How McDonald’s Helps Farmers Scale Regenerative Agriculture

As part of its plans for global environmental impact and change, McDonald’s aims to support farmers in their transition to regenerative agriculture.

It has helped to support the Routes to Regen project, which aims to simplify the switch to sustainable farming practices and reduce risk.

Alongside other businesses in the food industry, McDonald’s is helping to make regenerative farming more accessible and appealing to farmers.

What is the Routes to Regen project?

The Routes to Regen project was established after several years of work by the Sustainable Markets Initiative Agribusiness Hub, which aims to identify opportunities for companies in the agribusiness sector to scale up the adoption of regenerative farming globally.

The Agribusiness Hub decided that regenerative farming must be a “no-brainer” for farmers and that industry collaboration is essential.

A blueprint model was developed, which aimed to test a new approach to industry collaboration that would be affordable and easy to scale.

The pilot was supported by many main industry players, including McCain, McDonald’s and Waitrose, among others.

This also provided farmers with a range of support, with financial incentives such as repayment schedules and crop warranty, technical support and peer-to-peer help.

It also ensured that cost and risk is shared between farmers and stakeholders, to help incentivise the adoption of regenerative techniques.

Keith Halstead, Executive Director of The Royal Countryside Fund, says: “At The Royal Countryside Fund, we recognise that farming in a sustainable way can often feel overwhelming for busy farmers who are facing relentless economic, environmental and social challenges.

“Against this backdrop, regenerative practices can sometimes seem complex or inaccessible. Routes to Regen was therefore designed with this in mind: a practical, consolidated programme that brings together resources, guidance and incentives from industry-leading businesses into one simplified menu of offers.

“Our aim has been to make regenerative farming feel not only more achievable, but rewarding, both environmentally and financially.”

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The results of the 2025 pilot programme

The first stage of the Routes to Regen pilot took place in 2025, working with 100 farms across East Anglia to test the regenerative farming blueprint.

After the pilot, the results reveal that 58% of participating farmers say that they are likely to farm more regeneratively.

The results also highlight the importance of industry collaboration and support, with 82% of farmers saying that the multi-company collaboration approach was an important factor in their decision to take part in the pilot.

Charlie Angelakos, Chair of the Routes to Regen Project Board and VP External Affairs and Sustainability at McCain Foods, says: “At its heart, it’s a cross-industry collaboration to make moving in a regenerative direction easier and more attractive for farmers.

“Our businesses succeed or fail on the back of the success of the farmers that supply or buy from us.

“And we know that in an increasingly volatile world where the climate continues to change, building resilience through farming more regeneratively is absolutely critical for us all.”

How the project supports McDonald’s’ goals

Supporting the Routes to Regen project aligns with McDonald’s’ sustainability initiatives.

The company has been working with farmers for more than 20 years and has set up its own agriculture programme to support resilient farmers.

It partners with local suppliers and experts to make scalable environmental improvements in its supply chain, funding the farming industry with research, education and training.

Its funding in the Routes to Regen pilot helps farmers stay resilient amid tough weather conditions and shifting policies.

Beth Hart, Chief Sustainability & Social Impact Officer at McDonald’s, said on LinkedIn: “Last year, I shared that McDonald’s is proud to support Routes to Regen, a farmer-first pilot designed to support the adoption of regenerative agriculture.

“In 2025, the programme worked with 100 farms across the East of England to test the blueprint: a clear menu of support, independent on farm advice, and partners across food, finance and insurance sharing risk to help make regenerative practices become a more practical business choice, not just a leap of faith.”