MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, US —Cargill continues to progress its science-based climate commitment with a new regenerative agriculture initiative.

It is supporting farmers’ efforts to implement new ag practices across 10 million acres of North American farmland over the next 10 years.

“At Cargill, we view agriculture as an opportunity,” said Ryan Sirolli, sustainability director of row crops for Cargill. “Because we know agriculture is how we’ll ensure a safe, responsible and sustainable food system. When farmers adopt practices, and ultimately systems, such as reducing or eliminating tillage and adding cover crops, we can help mitigate climate change and protect water resources while improving the resiliency of the soil. Investing in soil health principles is how agriculture can help enhance farmer livelihoods while reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving water quality and increasing drought resilience.”

The initiative will focus on row crop rotations that include corn, wheat, canola and soybeans and other staple crops. Cargill anticipates these practices to further its goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions in its global supply chain by 30% per tonne of product by 2030 as well as protecting its water resources.

The regenerative ag practices are targeting soil health.

“The land is a farmer’s most valuable asset — key to their livelihood and productivity,” Sirolli said. “By supporting adoption of soil health principles with our farm partners, we can build healthy soils, increase resiliency and profitability and ensure their success, and the viability of their land, for future generations.”

Cargill will work with partners and other stakeholders across the supply chain to provide farmers access to technical and agronomic resources that support yield and profit objectives, training opportunities, support with data collection for benchmarking and visibility to the needs of downstream consumer facing companies.

Cargill also will help connect farmers to cost-sharing options and support the development of new market-based solutions to incentivize outcomes that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve and protect water quality, like the Soil and Water Outcomes Fund, of which Cargill is a founding member.

“To feed a growing population and protect our planet, we need to celebrate and elevate farmers who are adopting sustainable agriculture practices and caring for the land while feeding the world,” said Jill Kollling, vice president of global sustainability for Cargill. “By collaborating across the supply chain with farmers, ranchers, customers and partners, we can scale solutions that drive lasting change.”

Cargill has established multiple partnerships to help implement soil health practices and provide dedicated resources to promote regenerative agriculture systems. Cargill already has several efforts underway to support the 10-million-acre initiative, including:

  • Establishment of the Soil & Water Outcomes Fund
  • Working in partnership with The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
  • Reducing greenhouse gases through its BeefUp Sustainability initiative
  • Partnering with the Soil Health Institute
  • Working with the Practical Farmers of Iowa to boost cover crop production
  • Joining forces with The Nature Conservancy to establish 900 acres of cover crop demonstration sites
  • Work with farmers in Canada to incorporate 4R Nutrient Stewardship principles and practices