Farming practices and attitudes are changing.  Sustainability has become a part of our everyday vocabulary as adoption of more sustainable farming practices is now a matter of how, not when. These new strategies will incorporate wise and efficient use of resources with sustainable goals.

On the supply side, manufacturers and ag NGOS have stepped up their game to help farmers manage crop inputs for outcomes that satisfy needs for sustainability along with profitability. “Sustainability is now table stakes,” says Amy Yoder, Anuvia Plant Nutrients president and CEO. “Economically viable products are needed to help farming adopt more strategies focused on managing resources for the long run.”

Anuvia is the five-year-old ag start-up that produces a high-performance fertilizer from biobased material that may otherwise be deposited into landfills. Sounds like a simple idea, but it’s not. Unlike conventional fertilizers, Anuvia’s products are based on proprietary technology that upcycles organic materials into plant nutrient products that work with the ecosystem and improve soil health. “These products maximize crop yield as more nutrients are used by the growing plant and less lost to the environment thereby reducing the impact of agriculture on water and air quality,” explains Anuvia’s chief commercial officer Hugh MacGillivray. “This means farmers’ fertilizer investment is put to use—not wasted.”

This technology goes deeper than just healthy soils. Its effect on the soil positively impacts root growth as the soils’ microbiome is nourished and organic matter is put back.

Experts agree that the need to increase our food supply will require focus on all components of the agronomic system. Going forward, food production is not about optimizing only one piece of the puzzle, but understanding how to manage all basic resources—soil, air and water while realizing there are no quick fixes. Moving to more sustainable practices takes time, but the effect is cumulative.

 “Consistent and collective action is necessary to achieve sustainability at the farm level,” Yoder adds.  “I believe we are at a point where technology advances will make a tangible difference so long as suppliers offer solutions that are economically viable for the farmer.”

The next level looks beyond simply weighing priorities against each other. It envisions and incorporates innovative technologies that can create real benefit across systems and generations.

Heartland Heart - Amy Yoder

Anuvia’ CEO builds on her life in a 6th generation farm family

When Amy Yoder, CEO Anuvia Plant Nutrients, transitioned from a decades-long career in high level crop protection jobs, she knew she wanted a place that had potential for her legacy.

“I wanted to do something to make an impact for the long term,” she says. “I looked at a number of technologies that dealt with sustainability. I wanted something that could benefit all farmers rather than just benefit one segment. For me, the question was, would my dad use? Would it be something that can work on our farm?”

Yoder found that the Anuvia technology hit the key must-have parameters for her next move. “The circular environment. Being able to utilize ag waste as part of our feed stock. And I really liked the end product. It looks like fertilizer; has the bulk density of fertilizer. You can use current blending equipment,” Yoder explains.  “When I thought of my dad, I realized this could work on our farm, and it can help make all farmers more sustainable.

“As agriculture moves forward, there’s a need to ensure that land is there for the next generation,” Yoder says. “When I looked at this technology, I saw something that could help from a performance standpoint––to meet the crop yields required in terms of productivity, but also in terms of giving back to the soil - and that's important to us long term.”