Nutrien says it has surpassed $1 billion in Indigenous procurement

Nutrien is celebrating a big milestone in its commitment to work with Indigenous-owned companies.

According to Nutrien, the company surpassed $1 billion in Indigenous procurement late in 2024.

Read more:

“The $1 billion milestone reflects the efforts and innovative thinking of our Indigenous partners, our suppliers and our company,” Trevor Berg, the company’s senior vice president of potash operations, said in a statement.

“We share an interest in building a secure and sustainable potash industry, which is essential for global food security. We will continue on this path and work toward feeding the future together.”

Berg said there is not one area in specific that will benefit bit it has an umbrella affect.

“There’s a lot of manufacturing that happens in Saskatchewan,” he said. “Construction suppliers is probably one of the biggest ones … the other area would be just manufacturing for our shutdowns or for the work that happens during our turnarounds.”

Berg said this is also another way that Nutrien can help Indigenous people in Saskatchewan.

“This is really a part of economic reconciliation and what Nutrien can do,” said Berg. “All of the suppliers that were there before that have made some shifts and so … without them making those shifts … this wouldn’t be possible.”

“It means that we have a future that’s shared going forward,” Julie Ann Wriston, Director of Indigenous Relations for Nutrien, said.

“It’s important that when we think about what we do in this space, how we’re innovative, how we’re safe. There’s a lot that can come out of Indigenous world view that can actually help us be more sustainable, understand our future.”

Wriston said that Nutrien is well exceeding what Canada is doing.

“The federal target, in Canada (is) 5 per cent,” said Wriston. “Twenty-five per cent is a substantially larger number and a much bigger lift for a company to take on.”

In 2020, Nutrien set a target that a quarter of its “local relevant potash spend” in the province would be with Indigenous-owned suppliers, or companies where Indigenous workers make up at least 15 per cent of the staff.

Nutrien said it surpassed that target in each of the past three years, spending 30 per cent or more with companies that meet the criteria.

Nutrien said it directed more than $567 million to Indigenous-owned suppliers between 2020 and 2024.

“As we work together, we make our company and industry stronger for the future,” Rob Jackson, general manager of Nutrien’s Lanigan site, added in a statement.

“Our partners continue to do exceptional work in alignment with our vision, values, and operations.”

Read more: