Cargill, the multinational food corporation, is stepping up its efforts in promoting sustainable farming by expanding its acclaimed regenerative agriculture program, RegenConnect™, to Europe. The initiative will incentivize farmers in Germany, Poland, Romania, and France to adopt climate-friendly farming practices by offering financial compensation.
Cargill RegenConnect™, which has received recognition for its innovative approach to fostering a more resilient and secure food system, including the 2023 Edison Awards™, builds on its two-year success in North America. It will now extend its reach from 15 to 24 states across the U.S, expanding into nine additional states: North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Colorado, Mississippi, Alabama, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Texas. As part of the expansion, U.S farmers will also receive higher payments, coverage for more commodities such as cotton, and improved enrollment access via mobile devices.
The initiative is rooted in Cargill’s belief that transformative change in the food system begins at the farm, and this global expansion reaffirms its commitment to helping farmers embrace sustainable practices throughout its supply chain.
Chantelle Donahue, North America Agriculture Supply Chain Vice President at Cargill, emphasized the economic feasibility of sustainable practices. “Our vision is to make regenerative agriculture commonplace across our global supply chain, enabling farmers to produce food more sustainably while increasing their profitability and resiliency,” said Donahue.
The RegenConnect™ program offers a voluntary, market-based approach to regenerative agriculture, assisting farmers in improving soil health and reducing carbon emissions in the agriculture supply chain. Farmers participating in the program can select practices best suited to their operational conditions, such as planting cover crops and implementing reduced- or no-till farming. These practices contribute to carbon sequestration, soil resilience enhancement, and water quality improvement.
Beyond offering technical support and resources, the program also presents an environmental market opportunity for participants, connecting them with major global companies aiming to decrease their environmental impact while promoting regenerative agriculture.
Enrollment for eligible farmers in North America is open now through September 15, 2023, via Cargill Regenerative Ag Program’s website. Farmers from participating European Union countries can enroll from June 1 through July 15, 2023, at regenconnect.cargill.com.
Photo by Tim Hüfner on Unsplash
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