Grain corn acres are expected to jump slightly this year in Manitoba, possibly hitting 400,000 acres | Robert Arnason photo

Food vs. fuel debate simmers in the background

Report estimates 27 per cent of cereal production will be diverted into biofuel production and other uses in next five years

The OECD/FAO are forecasting that 27% of the global cereals crop will go to biofuels and other industrial purposes by 2034.




Spencer Harris , in the green shirt, speaks with attendees at the Nutrien Ag Solutions crop plots at Ag in Motion on July 16. Photo: Greg Berg

Interest in biological crop inputs continues to grow

Nutrien exec shares thoughts on uptake and profitability of biological crop inputs

It was only a few years ago that interest in alternative methods such as biologicals to boost a crop’s nutrient uptake seemed to spike in popularity. But according to Spencer Harris, senior vice-president of global ag retail for Nutrien Ag Solutions, biologicals are not all that new for Nutrien — the global ag retailer has been researching biological crop inputs for nearly two decades.



Spencer Harris (green shirt) speaks with attendees at the Nutrien Ag Solutions crop plots at Ag in Motion on July 16, 2025. Photo: Greg Berg

Interest in biological crop inputs continues to grow

Nutrien exec shares thoughts on uptake and profitability of biological crop inputs

It was only a few years ago that interest in alternative methods such as biologicals to boost a crop’s nutrient uptake seemed to spike in popularity. But according to Spencer Harris, senior vice-president of global ag retail for Nutrien Ag Solutions, biologicals are not all that new for Nutrien — the global ag retailer has […] Read more