030 commitments and ESG performance targets are ambitious, but necessary, which is why we are dedicated to working across our value chain on initiatives like our comprehensive Carbon Program to build a pathway forward that will help lead the next wave of agriculture’s evolution. This effort drives at the core of our strategy to feed more people, using less resources and with fewer emissions.”

“We know a collaborative effort is required to address climate change and feed the world. With a long-term goal to scale our programs and create real, lasting change, Nutrien is encouraging stakeholders to come together to evolve the systems and policies needed to address these challenges. As we strive to transform our food system, we encourage the sharing of information and pooling of resources for a new generation of systems-based solutions.”

“We take our role in feeding the future seriously. Our direction is clear. Join us on our journey,”

added Magro.

Nutrien will host an ESG stakeholder update to speak in more detail to our ESG plans and our comprehensive Carbon Program on May 17, 2021 in association with our Annual General Meeting.

Source: Nutrien

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Their tractors allow farmers around the world to power their tractors by using the sun, wind, and other clean renewable sources of energy. Founder and CEO Stephen Heckeroth said that Solectrac is on its way to becoming the standard of electric agricultural and utility equipment around the globe.

Heckeroth has dedicated his life to finding alternatives to burning fossil fuels. He received a degree in Architecture and for 25 years designed and built solar homes. Then in 1990, he shifted his focus to designing and building electric vehicles.

“After designing and building several electric tractors for farmers, I received a commission to build an experimental electric tractor for Ford/New Holland in 1995,”

Heckeroth said.

“Then in 1996, I was commissioned by a Japanese company (EFRIG) to build an electric tractor that could be used to explode land mines left behind after wars.”

He said that these early electric tractor designs produced new innovations – steer by wire, zero radius steering, remote control operation, the use of wheel motors, on board inverter/chargers for mobile AC power, motors mounted on implements to replace dangerous PTO’s and the first ever use of linear actuators on a full function electric tractor.

So, with decades of experience under his belt and fueled by the mission to make a positive difference in the world, Heckeroth founded Solectrac LLC in 2012, with the goal of taking small farm electric tractors into commercial production.

The company grew out Heckeroth’s commitment to providing an alternative to fossil fuels. Now, Solectrac is the only company offering commercial sales of quiet, zero emission Electric Tractors in the U.S.

The electric motors used in Solectrac tractors are more than 90% efficient, have only one moving part, can go for decades without maintenance, produce maximum torque throughout the slow operating speeds of tractors and produce no pollution or Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions.

“Solectrac offers the eUtility electric tractor that can do the work of any 2WD, 40 HP diesel tractor on the market,”

Heckeroth said.

The company distributes Farmtrac Compact Electric Tractor (CET) that can do the work of any 4WD, 30 HP diesel tractor and has two more models under development. The 2WD, 30 HP eFarmer is designed for row crop farming and the 4WD, 70 HP e70N designed for vineyard, orchards and other high HP utility applications.

The company has an assembly facility and office on the northern California coast and is leasing a new facility in Santa Rosa.

Heckeroth said that members of Soletrac’s team are dedicated professionals with diverse backgrounds and skills in design, manufacturing, business management, communications, sales and marketing.

“Our team comprised of hard-working, talented individuals who have logged in thousands of hours creating an efficient, simple company dedicated to making sure everything Soletrac produces brings real, long-term value and increased productivity and environmental quality to their customers,”

Heckeroth said.

He added that the company’s biggest challenge, though, is to get the word out that electric tractors are available and that their performance is equal to or better than diesel tractors.

“I took about 20 years for electric cars to take hold in society,”

Heckeroth said.

“I hope that electric tractors will be accepted more quickly.”

Another challenge is range and run time of the battery however, Solectrac solved that challenge with its patented exchangeable battery packs, which can be used to extend run time or for back-up power. Their technology allows you to swap depleted batteries for charged batteries easier and more quickly than changing an implement.

Soletrac’s other innovations include the use of linear actuators, which are more efficient and have no toxic fluids, instead of hydraulics for lifting the 3-point hitches. Their eFarmer model has 3 hitches to allow three operations in one pass thereby greatly improving efficiency. It also is designed to allow uninterrupted visibility for cultivating row crops.

Despite challenges, the Soletrac team has received national and international recognition for its designs.

The company has received large grants from the US Indian Science and Technology Fund, which resulted in the design of the eFarmer electric tractor, and the National Science Foundation (NSF).

Heckeroth said that the grants offered his team the chance to develop, test and improve the design of needed components that are key to successful commercial production.

In 2014, Solectrac was awarded a 3-year research and development grant by the India-US Science and Technology Forum (IUSSTF). With the final prototype produced, Solectrac won a second grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to commercialize the production of all-electric tractors.

