From Canada to 50 States: CEO Interview with Neil Wiens on Replenish Nutrients' U.S. Breakout Strategy

Rhea-AI Summary

Replenish Nutrients (VVIVF) is shifting from a regional fertilizer producer into a licensing-led regenerative fertilizer platform. The company reported a market cap of CAD $27M and a stock price of CAD $0.17 at publication. Key commercial milestones include an exclusive U.S. licensing agreement with Farmers Union Enterprises (FUE) covering ~70 million acres, a planned FUE pellet plant commissioning in June/July with up to 25,000 tonnes shipped in year one, and licensing royalties targeted at US$40–60 per tonne. Company-owned assets include the Beiseker ramp (targeting ~2,000+ tonnes/month) and the shovel-ready Debolt project supported by a CAD $7M non-dilutive ERA grant. The company cites a carbon advantage of ~0.45 tonnes CO2 saved per tonne produced versus synthetic fertilizers.

Positive

• Exclusive U.S. FUE license covering ~70 million acres
• Targeted licensing royalty of US$40–60/tonne
• 50,000-tonne facility example yields ~US$2.5M margin
• Beiseker running toward 2,000+ tonnes/month output
• Debolt backed by up to CAD $7M non-dilutive ERA grant
• Carbon reduction of ~0.45 t CO2 per tonne produced

Negative

• Logistics risk due to sulphur and potash geographic separation
• Debolt requires finalized offtakes and external financing
• Current market cap is small at CAD $27M, limiting scale-up firepower

MALMÖ, Sweden, Dec. 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ --

Company: Replenish Nutrients
Listings: CSE Canada , Frankfurt and US OTC
Tickers: ERTH / VVIVF / WIMN
Market cap at time of publication: $27 MCAD
Stock price at time of publication: $0.17 CAD
Business: Regenerative agriculture
Website: https://replenishnutrients.com/
Target price: CAD 0.44 (USD 0.31)

Executive introduction: 

Replenish Nutrients is a small-cap clean-tech fertilizer company based in Alberta, Canada, delivering natural, carbon-reducing micro-nutrient fertilizers designed to rebuild soil health. The company is now on the verge of transforming itself into a global regenerative fertilizer licensing platform. Replenish's products generate clear environmental and social benefits compared to conventional fertilizers, with internal studies showing they can reduce CO₂ emissions by 0.4517 tonnes for every tonne of fertilizer produced versus traditional synthetic methods.

ESGFIRE believes the market has not yet fully recognized the significance of this inflection point. With its formulations now commercially validated and a high-margin, capital-light licensing model emerging, Replenish is transitioning from a regional fertilizer producer into a scalable regenerative technology platform. This strategic shift supports our recent target price of CAD 0.44 (USD 0.31).

A major catalyst is the company's exclusive U.S. licensing agreement with Farmers Union Enterprises (FUE)—a 95-year-old agricultural co-operative with influence across approximately 70 million acres in the Midwest. The partnership provides Replenish with a rare and credible entry point into the U.S. co-op system while establishing a recurring royalty stream in the USD $40–60 per tonne range. With high margin licensing revenues even one 50,000-tonne facility can generate meaningful, high-visibility EBITDA.

These developments align with continued progress at the Beiseker commercial facility and the shovel-ready Debolt project, supported by a CAD $7 million non-dilutive grant from Emissions Reduction Alberta—further strengthening the company's disciplined, capital-efficient growth strategy.

With international interest emerging—from Brazil to Africa—ESGFIRE spoke with CEO Neil Wiens about Replenish's evolution, the strategic role of the FUE partnership, and the company's vision as it scales its regenerative fertilizer platform globally

1. Transformation Into a Global Regenerative Platform

From early-stage formulations to international scale-up

Filip ESGFIRE:
Neil, great to have you with us today—thanks for taking the time to speak with us!

Wiens:
Thanks Filip, always a pleasure. I appreciate the opportunity to share what we've been working on.

