The Boards of Directors of GROWMARK Inc. and CHS Inc. announced on Jan. 12 that they have jointly agreed to conduct an exploratory process over the coming months to identify opportunities for the two cooperatives to further collaborate to better serve owners and customers.
The two farmer-owned cooperatives have a long-standing relationship and have partnered before on strategic projects, including the formation in 2021 of Cooperative Ventures, a venture capital fund focused on supporting advancements in breakthrough technologies for agriculture. GROWMARK is headquartered in Bloomington, Ill., and CHS in St. Paul, Minn.
While the outcome of the exploratory process is not yet known, the two companies said they are seeking further collaboration to improve agriculture, invest in technology, and bring new solutions to customers.
“Continuing our long history of adding value to our members and customers, while ensuring a strong and vibrant cooperative system for the future, is critical to the GROWMARK System,” said GROWMARK CEO Mark Orr. “Our partnership with CHS in Cooperative Ventures is a great example of cooperation amongst cooperatives that benefits the shareholders of both companies.”
“We believe that by working together we can better serve our farmer- and cooperative-owners,” said Jay Debertin, CHS President and CEO. “Ultimately, we aim to better meet customer demand for our owners’ products around the world and increase the value of the cooperative system.”