Recently, Solectrac was a finalist at Food Funded, an Entrepreneurship and Investor Fair and received the Escorts 2019 Innovation Award.

Since 2019, Solectrac has been a California Benefit Corporation and a certified B Corp, which means that social and environmental impacts are considered and tracked in Solectrac’s decision-making process.

“As the company grows, we will be creating needed employment opportunities in assembly, sales, and administration,”

Heckeroth said.

“We have also provided education on how to farm more sustainably by showing and demonstrating electric tractors at many ag schools, conferences and expos as well as individual farms.”

He said that supporting the local community is truly one of the best ways to affect positive change.

“Over the years, I have been involved in my local community, from serving as a member of the School Board and County Planning Commission to hosting a show on renewable energy on KZYX public radio in Northern California.”

His favorite part of working in the agriculture industry and with farmers are the many opportunities to be out in nature and watching the many miracles in the interaction between soil, water, air and sun that make plants grow and animals thrive.

“We joined the Farm Bureau because we have a shared mission of producing agricultural products while innovating new, profitable and sustainable farming methods,”

Heckeroth said.

“We want to be an active participant with the groups we support and we appreciate the Farm Bureau, its goals and the work it does for its members.”

He said that his goal is to help lead the agricultural community toward energy independence by producing electric tractors charged by on site clean renewable energy.

To gain further support for this mission, Solectrac launched its equity crowd funding campaign in May.

“We hope to fund the expansion of production in our assembly center in Santa Rosa, as well as finalize our eFarmer model and start development of a 70 HP equivalent electric tractor,”

Heckeroth said.

“We are looking toward a future where small farms will be able to provide food and energy security for their local communities.”

Source: Solectrac

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Green Machine will custom retrofit Bobcat excavators with their proprietary battery technology to replace the standard diesel power source and will sell the machines in select markets beginning this year. These electric/hydraulic machines will provide the power and performance equivalent to diesel-powered models, along with considerably lower daily operating costs, zero emissions, reduced noise, and minimal maintenance. The electric/hydraulic compact excavators will be beneficial to operators working in urban environments, such as working close to other buildings or in public spaces.

“This strategic partnership marks another key milestone in our drive to bring the latest technologies to our customers and accelerate electrification in our industry,”

said Joel Honeyman, vice president of Global Innovation at Doosan Bobcat.

“Doosan Bobcat is excited to partner with Green Machine as part of our commitment to innovation and sustainability.”

Launched in 2010, New York-based Green Machine is a wholly owned subsidiary of alternative energy company Viridi Parente, Inc. Viridi Parente is revolutionizing the future of distributed energy products. The company’s high-tech, clean, safe and sustainable battery pack has already begun displacing energy systems in a vast array of markets.

“At Green Machine, we are changing the way the world uses energy,”

said Jon M. Williams, CEO.

“By teaming up with a global leader like Doosan Bobcat, we can further advance our technology and the benefits of electrification through the power and performance for which Bobcat machines are known. Through this partnership, we will deliver safer, more cost-effective machines that can provide construction support in nearly any project environment, indoors, outdoors, confined spaces, and other applications that traditional fossil-fuel-powered equipment cannot support.”

Doosan Bobcat is constantly exploring new ways to advance the compact equipment industry with new technologies, services and products. Through its partnership with Green Machine, the company can continue to produce innovative products and solutions to help lead the compact equipment industry forward.

“We make innovation a part of every product we produce at Bobcat,”

said Honeyman.

“Electrification is another step forward in our commitment to sustainability, as well as a technology that will allow our customers to work more productively, efficiently and cost-effectively. This is why we continue to seek breakthrough innovations to empower people to accomplish more today and in the future.”

Source: Bobcat

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Bioethanol is the ethyl alcohol (ethanol) obtained from the fermentation process of agricultural products or vegetable biomass.

Bioethanol can also be used as a biofuel for fireplaces and boilers but is mainly used as a fuel, in the form of pure bioethanol, or blended with petrol. It is therefore considered a biofuel, such as biodiesel, biogas, and vegetable oils.

Among biofuels, bioethanol is the most widespread also because it is quite easy to produce.

How is bioethanol produced?

To produce bioethanol there are 2 possible alternatives, which are characterized by the raw materials used:

First-generation bioethanol

Sugar-rich agricultural products can be used, as the fermentation process takes place thanks to the glucose contained in starch-rich cereals such as maize or using sugar cane. Bioethanol produced in this way is called first-generation bioethanol. Maize is widely used in the United States, for example, while sugar cane is mainly used in Brazil.

