Whole Foods Market: Can Agriculture Give Back to the Planet?

From business meetings over lunch to picnics in the park, food is a part of daily life for everyone. Since the beginnings of agriculture around 12,000 years ago, food production has shaped the world significantly. 

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change estimates that greenhouse gas emissions from food account for up to 37% of global total emissions each year. This is alongside using almost half of the world’s habitable land and a significant amount of freshwater according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation. To prevent irreparable damage to the environment, and keep food on people’s tables, something has to change. 

“The future of agriculture will be rooted in resilience, regeneration and innovation,” says Caitlin Leibert, Vice President of Sustainability at Whole Foods Market. “As climate change accelerates, we need a stronger emphasis on soil health, carbon sequestration and biodiversity to protect farmland and food security.”

Read the full story in the August 2025 edition of Sustainability Magazine.

Whole Foods Market’s role in agriculture

Agriculture, Caitlin says, is the foundation of Whole Foods Market’s business and at the heart of its commitment to providing high quality, responsibly sourced food to its customers.

“We know the way that food is grown and raised matters,” she explains. “Our customers also care deeply about where their food comes from and increasingly seek products that align with their values.”

More than 170 million customers use Whole Foods Market stores every year across the US, Canada and UK to purchase fresh produce and items like meats, seafood, cheeses and coffee. Each of these food items, at its core, is impacted by agricultural practices. 

Caitlin explains: “We have a long legacy of supporting more sustainable farming and believe organic and regenerative agriculture present an incredible opportunity to not only sustain but improve the way we produce food – and ensure we can continue to do so far into the future. 

“It’s critical we have farming solutions at the table that take both people and the planet into account. We continue to collaborate closely with farmers, ranchers and producers to cultivate a more sustainable and resilient food system – one that nourishes people and the planet for generations to come.”

Implementing climate-smart farming

Whole Foods Market offers more than 41,000 organic products and in 2024 nearly 34% of all products it sold were organic. In fresh produce and floral products, this statistic rises to more than 60%. 

The business is also taking things beyond just organic as the first to bring Regenerative Organic Certified private label products to market. More than 420 of its products are approved to make regenerative agriculture claims and another 224 certified regenerative products sit on its store shelves.

“Shifting from extractive to more regenerative agriculture requires changes in farming techniques, financial investment and supply chain adjustments—all of which present challenges,” Caitlin explains. 

“Farmers often face upfront costs when adopting regenerative practices like cover cropping, rotational grazing and reduced tillage, and it can take years to see the benefits. Additionally, access to education and infrastructure can be a barrier, as many farms need technical support and financial incentives to transition.”

Collaboration, she feels, is key to overcoming these challenges. “We work with industry associations, policymakers and suppliers to create solutions that ease the burden on farmers,” Caitlin says. 

“New innovations and technology, such as precision agriculture, can also play a role in making these transitions smoother, offering tools that increase efficiency and reduce waste without compromising soil health. 

“This transition demands knowledge from the past, in particular indigenous knowledge, alongside support in the present and future facing solutions to drive the change in the food system that is needed.”

From business meetings over lunch to picnics in the park, food is a part of daily life for everyone. Since the beginnings of agriculture around 12,000 years ago, food production has shaped the world significantly. 

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change estimates that greenhouse gas emissions from food account for up to 37% of global total emissions each year. This is alongside using almost half of the world’s habitable land and a significant amount of freshwater according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation. To prevent irreparable damage to the environment, and keep food on people’s tables, something has to change. 

“The future of agriculture will be rooted in resilience, regeneration and innovation,” says Caitlin Leibert, Vice President of Sustainability at Whole Foods Market. “As climate change accelerates, we need a stronger emphasis on soil health, carbon sequestration and biodiversity to protect farmland and food security.”

Whole Foods Market’s role in agriculture

Agriculture, Caitlin says, is the foundation of Whole Foods Market’s business and at the heart of its commitment to providing high quality, responsibly sourced food to its customers.

“We know the way that food is grown and raised matters,” she explains. “Our customers also care deeply about where their food comes from and increasingly seek products that align with their values.”

More than 170 million customers use Whole Foods Market stores every year across the US, Canada and UK to purchase fresh produce and items like meats, seafood, cheeses and coffee. Each of these food items, at its core, is impacted by agricultural practices. 

Caitlin explains: “We have a long legacy of supporting more sustainable farming and believe organic and regenerative agriculture present an incredible opportunity to not only sustain but improve the way we produce food – and ensure we can continue to do so far into the future. 

“It’s critical we have farming solutions at the table that take both people and the planet into account. We continue to collaborate closely with farmers, ranchers and producers to cultivate a more sustainable and resilient food system – one that nourishes people and the planet for generations to come.”

Implementing climate-smart farming

Whole Foods Market offers more than 41,000 organic products and in 2024 nearly 34% of all products it sold were organic. In fresh produce and floral products, this statistic rises to more than 60%. 

The business is also taking things beyond just organic as the first to bring Regenerative Organic Certified private label products to market. More than 420 of its products are approved to make regenerative agriculture claims and another 224 certified regenerative products sit on its store shelves.

“Shifting from extractive to more regenerative agriculture requires changes in farming techniques, financial investment and supply chain adjustments—all of which present challenges,” Caitlin explains. 

“Farmers often face upfront costs when adopting regenerative practices like cover cropping, rotational grazing and reduced tillage, and it can take years to see the benefits. Additionally, access to education and infrastructure can be a barrier, as many farms need technical support and financial incentives to transition.”

Collaboration, she feels, is key to overcoming these challenges. “We work with industry associations, policymakers and suppliers to create solutions that ease the burden on farmers,” Caitlin says. 

“New innovations and technology, such as precision agriculture, can also play a role in making these transitions smoother, offering tools that increase efficiency and reduce waste without compromising soil health."

Read the full story in the August 2025 edition of Sustainability Magazine.