Sustainable agriculture

Advancing responsible, resilient agricultural practices 

Agriculture faces serious sustainability challenges: Receding arable land, longer droughts, and more contaminated and depleted soils. All threaten food supply and security.

 

As a producer of high-quality boron fertilizer, we recognize the responsibility we have in helping rectify this issues, not exacerbate them. Through our productions and operations, we're finding better ways to make agriculture more sustainable and mitigate impact on the planet.

U.S. Borax fertilizer: The responsible choice

How do our products advance sustainability progress? 

Keep soils healthy

Our unique refining process removes arsenic and other heavy metals. Arsenic disrupts soil microbes that cycle nutrients and decompose organic matter, leaving soils damaged for years. In certain situations, arsenic may also pollute groundwater. 

Maximize yield

Often the limiting factor in crop yield, micronutrients are essential to plant growth and the efficient uptake of macronutrients. The right application of refined boron boron enables growers to produce higher, better yields. This, in turn, maximizes arable land and keeps farmers economically stable. 

Save time, money, and energy

U.S. Borax refined boron products release gradually and completely, eliminating the need for multiple applications. Fewer applications save time and money. Plus, less fuel is spent, lowering the carbon footprint of equipment.  

Meet organic farming standards

Several U.S. Borax products are OMRI Listed® , which means they are acceptable for use on certified organic crops under three North American-based organic governing entitites and standards. 

 

A better partner for people and the planet

Stemming from our Boron Operations site, we're improving the ESG performance across all operations.


Planet conscious

Through initiatives such as transitioning heavy machinery to renewable diesel at our mine site, we're cutting CO2 emissions and mitigating our impact.


People forward

Nothing matters more than the health, safety, and wellbeing of our people. Our commitment extends to the communities where we are located.

Committed to industry partners

We're active members of organizations that work toward establishing better
agricultural practices such as promoting healthy soils and ensuring food security. 

The Fertilizer Institute (TFI)

As members, we affirm TFI's goal of achieving more sustainable agriculture value chain operations.

Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO)

We're associate members of RSPO, a not-for-profit group that oversees global sustainable palm oil production standards.

The Fertiliser Association of India (FAI)

FAI promotes the balanced and efficient use of fertilizer as well as sound agricultural practices.

Empowering local farms 

Family farms not only play a substantial role in bolstering the local economy, but also food supply and security. 


How we help

U.S. Borax, part of Rio Tinto, is a global leader in the supply and science of borates—naturally-occurring minerals containing boron and other elements. We are 1,000 people serving 650 customers with more than 1,800 delivery locations globally. We supply around 30% of the world’s need for refined borates from our world-class mine in Boron, California, about 100 miles northeast of Los Angeles. Learn more about Rio Tinto.

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