To produce bioethanol from these products, it is necessary to process the parts containing the sugars to which yeast is added to promote alcoholic fermentation, and then proceed with the extraction of the ethanol.

The production of first-generation bioethanol has its limits, however, because it requires the use of edible plants to obtain fuel, which is therefore diverted away from their use as food.

Second-generation bioethanol

The alternative is to use another glucose-rich resource such as cellulose. This method also makes it possible to exploit plants without commercial use or waste plants, including algae, without taking land away from food crops. Also in this case the yeast ferments the glucose, which is found in cellulose. This is how second-generation bioethanol is obtained.

Bioethanol-based fuels

Bioethanol is a fuel that has certain advantages, including a high octane count and a lower cost than other traditional fuels. It can be used in pure form or blended with petrol, obtaining fuels that are characterised by the percentage of bioethanol present. They have for example:

• E10: 10% bioethanol and 90% petrol
• E20: 20% bioethanol and 80% petrol
• E85: 85% bioethanol and 15% petrol
• E100: 100% bioethanol

Having Physico-chemical characteristics similar to those of petrol, bioethanol is used in petrol as an additive with the aim of improving performance in terms of octane and reducing emissions of certain pollutants. Fuels that blend petrol and bioethanol up to 10% can be used in normal petrol engines of the main manufacturers.

Compared to petrol, however, it must be considered that bioethanol has a lower energy content and therefore more fuel is needed to achieve the same results.

To use fuels based on bioethanol in higher percentages, or in the form of pure alcohol, vehicles fitted with a flex engine are required. This solution is now widely available in Europe, in the United States, and especially in Brazil, where a switch to this fuel has been particularly encouraged by the oil crisis.

Which countries produce the most bioethanol?

The main producers of bioethanol are:

• United States
• Brazil
• European Union

Top bioethanol producers worldwide in 2019 (data in millions of gallons) [source: Statista].

Appropriate tractors are needed for grain production and for all agricultural needs, which guarantee the necessary performance and power.

Source: McCormick

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As Head of Sustainability, he is responsible since April 1, 2020 for the strategic direction and worldwide steering of all sustainability projects, and in this role reports directly to Christian Kötz, Head of the Tire business area and Member of the Executive Board of Continental AG.

Claus Petschick has worked at Continental for over 30 years, initially holding various positions in R&D and product development for the original equipment (OE) business before assuming the management of the tire plant in Hanover-Stöcken in 2007. Most recently, the 58-year-old construction engineer was responsible for global quality assurance within the tire sector as Vice President Quality Management for over ten years.

“We are underscoring our commitment to sustainable business models and innovative products and services along the entire value chain.”

– Christian Koetz, Head of Tires Business Area and Executive Board Member.

“With the creation of a dedicated sustainability organization under the leadership of Claus Petschick, we are consolidating our far-reaching activities and research projects and underscoring our commitment to further systematic expansion of sustainable business models and innovative products and services along the entire value chain,”

explains Christian Kötz, Head of the Tires business area and member of the Executive Board of Continental AG.

“We are confident that sustainable and responsible management enhances our capacity for innovation and our future viability, and that we can make an important contribution to society and toward shaping our future through our commitment.”

For many years, sustainable and responsible management has been an integral part of Continental’s corporate strategy and development. The focus of the sustainability strategy is on the four strategic topics of climate change mitigation, clean mobility, circular economies, and sustainable supply chains. In order to make the tires of the future even more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly in terms of production, use and recyclability, Continental is systematically investing in the research and development of new technologies, alternative materials, and environmentally compatible production processes.

This includes, for example, the extension of product service life through retreading. Back in 2013, Continental already built the globally unique ContiLifeCycle plant in Hanover, Germany, for this purpose. Here, specially designed machine fleets with integrated retreading systems set new standards in the field of tire recycling.

A further central concern for Continental is to cease importing natural rubber exclusively from the tropics, but to produce it as close as possible to the tire plants in order to prevent the ongoing deforestation and reduce the CO2 emissions generated through long transport routes. In future, the multiple award-winning, long-term Taraxagum project from Continental and the Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology (IME) will supply natural rubber from dandelion plants, which can be used for producing motorcycle, car and commercial vehicle tires. The Urban Taraxagum bicycle tire is Continental’s first series-produced tire manufactured using natural rubber from the dandelion plant.

Continental is committed to sustainability in the natural rubber supply chain and is striving to provide the greatest possible transparency and to establishing a traceable and sustainable supply chain via an electronic system. Continental is also a founding member of the Global Platform for Sustainable Natural Rubber (GPSNR), an association of the major players in the natural rubber sector from business and civil society, who are working jointly to improve global sustainability in the natural rubber sector.

Source: Continental AG

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