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**Regenerative Goes Corporate**

19h ago · 9 sources · trend

Regenerative agriculture is no longer a crunchy side quest. It is moving from niche philosophy to mainstream business strategy in food and beverage, as brands look to shore up supply chains and hit climate goals.

The proof is in the boardroom math. 68 of the top 100 food companies claim to have a regenerative agriculture strategy. Since the Regenerative Organic Certification launched in 2017, more than 22 million acres have met the standard worldwide.

Big names are all in. Nestlé, Danone and PepsiCo are investing heavily. Häagen-Dazs, via General Mills, is working with a dairy cooperative and 48 farms in France on regenerative and decarbonisation programs. Early results show a 12% cut in greenhouse gas emissions versus the wider cooperative. In the US, Kellanova and Walmart teamed up with Indigo Ag to nudge Arkansas rice farmers toward practices like alternate wetting and drying, with premiums paid for participation.

Why the rush? Food is the No. 2 source of greenhouse gas emissions after fossil fuels. It accounts for about one third of global emissions and 50% of methane produced.

Here is the tension. Inflation is pushing shoppers to prioritize budgets over sustainability. Consumers are not clamoring for regenerative labels. Brands are doing it anyway.

The takeaway: regenerative is less a marketing play and more a risk play. When your supply chain is tied to one third of global emissions, sitting still is not an option.

Key facts

  • Regenerative agriculture is moving from a niche farming philosophy to a mainstream business strategy as food and beverage brands look to strengthen supply chains and meet climate-driven sustainability goals.
  • Sixty-eight of the world’s top 100 food companies purport to have a regenerative agriculture strategy.
  • Since the Regenerative Organic Certification launched in 2017, more than 22 million acres have met the standards worldwide.
  • Inflationary pressures are pushing shoppers to prioritise budgets over sustainability, limiting consumer demand for regenerative agriculture products.
  • Some of the biggest food and drink companies, including Nestlé, Danone and PepsiCo, are heavily invested in regenerative agriculture.
  • Häagen-Dazs, through General Mills, is working with dairy cooperative Prospérité Fermière Ingredia and 48 local farms in France on regenerative agriculture and decarbonisation programmes.
  • Early results from Häagen-Dazs’ decarbonisation programme show a 12% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared with the wider cooperative.
  • Kellanova and Walmart recently partnered with Indigo Ag to encourage adoption of regenerative agriculture practices by rice farmers in Arkansas.
  • Indigo Ag’s Scope 3 reduction programs help rice farmers adopt regenerative practices such as alternate wetting and drying, with farmers receiving a premium for their grain in exchange.
  • Food is the No. 2 source of greenhouse gas emissions after fossil fuels and is responsible for about a third of global greenhouse gas emissions, including half of methane produced.
  • 68 of the top 100
  • 22 million acres
  • 12%
  • 48 farms
  • 50%
  • 80 times
  • one third
  • $12

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