PepsiCo, Unilever and other global food and retail companies have launched an initiative to strengthen farmer-facing organizations and accelerate the shift to regenerative agriculture, a model seen as critical to reducing emissions and building resilient food systems.
The program, called “STEP up for Agriculture,” aims to provide local groups with tools, training and funding to help farmers adopt sustainable practices.
Building Farmer Support Systems
The coalition stated that the initiative will support corporate sustainability targets, including PepsiCo’s plan to transition 10 million acres to regenerative methods by 2030. Expansion has already begun in Europe, with a pilot underway in Spain.
“Farmers are at the heart of our food systems,” said Jim Andrews, PepsiCo’s chief sustainability officer, in a statement. “STEP up for Ag is about investing in the organizations that support farmers every day.”
Unilever stated that the partnership complements its goal of integrating regenerative practices across 1 million hectares globally by 2030. “This next chapter is a huge step forward,” said Kristina Friedman, Unilever’s head of sustainability for North America.
Empowering Local Organizations
The initiative will channel corporate and philanthropic funding to strengthen farmer-support organizations in North America, Canada and Europe. Priority areas include expanding training, scaling on-farm support and developing monitoring systems to measure progress.
Farmers said the program offers flexibility to try new practices. “When you, as a farmer, start looking at your soil having an interdependent relationship with you, then you can start making decisions that benefit everyone,” said Chris Beaudry, a fourth-generation farmer in Saskatchewan, in the statement.
Multi-Tiered Partnership Model
The collaboration will operate through lead partners such as PepsiCo and Unilever, contributing corporate partners, and philanthropic backers, including the PepsiCo Foundation and The Platform for Agriculture and Climate Transformation.
Phase one partners include South East Research Farm in Canada, Practical Farmers of Iowa in the United States, and Farm Advisor, a farmer-led group in Indiana. Each will provide training, mentorship and direct support to help producers adopt soil health practices.
“Investing in and supporting these relationships is important,” said Jim Moseley, former U.S. deputy agriculture secretary. “Those who have already adopted new conservation practices understand the consequences for our soils and water quality if we don’t.”
Looking Ahead
Over the next two years, STEP up for Ag will host peer-learning workshops and create shared tools to expand adoption. In Spain, farmer cooperative Garlan will test a locally tailored regenerative agriculture program with support from the Earthworm Foundation.
“This pilot is about empowering Garlan with tools and methodologies to succeed,” said Earthworm Foundation CEO Bastien Sachet. “Together we can make regenerative practices practical, profitable and scalable.”
The companies stated that the effort marks the beginning of a broader global initiative to scale regenerative agriculture, with additional partners anticipated to join in the coming years.
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