PepsiCo, Unilever and other major food and retail companies have launched a new initiative called STEP up for Agriculture with the aim of accelerating the adoption of regenerative agriculture. The initiative, which takes its full name Supporting Trusted Engagement and Partnership (STEP) up for Ag, is structured as a pre-competitive action and aims to strengthen organizations that directly support farmers by providing tools, training and funding.
One of the key goals is to transform 10 million acres of land for more sustainable farming practices by 2030. The underlying principle is that achieving real change in the agricultural sector requires more than just technology or policies: trusted relationships and local expertise are needed, along with local organizations that act as bridges between farmers, businesses, and communities.
Supporting partners include philanthropic organizations such as the Platform for Agriculture and Climate Transformation (PACT) and the PepsiCo Foundation. Initial phases of the project are already underway in North America, involving organizations such as South East Research Farm in the Canadian prairies, Practical Farmers of Iowa in the United States, and Farm Advisor, based in Indiana.
In Europe, a pilot project is being conducted in Spain with the Garlan cooperative, thanks to the support of the Earthworm Foundation, to develop an effective regenerative agriculture model tailored to the local context. Unilever has reaffirmed its commitment to applying the principles of regenerative agriculture to 1 million hectares globally by 2030, leveraging the environmental, social, and economic benefits.
STEP up for Ag also aims to introduce measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV) systems to monitor progress and ensure that sustainable practices have tangible impacts on soil, biodiversity, water, and farming communities. Expected impacts include improved soil health, reduced agricultural emissions, biodiversity protection, improved water management, and increased farmer well-being.
The initiative recognizes that every territory is different and that local organizations must be autonomous in defining the tools best suited to their context, while maintaining common guiding principles. Finally, STEP up for Ag represents an example of cross-sector collaboration, involving companies, nonprofits, agricultural cooperatives, directly affected farmers, and philanthropic institutions, to build more resilient, sustainable supply chains capable of responding to the challenges of climate change.