Filip ESGFIRE:
Replenish Nutrients has evolved from a regional fertilizer producer into what many investors now view as a regenerative technology platform. How would you describe the company today compared to three years ago—and looking ahead, where do you see it positioned three years from now?

Wiens:
Three years ago, we were still in our infancy—focused on developing intellectual property and proving our formulas worked. Today those formulations are commercial, validated in the marketplace, and ready for global scaling through licensing partners. Looking closely ahead, I expect 10–15 pelletizing units operating globally, each producing 50,000–100,000 tonnes, positioning Replenish as a true global regenerative platform.

2. Three-Pillar Strategy

Why licensing is the primary value driver

Filip ESGFIRE:
You've structured Replenish around three pillars: production, licensing, and retail. Which will be the dominant driver of value?

Wiens:
Licensing—without question. Company-owned plants require capital and have standard manufacturing margins. Retail improves brand awareness but is also capital intensive. Licensing yields high margins with minimal capital, making it the engine of long-term value creation. Our partners like MJ Solutions and the U.S. Farmers Union showcase the model in action.

3. U.S. Entry Strategy Through Farmers Union Enterprises

Partnering with a 95-year-old cooperative with 70 million acres of reach

Filip ESGFIRE:
What made Farmers Union Enterprises (FUE) the right partner for your U.S. expansion?

Wiens:
The U.S. agricultural industry is strongly cooperative-driven. FUE spans ~70 million acres across five Midwest states. They understood our model immediately and have the reach to scale pellet lines across their network. The plan is to commission the plant by June/July, ship product by late summer, and hit up to 25,000 tonnes in the first year.

4. High-Margin Licensing Economics

Royalty streams that materially lift EBITDA visibility

Filip ESGFIRE:
Licensing royalties of US$40–60/tonne imply strong EBITDA. How does this shape margin visibility for 2026–27?

Wiens:
A 50,000-tonne facility paying ~US$50 per tonne generates ~US$2.5 million in margin—most of which drops straight to EBITDA given our high licensing margins. Each partner facility contributes a minimum of USD$200–300k per month in cash flow. With a few such facilities, we easily surpass the threshold to become a dividend-paying company.

5. Beiseker Production Ramp-Up

Approaching 2,000+ tonnes/month

Filip ESGFIRE:
What remains to reach consistent output at your Beiseker facility?

Wiens:
We've hit our hourly run-rate. The next step is adding a second shift without significant staff increases. Improved mechanization is the key to sustaining 2,000 tonnes per month.

6. Debolt & Bethune: Strategic Growth Assets

Shovel-ready expansion and strategic partnerships

Filip ESGFIRE:
How do the Debolt and Bethune projects fit into your growth strategy?

Wiens:
Debolt is fully shovel-ready and expands on our MJ partnership by adding capacity. Bethune strengthens our relationship with K+S and expands offtake potential. Combined activity across FUE, Beiseker and Debolt paves the way for a significant mine-mouth facility at Bethune. Bethune has the potential to become a 200 000 tpa facility.

7. Managing Operational Risks

Why logistics—not engineering or feedstock—is the main challenge

Filip ESGFIRE:
Where do you see the largest operational risks today?

Wiens:
Engineering is strong through FUE. Feedstock is secure with K+S for potash, Shell Canada for sulphur, and our phosphate partner. Talent is solid. Logistics is the main risk, since sulphur is in Alberta and potash in Saskatchewan. Fortunately, Replenish Nutrients CFO Kevin Erickson excels at logistics partnerships. Financing is important for company-owned plants; FUE are fully funded, and for Debolt we're pursuing non-dilutive options.

8. Debolt Project Requirements & ERA Grant Impact

Non-dilutive up to CAD$7M funding enhances project economics

Filip ESGFIRE:
What is required to move forward with Debolt, and how does the ERA grant factor in?

