PepsiCo and Cargill team up to support regenerative agriculture across 240,000 acres, empowering Iowa farmers and boosting sustainability.
PepsiCo and Cargill have launched a strategic initiative to promote regenerative agriculture across 240,000 acres from 2025 to 2030. This effort centers on their shared corn supply chain in Iowa, where Cargill procures corn from local growers for ingredients used in some of PepsiCo’s flagship food and beverage products.
As one of the world's largest food and beverage companies, PepsiCo relies on agricultural inputs from over 60 countries, sourcing 35 different crops and ingredients. Cargill, a key global supplier, ensures these raw materials travel efficiently from farms to final products. With agriculture forming the backbone of both companies’ supply chains, this collaboration aims to improve farm productivity, boost community outcomes, and advance sustainability at scale.
Iowa, the top corn-producing state in the U.S., contributes more than 15% to the nation’s corn output. Through this partnership, PepsiCo and Cargill plan to equip farmers in the region with the tools and knowledge needed to implement regenerative farming practices that enhance soil health and reduce environmental impacts.
The program will be facilitated through Practical Farmers of Iowa (PFI), a trusted nonprofit with deep roots in the Midwest agricultural community. PFI will support farmers by offering customized advice based on their location and crop choices, ensuring that the transition to regenerative agriculture is both practical and region-specific. Their role includes not only providing agronomic guidance but also managing farmer enrollment, as well as overseeing measurement, reporting, and verification to guarantee science-based and transparent outcomes.
Jim Andrew, Chief Sustainability Officer at PepsiCo, emphasized the importance of this effort: “By working collaboratively with our supply chain and directly with farmers, we can drive adoption of regenerative practices that promote healthier soils, lower emissions, and lead to improved yields and farmer livelihoods.”
This initiative also aligns with both companies' broader sustainability ambitions. PepsiCo aims to implement regenerative or protective agricultural practices across 10 million acres globally by 2030. Similarly, Cargill targets the adoption of regenerative methods on 10 million acres across North America within the same timeframe.
Pilar Cruz, Cargill’s Chief Sustainability Officer, stated, “Our partnership begins where the food system does — at the farm. By aligning our goals and engaging across the value chain, we can catalyze the changes necessary for regenerative agriculture to thrive.”
Beyond ecological benefits, the collaboration provides tangible support to farmers. Participants will receive financial incentives to mitigate risks associated with adopting new methods and gain access to technical resources to ease their transition. These practices are expected to improve soil fertility, increase farms’ resilience to climate change, and build connections to sustainability-focused supply chains.
This initiative is a continuation and expansion of ongoing work between PepsiCo, Cargill, and PFI, reinforcing their commitment to sustainable agriculture, thriving rural communities, and environmental stewardship.
