TORONTO (miningweekly.com) – Agricultural products producer Agrium Inc this week expanded its board to 12 members after it appointed three new directors, 11 of which are independent.

Calgary, Alberta-based Agrium appointed Maura Clark, Miranda Hubbs, and William (Bill) Simon to its board, effective from Wednesday.

"These individuals are an excellent complement to our existing board's skill set, bringing demonstrated and relevant industry experience and strategic acumen to the table. We believe their combined experience will further support our strategy to deliver value to our stakeholders through good governance, operational excellence, and continued growth," commented Agrium chairperson Victor Zaleschuk.

Clark was the former president of Direct Energy Business, the commercial and industry energy business unit of Direct Energy LP, a North American energy and energy-related services provider from 2007 to 2014. Clark held a designation as a chartered professional accountant and currently served on the boards of beauty products company Elizabeth Arden and North American electric and gas utility company Fortis.

Hubbs was the former executive VP and MD of one of Canada's largest institutional asset managers, McLean Budden Limited, from 2002 to 2011. Hubbs was a chartered financial analyst and currently served on the board of pipeline and midstream company Spectra Energy.

Simon was the former president and CEO of Walmart, US – a subsidiary of Wal-Mart Stores, a global retailer – from 2010 to 2014. Simon currently served on the board of a multibrand restaurant-operating company Darden Restaurants.

Agrium, which is a significant producer and distributor of agricultural products and services in North America, South America, Australia and Egypt through its agricultural retail-distribution and wholesale nutrient businesses, expected growers in North America and other major agricultural markets to plant historically high crop acreage again in 2016, supporting robust crop input demand.

Prices for the crop nutrient potash have been in decline as the market faces downward pressure from fewer sales in China, which had introduced a new value-added tax on fertiliser sales, while drier weather in India and lower demand caused by weaker currencies and adverse weather conditions had affected the rest of Asia.

Despite the weak macroeconomic environment, US growers were expected to increase overall crop acreage, including a one-million- to three-million-acre increase in corn area, as significant crop acreage was lost in 2015, owing to excess moisture in parts of the US Corn Belt.