How PepsiCo & Cargill are Advancing Sustainable Agriculture

PepsiCo and Cargill are expanding regenerative agriculture practices across 240,000 acres of Iowa farmland.

The strategic collaboration is set to run from 2025 through 2030 and can increase resilience in farming systems.

The project takes advantage of the companies’ shared corn supply chain in Iowa, US.

Iowa is the United States’ largest producer of corn, providing more than 15% of the nation’s supply in 2024.

Cargill is a global supplier to companies including PepsiCo, which sources 35 crops and ingredients from more than 60 countries to make its foods and beverages. 

The collaboration benefits PepsiCo’s business by creating a resilient agricultural system alongside supporting both companies’ long-term goals.

PepsiCo’s goal is to push adoption of regenerative practices across 10 million acres globally by 2030 while Cargill’s aims to promote regenerative agriculture on 10 million acres of North American farmland by the same year.

PepsiCo and Cargill’s Chief Sustainability Officers will present a fireside chat at Sustainability LIVE: Climate Week NYC 2025.

Don’t miss out on your chance to hear from them – secure tickets now.

PepsiCo and Cargill’s collaboration

The collaboration aims to support positive outcomes for farming communities by helping them implement regenerative practices. 

These practices could include cover crops, agroforestry and increasing plant diversity.

Cover crops are planted between periods of cash crops and are used to help boost soil health.

Agroforestry involves integrating trees and shrubs into crop systems which improves the overall ecosystem.

The initiative builds upon previous successful collaborations between the companies by expanding into a larger effort to improve agricultural practices.

“This partnership is about delivering practical, measurable results - starting on the farm, where the food system begins,” says 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.”

Pilar adds: “The collaboration offers a model for how we can drive meaningful impact at scale.”

Secure your tickets to Sustainability LIVE: Climate Week NYC 2025 to hear from Pilar and Jim.

Local support from Practical Farmers of Iowa

Participating farmers will receive support from nonprofit organisation Practical Farmers of Iowa (PFI).

PFI will provide farmers with the knowledge they need to implement regenerative techniques and produce crops more sustainably.

Farmers will be given agronomic guidance and incentive payments to help reduce the risk of adopting new agricultural practices.

This will allow farmers across Iowa to improve their environmental impact with support from experienced and knowledgeable organisations.

Reimagining a sustainable supply chain

Sustainable farming practices can help improve soil health, increase resilience to climate impacts and enhance long-term productivity while promoting sustainability-focused supply chains.

“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,” says Jim Andrew, Chief Sustainability Officer for PepsiCo.

“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.”

The collaboration hopes to scale regenerative farming practices that can both support farmers and strengthen the resilience of the global food system.

Join Jim and Pilar at Sustainability LIVE: Climate Week NYC 2025 to be part of the discussion on regenerative agriculture.