ADM announced that it expanded its regenerative agriculture program to cover more than 2.8 million acres by 2023, exceeding its initial goal of 2 million acres. The company will now aim to have 3.5 million acres of land covered by its program in 2024, and is increasing its 2025 goal from 4 million to 5 million acres.
 
“ADM is scaling up efforts to enhance the sustainability and reduce the carbon footprint of the value chains in which we operate, and our leadership in regenerative agriculture is a key driver of that bold agenda,” said Greg Morris, president of ADM’s ag services and oilseeds business. “We know that farmers are stewards of the land, and we offer an array of programs that meet their varied needs and empower each of them in the ways that work best for their individual situations. At the same time, we know that retail and CPG leaders understand the urgency of expanding regenerative agriculture to meet consumer demand, and we’re bringing those downstream customers together with farmers to ensure we’re meeting their needs. This collaborative approach, spanning the value chain, has demonstrated its value through our more than 2.8 million regenerative agriculture acres in 2023, and we’re excited to continue to expand our program and lead in this important global effort.”
 
ADM partnered with more than 28,000 growers of corn, soybeans, wheat, peanuts, cotton, sorghum, canola, and barley in 2023 as it expanded its regenerative agriculture efforts globally, including the launch of new programs in Europe and Latin America. Participating farms saw improvements in soil health and carbon footprint, ADM reported.
 
In November, ADM issued its first-ever regenerative agriculture report, detailing priorities, goals, programs, and achievements to date. The company will provide an updated report later this year.
 
ADM defines regenerative agriculture as an outcome-based farming approach to protect soil health, biodiversity, climate, and water resources while supporting farming business development. It is adaptive to local conditions and culture, and, for ADM, is based on five principles of land management. This includes minimizing soil disturbance, maintaining living roots in soil, continuously covering bare soil, maximizing diversity with an emphasis on crops, soil microbes, and pollinators, and responsibly managing outputs including nutrients and pesticides.
 
ADM’s regenerative agriculture program will be scaled by working with downstream customers including PepsiCo, Néstle, and Carlsberg, technology partners like Farmers Business Network, and conservation organizations like Practical Famrers of Iowa, Ducks Unlimited, and American Farmland Trust.
 
ADM participates in industry initiatives and coalitions like Field to Market, Cool Farm Alliance, and Sustainable Agriculture Initiative; works with partners like National Black Growers Council; and leverages funding opportunities to bring more value to farmers through the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and USDA’s Partnership for Climate Smart Commodities. ADM’s regenerative agriculture program provides direct financial support for farmers, easy processes and cutting-edge technologies to ensure low barrier to entry, and a broad range of support and guidance from both internal and third-party experts.