May 23, 2022

Wilbur-Ellis sets climate change goals for social responsibility program

Wilbur-Ellis announced May 23 climate change goals to support Environmental Stewardship, a key part of the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility program.

The goals are aimed at reducing carbon emissions and increasing the use of renewable energy. Wilbur-Ellis plans to achieve net zero absolute carbon emissions by 2050. This is in alignment with the Paris Agreement goal of keeping the average rise in global temperature to well below 2◦ Celsius, compared to pre-industrial levels. Wilbur-Ellis also intends to increase the use of renewable energy in its manufacturing and distribution operations. One step in that transition is installing solar energy panels.

“These goals demonstrate a commitment to make our own operations more sustainable, while also developing solutions that could benefit our customers,” said John Buckley, president and CEO John Buckley. “Our goals also reflect the company’s support for the UN Sustainable Development Goals, which are making a global impact.”

Buckley also noted an ongoing program ‒ the Wilbur-Ellis Innovation Award – launched as part of the company’s 100^th anniversary celebration. The award invited teams of U.S. college students to propose innovative ways to sustainably feed a growing world population. The winners of the competition will be announced this summer, with the top prize of $25,000 going to the team with the most creative and viable ideas.

Collaboration With Ford Electric Vehicles

Another exciting step Wilbur-Ellis announced is a collaboration with Ford Pro, which is introducing a new line of electric pickup trucks – the Ford F-150® Lightning.™ Ford Pro is a stand-alone unit of Ford Motor Company that serves commercial customers with a one-stop-shop of vehicles, software, charging and financing.

Through this collaboration, Wilbur-Ellis will initially integrate 10 of the new electric trucks into its fleet in Sonoma and the Salinas Valley of California. Ford Pro also will provide charging stations and on-board in-vehicle telematics that can remotely optimize charging, monitor vehicle diagnostics, and help improve driver safety through its cloud-based software. The announcement was made at the Dutton Ranch in Sebastopol, California, a vineyard in the Sonoma wine region and a long-time Wilbur-Ellis customer. Dutton Ranch is participating in a pilot program with Ford Pro to test its software and charging solutions, along with Ford’s electric cargo vans and pickup trucks, in real-world farming conditions.

“This collaboration is a win for everyone,” Buckley said. “Ford Pro will see its new electric trucks in action. Wilbur-Ellis will begin the transition to electric vehicles in our fleet, which includes 2,800 on-road vehicles worldwide. And our customers will benefit from the information we gather about the impact these vehicles could have in their operations.”

To learn more about Wilbur-Ellis’ Corporate Social Responsibility program, please visit our CSR website. To learn more about our sustainable agriculture products, visit our Agribusiness webpage.

About the Wilbur-Ellis Companies

Founded in 1921, the Wilbur-Ellis companies are leading international marketers, distributors and manufacturers of agricultural products, animal nutrients and specialty chemicals and ingredients. By developing strong relationships, making strategic market investments and capitalizing on new opportunities, the Wilbur-Ellis companies have continued to grow the business with sales of over $3 billion. For more information, please visit www.wilburellis.com