Agrium Hopes to Complete Purchase of Viterra Stores by Early 2013

Sep 19, 2012

Agrium to Buy Former Viterra Stores from Glencore Inc.

According to Agrium’s Chief Executive Mike Wilson, Agrium Inc. is expected to finalize the purchase of the majority of Viterra’s Canadian and Australian farm supply stores by the end of 2012 or early 2013. Agrium is the largest U.S farm retail supplier and is paying approximately $575 million (CAD) for most of the retail outlets, which sell chemicals, seeds and fertilizers directly to farmers.

Swiss-based Glencore International Plc. is expected to complete its takeover of Viterra later this month. Richardsons International Ltd. will also purchase some of Viterra’s crop-processing sites and grain-handling elevators after Glencore’s takeover of Viterra is finalized.

With the exception of China’s Ministry of Commerce, which is still in the review process of the transaction, the Glencore – Viterra deal has received approvals from regulatory authorities; however, the purchase of Glencore assets by Agrium and Richradson’s still awaits approval from the Canada’s Competition Bureau.

Video: How farmers are protecting the soil and our food security | DW Documentary

For a long time, soil was all but ignored. But for years, the valuable humus layer has been thinning. Farmers in Brandenburg are clearly feeling the effects of this on their sandy fields. Many are now taking steps to prepare their farms for the future.

Years of drought, record rainfall and failed harvests: we are becoming increasingly aware of how sensitively our environment reacts to extreme weather conditions. Farmers' livelihoods are at stake. So is the ability of consumers to afford food.

For a few years now, agriculture that focuses solely on maximum yields has been regarded with increasing skepticism. It is becoming more and more clear just how dependent we are on healthy soils.

Brandenburg is the federal state with the worst soil quality in Germany. The already thin, fertile humus layer has been shrinking for decades. Researchers and farmers who are keen to experiment are combating these developments and looking for solutions. Priority is being given to building up the humus layer, which consists of microorganisms and fungi, as well as springtails, small worms and centipedes.

For Lena and Philipp Adler, two young vegetable farmers, the tiny soil creatures are invaluable helpers. On their three-hectare organic farm, they rely on simple, mechanical weed control, fallow areas where the soil can recover, and diversity. Conventional farmer Mark Dümichen also does everything he can to protect soil life on his land. For years, he has not tilled the soil after the harvest and sows directly into the field. His yields have stabilized since he began to work this way.

Isabella Krause from Regionalwert AG Berlin-Brandenburg is convinced after the experiences of the last hot summers that new crops will thrive on Brandenburg's fields in the long term. She has founded a network of farmers who are promoting the cultivation of chickpeas with support from the scientific community.