PepsiCo has announced a multiyear, $216 million commitment in support of strategic partnerships with Practical Farmers of Iowa (PFI), Soil and Water Outcomes Fund (SWOF), and the Illinois Corn Growers Association (ICGA) to drive adoption of regenerative agriculture practices across the United States.

By 2030, the projects are expected to support the accelerated uptake of regenerative farming practices on more than three million acres—1.5 million acres controlled by PFI, one million acres controlled by SWOF, and 600,000 acres controlled by ICGA—and deliver a combined impact of approximately three million metric tons of greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions and removals. These efforts are expected to realize more than 500,000 regenerative acres by the end of 2023.

“We are excited to expand our partnership with PepsiCo and farmers in its supply chain to support the adoption of regenerative agriculture practices that have measurable impacts on soil health, the environment, and farm sustainability,” said SWOF managing director Adam Kiel. “By providing high-quality and customized agronomic assistance to farmers implementing new practices, we help them reduce emissions and nutrient loss, unlock a new revenue stream, and increase the value of their farmland for current and future generations.”

“It’s critically important to partner, for the long term, with organizations that have earned the trust of farmers as they make the transition to adopt climate-smart agriculture practices,” said PepsiCo chief sustainability officer Jim Andrew. “We intend to be shoulder to shoulder with farmers as they work to make soil healthier, sequester carbon, improve watershed health and biodiversity, and improve their livelihoods.”

(Photo credit: Getty Images/Olena Mykhaylova)