Wiens:
Engineering and licensing are near completion. We now need to finalize offtake agreements and secure financing. Alberta's ERA grant provides up to CAD$7M non-dilutive support. Switching from granulation to pelletization has cut our capex in half. The ERA grant acts like equity—you spend a dollar to receive a dollar—and can be leveraged through debt. We may also consider partnerships or a royalty/licensing structure to avoid dilution on Debolt for our shareholders.

9. Global Market Pull for Licensing

Brazil and Africa lead global demand

Filip ESGFIRE:
Which global regions show the strongest demand for your licensing model?

Wiens:
Brazil and Africa. Brazil has huge demand for sulphur and potash—our SuperKS pellet fits perfectly. Africa is rapidly expanding its agriculture sector and needs balanced nutrients and soil-health solutions. India is interesting but heavily subsidized; Australia is challenged by logistics.

10. North American Market Capacity

Long-term potential for 50+ pelletizing facilities in North America

Filip ESGFIRE:
How many 50,000-tonne pellet plants could North America support?

Wiens:
Each 50 000 tpa facility covers  ~500,000 acres.  Worth keeping in mind is that ~500,000 acres is tiny relative to North America's scale. Canada has ~80 million arable acres; the U.S. has 370 million arable acres. We see near-term support for 10–15 plants, and long term potentially one per U.S. state—so around 50 in the United States.

11. Next U.S. Expansion Regions

High-value crop regions and row-crop belts

Filip ESGFIRE:
Beyond the Midwest, which areas are next for licensing?

Wiens:
The Pacific Northwest  in the United States due to its high-value crops, and the Southeast row-crop belt. California is attractive but more regulated—likely requiring joint ventures. Our licensing model is flexible: tiered royalties, co-investments or technical JVs.

12. Margin Outlook Over the Next 24–36 Months

Pellet licensing becomes the primary EBITDA engine

Filip ESGFIRE:
How should investors view your blended EBITDA margins going forward?

Wiens:
Granulation margins level off as we near capacity, but pellet licensing explodes upward. Once Beiseker is fully utilized and FUE's licensing stream kicks in—the latter worth CAD$2.8–8.4M annually—EBITDA becomes positive.

13. Capital Allocation Priorities

Beiseker → FUE → Debolt

Filip ESGFIRE:
How do you balance investments between company-owned assets and licensing?

Wiens:  

1. Complete Beiseker using internal cash flow.
2. Execute FUE—contracts, engineering, logistics—to turn the plant on by late June.  
3. Advance Debolt using the ERA grant.

Meanwhile we continue signing capital-light licensing agreements worldwide.

14. Agronomic Proof Points

Yield increases, improved soil tilth, and lower chemical inputs

Filip ESGFIRE:
Which third-party field results resonate most with growers?

Wiens:
Yield is the key—we see increases in crop yields in most cases. Growers also see improved moisture-holding capacity, reduced fungicide/pesticide use and higher nutrient density. That combination of yield + soil health + lower inputs wins farmers over.

15. R&D and Next-Generation Formulations

Expanding into new nutrient categories and biological amendments

Filip ESGFIRE:
Are next-generation formulations in development?

Wiens:
Yes. With a PhD geneticist and a plant pathologist on staff, we constantly explore new nutrient combinations and biological amendments. These innovations broaden our market and strengthen our value proposition.

16. Carbon Footprint Advantage

0.45 tonnes less CO₂ per tonne vs. synthetic fertilizers

Filip ESGFIRE:
How central is your carbon advantage in discussions with partners?

Wiens:
While we reduce emissions by ~0.45 tonnes of CO₂ per tonne produced, carbon isn't yet the main motivator. Farmers focus on soil health, yield and economics. A generational shift is underway, however, and carbon markets will eventually make this more important.

17. Long-Term Vision

Global leadership in regenerative agriculture

Filip ESGFIRE:
What would success look like in 3–5 years?

Wiens:
Becoming recognized as a global forefather of regenerative agriculture. Operating in 6–7 countries and having 10–20 licensed facilities. Showing the world that regenerative fertilizers can scale and replace conventional methods.

