Key Takeaways
- Indigo Ag, Kellanova, and Walmart have formed a new partnership to support regenerative rice farming across Arkansas.
- The initiative builds on a four-year collaboration between Walmart and Indigo Ag, which has delivered major environmental and financial benefits to farmers.
- Participating growers receive financial premiums for rice produced using regenerative methods.
- The partnership leverages the Source by Indigo platform, aligned with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol for verified climate impact.
- Leadership emphasized the program’s role in strengthening supply chains, farmer prosperity, and environmental stewardship.
Indigo Ag Announces New Three-Way Partnership to Support Arkansas Growers
Indigo Ag has entered a new partnership with Kellanova and Walmart aimed at expanding regenerative agriculture practices for rice farmers across Arkansas. The collaboration uses the Source by Indigo program to deliver technical support, data insights, and financial incentives that help growers adopt more resilient, resource-efficient production systems.
This initiative builds on the existing relationship between Walmart and Indigo Ag, which has already helped rice farmers supplying Walmart’s Great Value brand reduce emissions, conserve water, and generate additional income through improved practices.
Program Builds on Significant Early Impact
Over the past four years, the Walmart–Indigo Ag partnership has produced measurable outcomes for rice farmers in the state, including:
- 37,000+ metric tons of CO₂e emissions reduced
- 11 billion gallons of water conserved
- More than $900,000 in farmer payments
With Kellanova joining the program, the effort broadens its reach and supports the company’s commitments to sustainable sourcing and community well-being.
Farmers Gain Financial Premiums for Regenerative Production
Under the expanded collaboration, farmers receive a premium for every pound of rice grown using regenerative methods. These funds support the adoption of climate-smart practices such as:
- Enhanced water management
- Optimized fertilizer use
- Crop rotation strategies that improve soil quality and biodiversity
These practices aim to lower operational risks while improving farmer profitability and long-term soil health.
Janelle Meyers, Chief Sustainability Officer at Kellanova, emphasized the value of cross-industry collaboration in driving agricultural resilience. “Kellanova is committed to building a more sustainable future for our business and the communities where we operate… By joining forces with Indigo Ag and Walmart, we're creating agricultural resiliency that increases farmer revenues, advances climate-smart practices, and drives long-term, systemic impact across the value chain.”
Verified Climate Impact Through Source by Indigo
Regenerative agriculture continues to gain adoption as companies work to curb supply-chain emissions and strengthen agricultural resilience. The Source by Indigo platform enables companies to support these outcomes through a verified, end-to-end process aligned with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol.
Mikel Hancock, Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives, Sustainability at Walmart, said: “Expanding our partnership with Indigo Ag to include Kellanova reflects the scale of impact we can achieve by working together to strengthen supply chains, support farmers, and advance environmental stewardship.”
Collective Action Strengthening Communities and Farmland
The collaboration between Kellanova, Walmart, and Indigo Ag is designed to support both short-term farmer income and long-term sustainability. By enabling multiple companies to source from the same regenerative acres, the partnership reduces costs, increases scalability, and ensures direct benefits to growers and their communities.
Dean Banks, CEO of Indigo Ag, noted the importance of coordinated impact. “We are proud to work with partners like Kellanova and Walmart to create measurable impact for farmers in Arkansas. Together, we are building prosperity from the ground up: safeguarding water resources, improving soil health, reducing emissions, and supporting farmers.”
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