Why it matters

Reducing potential impacts from the agricultural products we manufacture and sell is one way we can help our customers manage increasing environmental and societal pressures. From product development, feedstock sourcing and manufacturing, to distribution, sales and use, we strive to minimize product risk, while maximizing the health, safety, environmental and social benefits of our products. Nutrien is committed to the safe, responsible and sustainable handling and use of our products throughout their lifecycle.

Our work on product stewardship supports the following United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

Our approach

Product stewardship means minimizing the risk while maximizing the health, safety, environmental and social benefits of a product throughout its lifecycle. We strive to improve our product sustainability profile across procurement, product development, manufacturing, distribution and end-use application.

We have a Product Stewardship Strategic Issue Team (“PS-SIT”) to provide cross-functional subject matter expertise and a platform for transparent communication and strategic guidance throughout the Company across all product categories. The PS-SIT’s objectives include demonstrating alignment, leadership, and a commitment to product quality and safety, along with promoting a product risk reduction and sustainability enhancement approach across Nutrien.

Our actions

• Product development and manufacturing - Product stewardship starts in the early stages of product development and carries across the entire product lifecycle. We evaluate potential risks and disclose our efforts in the following categories of interest to our stakeholders:
  • Genetically modified organisms (“GMOs”) While Nutrien does not own any GMO traits, we are directly involved in breeding canola, cotton, rice, wheat and soybean seeds using native and GMO traits, and we sell genetically modified seeds for many crops. GMO crops provide benefits for growers, food security through higher yields, improved disease tolerance, insect resistance and better tolerance in drought conditions, as well as land use efficiency.
  • Pesticides The use of pesticides makes food affordable, while protecting and sustaining our global food supply. Based on available evidence, we believe that by strictly adhering to the approved label uses and applications, growers can continue to safely use pest management products.

• Procurement, storage and distribution - We work to ensure product safety and stewardship across our value chain, including upstream (when we are procuring feedstocks), in our operations (when products are stored) and downstream (when our products are being handled by customers). 
  • Feedstock evaluation Our Product Stewardship and Procurement teams are working together to operate and expand a vendor Product Stewardship program and joint feedstock evaluation process to confirm regulatory status, origin, and manufacturing quality of materials and chemicals before approval for incorporation into Nutrien’s manufactured finished products.
  • Product risk profiles In 2023, we created product risk profiles for more than 200 NPK (fertilizer) products, additives and unique components used in our North American and European wholesale business. The profiles include information on product identity, hazard classification, and chemical class, and jurisdiction-specific information that will provide the foundation for more informed risk discussions and decision making.

• End-use application - Nutrien promotes best practices that are designed to improve crop yields and farming economics while addressing potential environmental and/or human health impacts.
  • Minimizing nutrient loss The profiles include information on product identity, hazard classification, and chemical class, and jurisdiction-specific information that will provide the foundation for more informed risk discussions and decision making.
  • Safe product handling and application We comply with regulations applicable to our business and have policies and procedures for the safe and appropriate use of the products we sell.
  • Training Our technical services include training and advice on best practices for products sold through our Retail selling locations