After earning the 2025 ESG Award for “Technological Innovation in ESG,” CNH’s New Holland brand has received yet another honor: its T6.180 Methane Power tractor—the world’s first agricultural tractor running on biomethane—was recently recognized with the ECO Innovation and Sustainability Award in São Paulo, Brazil.

New Holland has been investing in alternative fuel technologies since 2006, when it introduced its strategy for leadership in sustainable energy. Over the years, the company developed machines capable of operating on biodiesel and hydrogen, ultimately unveiling its first methane-powered T6 prototype in 2013. These advancements reflect the brand’s long-standing commitment to environmental responsibility and reducing carbon emissions.

Environmental benefits
Released commercially in 2022, the T6.180 Methane Power is now available to producers across Brazil. Its biomethane engine delivers significant environmental gains, including up to an 80% reduction in regulated pollutants and an 84% drop in CO₂ emissions compared to traditional diesel engines. Farmers can also lower fuel costs by 25% to 40% while maintaining the same power and range as a diesel tractor of similar size.

In 2023, New Holland introduced the concept of the energy-independent farm. Working alongside major players in the biomethane industry, the company helped design an innovative ecosystem that produces gas from the decomposition of animal waste. The system—made up of a biodigester, gas purification unit, generator, tractors, and heavy-duty trucks—is a first for Brazil and marks a major step forward for the country’s biogas sector.

This approach allows farmers to use biogas produced on their own land to power their equipment, creating a “virtuous cycle” in which the farm becomes increasingly energy-independent and environmentally sustainable. The result is lower operational costs, greater autonomy, and protection from the volatility of the fossil fuel market.

CNH’s New Holland brand has been honored with the ESG Award, presented by the Brazilian ESG Association, in recognition of its leadership in sustainability and technological advancement within the agricultural sector.

The company received the award in the “Technological Innovation in ESG” category for its T6.180 Methane Power tractor — the first agricultural tractor in the world to operate on biomethane. This model runs on gas produced from the decomposition of organic waste, offering an environmentally responsible alternative to traditional fuels.

A pioneer in alternative fuels
Since introducing its alternative fuels strategy in 2006, New Holland has been at the forefront of developing machinery powered by biodiesel and hydrogen. This long-term commitment led to the debut of the first methane-powered T6 tractor prototype in 2013, underscoring the brand’s dedication to reducing carbon emissions and achieving its sustainability targets.

Commercially launched in 2022, the T6.180 Methane Power is now available to farmers in Brazil. Its biomethane-based propulsion system delivers substantial environmental benefits, cutting regulated pollutant emissions by up to 80% and reducing CO₂ output by 84% compared to a diesel engine. Producers can also lower fuel costs by 25% to 40%, while still benefiting from performance and range equivalent to a diesel tractor of the same class.

Advancing toward energy-independent farming
In 2023, New Holland introduced the concept of an energy-independent farm, developed in partnership with leading biomethane companies. This model creates a fully integrated ecosystem for producing biogas from organic materials such as animal waste. The system includes a biodigester, biogas purification unit, generator, tractors, and heavy trucks — a pioneering setup in Brazil that is transforming the national biogas sector.

This solution allows farmers to generate and use their own biogas on-site, creating a sustainable circular energy cycle. As a result, farms become more self-sufficient, environmentally responsible, and cost-efficient. By producing their own fuel, producers gain greater control over operational expenses and are no longer vulnerable to fluctuations in the fossil fuel market.