CF Industries Sells Carbon Credits to Chevrolet and Donates Proceeds to FFA

Jul 17, 2014 10:45 AM ET
National FFA officers accept CF Industries' $600,000 donation to support excellence in farmer education and fertilizer best management practices. From left to right: Jackson Harris, National FFA Southern Region Vice President, University of Alabama; Wes Davis, National FFA Eastern Region Vice President, Purdue University; Steven Brockshus, National FFA Central Region Vice President, Iowa State University; Mitch Baker, National FFA Secretary, University of Tennessee; Brian Walsh, National FFA President, Virginia Tech; and Jason Wetzler, National FFA Western Region Vice President, Oklahoma State University. (Photo: Jack Conroy)

DEERFIELD, Ill., July 17, 2014 /3BL Media/ - CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:CF), a global leader in nitrogen fertilizer manufacturing, has completed the sale of a large block of carbon reduction credits to Chevrolet. 

CF Industries will donate the net proceeds of $600,000 to the National FFA Foundation to support excellence in farmer education and fertilizer best management practices.

“Our products help farmers feed the world and this unique transaction will benefit a great organization teaching the next generation of farmers how to succeed,” said Tony Will, CF Industries’ president and chief executive officer. “This is a first-of-its-kind undertaking for our industry, and we are pleased to partner with Chevrolet in support of America’s future farmers.”CF Industries generated the carbon credits by voluntarily implementing nitrous oxide abatement technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The company began implementing the abatement technologies in 2008.

CF Industries supports educational programs that promote fertilizer best management practices, including the 4R Nutrient Stewardship Program, to teach farmers how to apply the right fertilizers at the right rate, at the right time and in the right place. The fertilizer industry is an important part of modern agriculture, helping farmers to achieve the high-yield harvests essential to our growing global population.

FFA’s Chief Executive Officer Dr. W. Dwight Armstrong said, “CF Industries believes in the science-based curriculum and experience model of FFA and agricultural education. We are thrilled they are building on their history of support for FFA by using these carbon credits to help the next generation of agricultural leaders.”

The National FFA Organization provides leadership, personal growth and career success training through agricultural education to 579,678 student members in grades seven through 12 who belong to one of 7,570 local FFA chapters throughout the U.S., Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

Through Chevrolet’s voluntary Carbon Reduction Initiative, the brand committed to purchase up to 8 million tons of carbon credits from a variety of clean energy projects and technologies in communities across the United States. Chevrolet retires the carbon credits for the benefit of the environment, meaning they will not be used to offset emissions related to specific Chevrolet operations or products — or those at any other site.

“Beyond building fuel-efficient vehicles and reducing the environmental impact of our manufacturing facilities, Chevrolet seeks to support innovative, carbon-reducing projects that people around the U.S. are implementing,” said David Tulauskas, GM sustainability director. “CF Industries is a great example. The company is working not only to reduce the environmental impact of the fertilizer manufacturing process, but to strengthen the next generation of farmers with the latest knowledge about responsible agricultural practices.”

About CF Industries Holdings, Inc.
CF Industries Holdings, Inc., through its subsidiaries, is a global leader in nitrogen fertilizer manufacturing and distribution, serving both agricultural and industrial customers. CF Industries, headquartered in Deerfield, Illinois, operates world-class nitrogen fertilizer manufacturing complexes in the central United States and Canada and distributes plant nutrients through a system of terminals, warehouses, and associated transportation equipment located primarily in the midwestern United States. The company also owns 50 percent interests in GrowHow UK Limited, a fertilizer manufacturer in the United Kingdom; an ammonia facility in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago; and KEYTRADE AG, a global fertilizer trading organization headquartered near Zurich, Switzerland. For more information, visit www.cfindustries.com.

About Chevrolet
Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world's largest car brands, doing business in more than 140 countries and selling more than 4.9 million cars and trucks a year. Chevrolet provides customers with fuel-efficient vehicles that feature spirited performance, expressive design and high quality. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.

About National FFA Organization
The National FFA Organization is a national youth organization of 579,678 student members as part of 7,570 local FFA chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. The FFA mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education. The National FFA Organization operates under a federal charter granted by the 81st United States Congress and it is an integral part of public instruction in agriculture. The U.S. Department of Education provides leadership and helps set direction for FFA as a service to state and local agricultural education programs. For more, visit the National FFA Organization online at FFA.org, on Facebook, Twitter and the official National FFA Organization blog.

About National FFA Foundation
The National FFA Foundation builds partnerships with industry, education, government, other foundations and individuals to secure financial resources that recognize FFA member achievements, develop student leaders and support the future of agricultural education. Governed by a 19-member board of trustees comprised of educators, business leaders, individual donors and FFA alumni, the foundation is a separately-registered nonprofit organization. About 82 percent of every dollar received by the foundation supports FFA members and agricultural education opportunities. For more, visit FFA.org/Give.