Grain Supplier Ties Farmer Payments to Sustainability Data Star of the West Milling Company launched its 2026 Sustainable Tracking of Agronomic Resources (STAR) program, designed to compensate farmers for adopting sustainability practices while supplying wheat, dry beans, and food-grade soybeans. The program incorporates Ostara's CG P2X phosphate fertilizer and operates through Star of the West's retail agronomy network in the Great Lakes region, backed by a USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Advancing Markets for Producers grant. Farmers participating in STAR can receive up to $50 per acre through compensation for data reporting, soil health sampling, and adoption of practices including cover crops, reduced tillage, and low-emissions fertilizer options. The program also provides access to soil health test results, with potential additional payments tied to strong soil health scores. "We're directly supporting sustainable practices and linking them to food company demand," said Katie Adam, grower partnerships advisor and project lead at Star of the West. "We are focused on connecting what the farmer sees as possible with what our customers need, rather than making assumptions or demands."
Meeting Food Industry Demand for Transparency Food manufacturers increasingly require supply chain transparency and measurable sustainability outcomes. Star of the West positions STAR as a tool to provide downstream customers with credible data on supply chain impacts and help meet sustainability reporting requirements. "Our food customers are asking for more transparency and measurable progress across their supply chains," said Lisa Woodke, sustainability director at Star of the West. "This program is how we meet that demand – by working directly with farmers and partners to deliver high-quality ingredients supported by Ostara's CG P2X fertilizer and backed by credible sustainability outcomes."
How CG P2X Works CG P2X is a 9-42-0-9 magnesium ammonium phosphate fertilizer manufactured in St.
Louis. The product releases nutrients in response to crop demand through biology-driven processes as plant roots and beneficial fungi interact with it in soil. According to Ostara, CG P2X can deliver comparable crop performance at approximately 40% lower application rates per acre than traditional phosphate fertilizers, while reducing soil tie-up, runoff, and leaching. "Using CG P2X makes sense on the farm and helps simplify how we meet transparency and emissions data needs," Woodke said. "For us, CG P2X is an efficient way to support reduced emissions in our supply chain. It's our easy button." Austin Omer, director of sustainability at Ostara, added: "Third-party evidence shows enhanced-efficiency fertilizers deliver meaningful environmental impact with a high level of confidence, while also creating value for farmers and providing food companies with cost-effective options to meet sustainability goals. The future of sustainable sourcing isn't about mandates; it's about alignment and adopting proven innovations like CG P2X. When farmers, innovation, and customer demand come together, that's where real progress happens."
Why It Matters
For food operators and suppliers, STAR represents a practical model for building verifiable sustainability credentials into grain sourcing—critical as retailers and CPG brands face tightening ESG disclosure requirements. The $50/acre incentive structure makes adoption economically viable for farmers, while the data-collection infrastructure provides downstream companies with defensible supply chain impact claims.
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Written by FBM Publications Editors