Closing

Filip ESGFIRE:
Neil, thanks for walking us through Replenish's journey and future vision.

Wiens:
Thank you—always happy to share our story.

Legal Disclaimer

This interview is based upon reliable sources, namely regulated press releases from the company and investor presentations. Nevertheless, this interview may contain interpretations, estimates, or opinions of the authors, or other non-factual information. If that is the case, this is continuously stated above. Furthermore, any projections, forecasts, or similar are explicitly stated as such. The author holds shares and/or other securities of this company and the relevant company may or may not have paid the author for this content. . Because of the above, ESGFIRE urges the readers to always analyze all materials critically in an objective manner, e.g., concerning the reliability of the relevant source and of what constitutes the authors' personal interpretations. The readers is hereby reminded that the post does, as set forth in the Post, contain interpretations, estimates, or opinions of the authors. This interview was published by Filip Erhardt, at ESGFIRE on 01/12  2025. Investing in stocks is combined with certain risks and it is possible to lose your entire investment. Our posts are made for educational purposes only and are not to be interpreted as tips, financial advice or recommendations of any kind to either buy or sell any stocks.

Furthermore, this interview is produced and distributed as general investment research intended for broad public dissemination. It does not take into account the specific investment objectives, financial situation or particular needs of any individual investor.

Any price targets, valuations, or similar forward-looking assessments are based on publicly available information and the author's own methodology, and should be understood strictly as opinions, not as personal recommendations.

This material shall not be construed as personal investment advice under MiFID II or Swedish law. Readers are strongly encouraged to make their own investment decisions independently or seek advice from a licensed financial adviser.

ESGFIRE is a Swedish investment company and research firm that focuses on companies with either an environmentally friendly service or product. By only investing in environmentally friendly companies, ESGFIRE have outperformed the major indexes for several years. We have a track record of over 1000 % returns since 2018 using our own proven method of identifying high potential ESG companies.

Contact details Website:  www.esgfire.com
CEO: Filip Erhardt
Email:  Filip@esgfire.com
Telephone:+46701609605

About Replenish Nutrients

Replenish Nutrients (CSE: ERTH) (OTC: VVIVF) manufactures and sells proprietary fertilizer products containing essential macro and micro nutrients and biological material while using a proprietary zero-waste manufacturing process. To learn more about Replenish visit our website at www.replenishnutrients.com

For additional information, please contact:
Replenish Nutrients Investor Relations
Email: info@replenishnutrients.com

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/earthrenew/r/from-canada-to-50-states--ceo-interview-with-neil-wiens-on-replenish-nutrients--u-s--breakout-strate,c4275131

 

 

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/from-canada-to-50-states-ceo-interview-with-neil-wiens-on-replenish-nutrients-us-breakout-strategy-302629261.html

SOURCE Replenish Nutrients

FAQ

What does Replenish Nutrients' (VVIVF) U.S. licensing deal with FUE cover?

An exclusive U.S. licensing agreement with Farmers Union Enterprises spanning ~70 million acres and initial pellet plant commissioning targeted for June/July 2026.

How much royalty per tonne will Replenish (VVIVF) receive from licensees?

Licensing royalties are targeted at approximately US$40–60 per tonne.

What production rate is Beiseker approaching for Replenish (VVIVF)?

Beiseker has reached an hourly run-rate and is moving to sustain roughly 2,000+ tonnes per month via a second shift.

How material is one 50,000-tonne licensed facility to Replenish's (VVIVF) EBITDA?

A 50,000-tonne facility at ~US$50/tonne royalty implies about US$2.5M margin, largely reaching EBITDA.

What funding supports the Debolt project for Replenish (VVIVF)?

Debolt is shovel-ready and eligible for up to CAD $7M in non-dilutive funding from Emissions Reduction Alberta.

What carbon advantage does Replenish (VVIVF) claim for its product?

Internal studies show approximately 0.45 tonnes CO2 avoided per tonne produced compared with synthetic fertilizer production.