Happy Earth Day: Meet the Sustainability Team

DES MOINES, Iowa (April 22, 2024) — Happy Earth Day! To celebrate, Landus is proud to introduce the new Sustainability team and share the activities they’re working on to secure a brighter and more profitable future for farmers. This team is committed to bringing tangible benefits to the farmer and our planet, through scalable, sustainable solutions that return value directly to the farmer.

Landus is in a unique position to deliver substantial positive impacts to sustainability efforts in the ag industry. By playing an important role in the ag supply chain, we can form reliable ways to make sustainability real and profitable for our farmers. - Molly Toot, Landus SVP of Administration and Leader of the Sustainability Team.

The projects the Sustainability team and Landus are focused on to create a sustainable path for agriculture include:

• Carbon Intensity (CI) Calculator: Available right now, any Landus farmer can call the GROW Solutions Center and get their CI score in under 15 minutes. CI scores and 45Z Clean Fuel Production Credits will work their way into how the Farmer of Tomorrow will create a new revenue stream and provide added value for their crop.
• AcreEdge® Performance Portfolio & Sustainability: The AcreEdge Performance Portfolio represents the most direct Landus commitment and call of action to sustainability. With nutritional products manufactured in Boone IA, the AcreEdge offering aligns with the 4Rs of nutrient stewardship. These products help to qualify farmers for sustainable programs without reducing, or compromising soil quality—and most importantly, boosting yield potential. Learn more about how AcreEdge nitrogen stabilizers can mitigate nitrogen losses in soil and water here.
• End-to-End Sustainability: Landus is both grain and agronomy—uniquely positioned with all the tools necessary to deliver sustainably sourced grain. We have all the necessary data and touch each part of the supply chain, starting with the soil and moving all the way to the consumer.
• Talus 1: As an early partner in the Landus Innovation Connector, Talus Ag has established its first North American green ammonia apparatus right here in Boone, IA. Their Talus 1 modular setup can produce one ton of green ammonia in a day. Using renewable energy, water, and air, farmers can buy more affordable ammonia that’s chemically identical to the traditional product. Ready for harvest this year, Talus 1 will be fully operational at the Boone location exclusively for Landus customers.

The Boone location will be manufacturing green ammonia and AcreEdge performance products by harvest of this year.

This Earth Day, Landus is eager to share these projects. With the help of industry partners and continued work from this team, Landus farmers can embark on their sustainability journey with ease and confidence. For information on how to learn more about the ag sustainability opportunities at Landus, contact the GROW Solutions Center at (515) 800-GROW (4769).

Meet the Team:

Molly Toot, Landus SVP of Administration, leads the sustainability team, in addition to Human Resources, Information Technology, and EHS. Toot has worked in the agriculture industry for nearly 30 years. Prior to her role at Landus, she worked at Land O’Lakes Truterra, where she served as Sr. Director of Sustainability and developed the Truterra Sustainability program. She holds a bachelor's degree in marketing and makes her home in Ankeny, Iowa.

Lori Marco is the Landus Leader of Sustainability & Downstream Engagement. Marco's deep experience in agriculture, the environment, and law brings valuable knowledge and contacts to the Sustainability team. She believes that farmers are eager to adopt more sustainable practices as long the practices are practical and profitable. Her family lives in Austin, MN and they enjoy spending time at their lake cabin.

Craig Mouchka is the Landus Director of Strategic Partners. His passion for ag was sparked by working to solve the insurance problems that were in the ag sector. He co-founded Growers Edge in 2007 with the goal to streamline analyzing local grain prices using technology. His later work with Indigo Ag narrowed his tech angle to a more pointed emphasis in sustainability. Mouchka’s focus on sustainability has the interests of farmers in ag and consumers outside of ag both in mind. He’s an adrenaline junkie, enjoys being outside and is a sports car and motorcycle enthusiast.

Edwin Suarez is the Landus Technical Agronomy Manager. Suarez has 20 years of experience in sustainable ag. Having worked with organizations such as United Nations Environment Program (UNEP); the USDA NLAE Laboratory (former Tilth Lab); and direct sustainability projects with companies such as Frito-Lay/PepsiCo, this soil scientist knows how sustainable practices can be implemented to practical application. Growing up in Costa Rica, Suarez is an advocate for clean water and clean oceans—among his favorite hobbies are snorkeling and fishing.

Sue Tronchetti serves as Sustainability Coordinator experienced in knowing what farmers want and applying practical solutions in their work. Sue’s many roles in agriculture include recent experience in agricultural innovation and governmental relationships. She has worked in various roles from working on their Greene County farm, to serving on several ag boards, including the Landus Board of Directors. Sue lives and farms with her husband Dan, and enjoys travel and spending time with family at their lake home.

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