ADM has issued its inaugural annual Regenerative Agriculture Report, which includes a broad range of detailed information on its global regenerative agriculture efforts, including:
- How ADM defines and approaches regenerative agriculture in multiple regions around the globe
- The company’s enrollments to date, including more than 1 million acres in 2022 and approaching 2 million as of November 1, 2023
- Outcomes, including the sequestration of 115,500 metric tons of CO2 and reduction of CO2e emissions by 253,000 metric tons in 2022 — equivalent to removing more than 80,000 cars from the road for one year
- The company’s goal of 4 million enrolled acres by 2025, with the potential of reducing and sequestering CO2 equivalent to what would be emitted by powering 100,000 homes for a full year
“As we continue to accelerate our industry-leading global regenerative agriculture program, we believe it is important to report on our progress,” said Greg Morris, president of ADM’s Ag Services & Oilseeds business. “This work is critical to our company and to our planet. We’re proud of our progress, and we’re excited to continue to expand our efforts around the globe.”
ADM’s principles of regenerative agriculture are based on Indigenous ways of land management and are adaptive to local physical conditions and culture. These principles include:
- Minimizing soil disturbance
- Maintaining living roots in soil
- Continuously covering bare soil
- Maximizing diversity with emphasis on crops, soil microbes and pollinators
- Responsibly managing inputs including nutrients and pesticides
ADM said it offers unparalleled capabilities to create value for the entire value chain by partnering to implement and scale regenerative agriculture, working with downstream customers like PepsiCo, Nestlé and Carlsberg; technology partners like Farmers Business Network; and conservation organizations like Practical Farmers of Iowa, Ducks Unlimited and American Farmland Trust.
In addition, ADM participates in industry initiatives and coalitions such as Field to Market, Cool Farm Alliance and Sustainable Agriculture Initiative; works with partners like the National Black Growers Council to support underserved segments of the industry; and leverages funding opportunities to bring more value to farmers, such as through the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation as well as participation in USDA’s Partnership for Climate Smart Commodities.
ADM’s regenerative agriculture programs feature direct financial support for farmers; easy processes and cutting-edge technologies to ensure low barriers to entry; and a broad range of support and guidance from both internal and third-party experts.
Earlier this month, ADM issued “Farming for the Future: The State of Regenerative Agriculture Program Adoption”, a report with new survey data reaffirming the promise and potential of regenerative agriculture practices to help meet growing consumer demand for sustainably sourced products while building business resilience for the companies that meet those needs. And just last week, ADM announced the launch of its regenerative agriculture program in Brazil, which is targeting 300,000 acres by 2027.
ADM’s regenerative agriculture work will be a focus of its presence at this year’s COP28 in Dubai, where the company will be partnering with the World Climate Foundation to host a panel exploring the role and importance of cross-sector action and investment in catalyzing the futureproofing of agriculture and food systems. ADM will also be featuring regenerative agriculture on the COP Presidency Stage on December 4.
Read ADM’s full 2023 Regenerative Agriculture report here.
