PepsiCo has announced plans to adopt regenerative agriculture practices on around 7 million acres of farmland, which represents about 100% of its global agricultural footprint. These plans are part of an effort they call Positive Agriculture, which aims to reduce 3 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. The company also hopes to improve the livelihoods of around 250,000 people who work in their agricultural supply chain and communities, as well as sustainably sourcing 100% of its key ingredients.
“Any plan to tackle the urgent challenges facing the global food system must address agriculture, the source of nourishment for billions of people and a key lever to address climate change and inequality,” PepsiCo Chairman and CEO Ramon Laguarta says. “As one of the world’s leading food and beverage companies, a resilient food system is essential to our business, and with our scale we have an opportunity and responsibility to drive meaningful change. PepsiCo’s Positive Agriculture agenda prioritizes investment, innovation, and robust collaboration with our farming partners to deliver impact around the world. Working together, we can reduce our collective carbon footprint, feed a rapidly growing population, and provide meaningful economic opportunities for more people.”
While the company plans to introduce regenerative farming practices to its international agricultural supply chain, they have already worked with U.S. farmers to plant cover crops on more than 85,000 acres of farmland, creating a nearly 38% net reduction in on-farm greenhouse gas emissions, including carbon sequestration. The company also plans to expand their U.S. regenerative ag programs to over 500,000 acres of farmland by the end of 2021.
PepsiCo is among some other large companies that have committed to improving soil health through regenerative ag practices, including industry giants General Mills and Cargill.