ADM aims to expand regenerative agriculture to 5 million acres by 2025

By Agroempresario.com

In its latest 2024 report, ADM has revealed a significant milestone in its regenerative agriculture journey. The company has successfully transitioned over 2.8 million acres to regenerative practices in collaboration with more than 28,000 farmers. Building on this success, ADM has set a new target of 3.5 million acres for 2024 and a bold goal of 5 million acres by 2025.

This substantial effort has already yielded impressive results. In 2023 alone, ADM’s regenerative agriculture initiatives reduced its Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions and sequestered carbon dioxide equivalent to removing over 135,000 cars from the roads for a year. These programs now span seven countries and involve tens of thousands of growers globally.

ADM defines regenerative agriculture as a holistic farming approach that enhances soil health, biodiversity, climate, and water resources while fostering business development for farmers. The approach adheres to five key principles: minimizing soil disturbance, maintaining living roots, covering bare soil, maximizing diversity, and managing inputs responsibly.

Paul Scheetz, ADM's Director of Climate Smart Agriculture, highlights that the most notable advancement since the last report is the program's expanded scale. The company has broadened its regenerative agriculture efforts to South America, Europe, and India, in addition to North America. In North America alone, ADM has engaged 2,850 farmers across 23 states and three Canadian provinces, with significant acreage transitions in Illinois and smaller areas in states like Idaho.

Globally, ADM has made notable strides in transitioning various crops to regenerative practices. Previously focused on corn and wheat, the program now includes crops such as cotton, sorghum, canola, peanuts, and barley.

Farmer feedback on ADM’s regenerative agriculture programs has been overwhelmingly positive. A 2023 survey of over 600 North American farmers revealed that 96% planned to participate again in 2024, and 87% would recommend the program to others. Consistency and incentivization have been key factors in this positive response, according to Scheetz.

Despite its success, regenerative agriculture remains an evolving field. Scheetz notes that the transition requires time and multiple discussions with farmers to fully grasp the benefits and opportunities. He emphasizes that regenerative agriculture must offer commercial benefits as well as environmental ones to be sustainable long-term.

As ADM continues to scale up its regenerative agriculture initiatives, the company is paving the way for a more sustainable and economically viable future in farming. With ongoing support from various stakeholders, ADM’s ambitious goals signal a significant shift towards more sustainable agricultural practices worldwide.