Today, PepsiCo and Cargill established a strategic partnership to develop 2025–2030 regenerative agriculture methods on 240,000 acres.In Iowa, where Cargill purchases maize from nearby farmers to make components for some of PepsiCo’s most recognizable products, the alliance will concentrate on the two firms’ joint supply chain. With 35 crops and ingredients sourced from over 60 nations to manufacture its handy foods and beverages, PepsiCo relies heavily on agriculture and building a more resilient agricultural system.
As a global supplier to PepsiCo, Cargill plays a key role in aligning the supply chain from farm to shelf. Together, the companies aim to deepen supply chain resilience, support positive outcomes for farming communities by helping them implement regenerative practices, and unlock new opportunities for advancing sustainable agriculture at scale.
Partnership to provide farmers with knowledge to implement regenerative techniques
PepsiCo and Cargill collaborate to empower farmers by advancing sustainable agriculture. (photo: Cargill)
Iowa is the United States’ largest producer of corn, contributing to more than 15% of the nation’s supply in 20241. Through trusted local organizations – led by Practical Farmers of Iowa (PFI), a nonprofit organization with deep roots in the Midwest farming community – this partnership will provide farmers with the knowledge they need to implement regenerative techniques and help them produce crops more sustainably. PFI will offer farmers tailored advice and recommendations based on their region and planted crops—insights grounded in local realities. This type of collaboration is key to scaling regenerative farming practices that can ultimately support farmers and strengthen the resilience of the global food system.
“By partnering across the supply chain – and working with farmers to understand what’s best for their farms – we can accelerate the adoption of regenerative agriculture practices that can result in healthier soil, reduced emissions, and improved crop yields and livelihoods for farmers,”said Jim Andrew, PepsiCo Chief Sustainability Officer. “This collaboration among PepsiCo, Cargill, and Practical Farmers of Iowa creates shared value and long-term sustainability that we believe will strengthen our business today and in the future.”
This initiative also supports both companies’ ambitious goals: PepsiCo’s recently expanded goal to drive the adoption of regenerative, restorative, or protective practices across 10 million acres globally by 2030, and Cargill’s goal to advance regenerative agriculture on 10 million acres of North American farmland by the same year.
“This partnership is about delivering practical, measurable results – starting on the farm, where the food system begins,” said Pilar Cruz, Chief Sustainability Officer at Cargill. “By coming together across the value chain, we can help create the conditions for regenerative agriculture to take root and grow. The collaboration offers a model for how we can drive meaningful impact at scale.”
Building on years of successful collaboration among PepsiCo, Cargill, and PFI, this initiative expands into a larger effort to transform today’s agricultural practices for the betterment of farmers, communities, and the environment.
The benefits to farmers
Participating farmers will receive agronomic guidance, incentive payments to help reduce the risk of adopting new practices, and access to technical resources to support their transition to regenerative practices, allowing them to expand their sustainable footprint with support from experienced organizations.
PFI will lead implementation with farmers, managing enrollment and overseeing measurement, reporting, and verification to ensure credible, science-based outcomes.
These practices are designed to improve soil health, increase resilience to climate impacts, and enhance long-term farm productivity—while connecting farmers to sustainability-focused supply chains.
1 Iowa Corn Growers Association. (n.d.). Corn facts and FAQs. Retrieved June 24, 2025, from https://www.iowacorn.org/corn-facts-faq/
DTN Progressive Farmer. (2025, January 10). Traders prepare for busy Friday as USDA releases reports. Retrieved June 24, 2025, from https://www.dtnpf.com/agriculture/web/ag/news/article/2025/01/10/traders-prepare-busy-friday-usda
