Star of the West Milling Company has launched its 2026 Sustainable Tracking of Agronomic Resources (STAR) program, offering farmers up to $50 per acre in incentives for adopting or expanding sustainability practices. The program, announced July 8, 2026, incorporates Ostara's CG P2X™ fertilizer and focuses on the Great Lakes Grain Initiative, supported through the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service’s Advancing Markets for Producers (AMP) grant.
The STAR program aims to help farmers deliver measurable sustainability outcomes while meeting growing demand from food companies for supply chain transparency. By incorporating Ostara's CG P2X fertilizer, Star of the West enables downstream food companies to obtain credible data on supply chain impacts, helping them meet increasing sustainability reporting requirements.
Ostara's CG P2X is described as the first and only highly efficient phosphate fertilizer proven to release nutrients in response to crop demand. According to Ostara, the fertilizer is designed to deliver nutrients when and where crops need them most, potentially improving efficiency and reducing environmental impact. The product is part of Ostara's portfolio, which also includes CG Pearl®, a phosphate fertilizer made through advanced nutrient recovery.
The STAR program specifically targets farmers supplying wheat, dry beans, or food grade soybeans. Participants can receive financial incentives for adopting or expanding sustainability practices, creating direct economic value for producers. This approach aligns with broader industry trends where food companies face pressure to report on environmental impacts and seek verified data from their supply chains.
The news is important because it represents a concrete step toward integrating sustainability into agricultural supply chains at scale. By linking financial incentives to measurable outcomes, the program could encourage wider adoption of sustainable farming practices. For farmers, the program offers a direct revenue stream beyond crop sales, potentially improving farm profitability while contributing to environmental goals.
For the food industry, the program provides a mechanism to obtain reliable sustainability data, which is increasingly required by regulators and consumers. The use of Ostara's CG P2X fertilizer adds a technological component, as the product's nutrient release profile may reduce runoff and improve fertilizer use efficiency, addressing environmental concerns linked to conventional phosphate fertilizers.
Star of the West, a 156-year-old company based in Frankenmuth, Michigan, operates 32 locations in six states, including four flour mills, five agronomy locations, and eighteen elevators. The company's organic division, Everbest Organics, operates in Michigan, Minnesota, and North Dakota. Ostara, a producer of phosphate fertilizers, distributes its products through a network of retailers and distributors in North America and Europe. More information about Ostara is available at Ostara.com and PhosphatePerfected.com.
The launch of the STAR program underscores the growing intersection of agriculture, technology, and sustainability, offering a model for how supply chain incentives can drive environmental progress while supporting farm economies.
