By Abbas Nazil
PepsiCo and Cargill have announced a major collaboration to advance regenerative agriculture across 240,000 acres of farmland in Iowa, the United States’ largest corn-producing state.
The project, which will run from 2025 through 2030, leverages the companies’ shared corn supply chain and aims to strengthen farming resilience, promote soil health, and enhance biodiversity.
The initiative will be highlighted during Sustainability LIVE: Climate Week NYC 2025, where Jim Andrew, Chief Sustainability Officer at PepsiCo, and Pilar Cruz, Chief Sustainability Officer at Cargill, will discuss its significance.
Cargill supplies PepsiCo and other major companies with crops and ingredients sourced globally, and this collaboration supports both organizations’ long-term sustainability goals.
PepsiCo is working to spread regenerative farming across 10 million acres globally by 2030, while Cargill is targeting the same acreage across North America by the same deadline.
The partnership is designed to deliver measurable results on the ground by directly engaging farming communities.
Regenerative agriculture techniques such as cover crops, agroforestry, and plant diversity will form the backbone of the initiative.
Cover crops, planted between cash crop cycles, are expected to boost soil fertility and reduce erosion.
Agroforestry, which integrates trees and shrubs into crop systems, will enhance biodiversity and ecosystem services.
According to Pilar Cruz, this initiative represents a scalable model for creating real impact across agricultural supply chains.
By bringing stakeholders together across the value chain, the companies hope to establish conditions that allow regenerative agriculture to thrive at scale.
Jim Andrew emphasized that this work is critical not only for farmers but also for ensuring resilient food systems and sustainable business growth.
A crucial component of the program is the support farmers will receive from Practical Farmers of Iowa (PFI), a nonprofit organization with expertise in sustainable practices.
PFI will provide participating farmers with technical guidance, agronomic advice, and incentive payments to help them manage the financial risks that often come with transitioning to new farming methods.
This support structure is intended to ease adoption and ensure long-term success.
Sustainable farming practices developed through the initiative are expected to improve soil health, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and enhance crop yields while contributing to stronger and more resilient supply chains.
PepsiCo and Cargill believe that this joint effort not only benefits farmers but also creates shared value by improving the overall resilience of the global food system.
The collaboration builds upon prior successful partnerships between the companies and marks a significant expansion in their efforts to embed sustainability into core agricultural systems.
As both corporations move forward, the project is seen as a key step toward transforming supply chains to meet growing environmental and climate challenges.
The fireside chat featuring Andrew and Cruz during Sustainability LIVE: Climate Week NYC 2025 is expected to provide further insights into the partnership’s potential and its role in shaping the future of sustainable agriculture.