Key TakeawaysÂ
- Expansion of the PAO Accelerator: The program will now support nearly 40 agricultural projects with over $30 million in investments through 2028.
- Global Reach and Innovation: The initiative extends to nine countries, promoting diverse and impactful agricultural projects, including advancements in climate resilience, soil health, and ag-tech startups.
- Collaboration with Farming Communities: PepsiCo emphasizes co-investment with local farmers and encourages sharing innovative ideas and solutions for sustainable agriculture.
- Focus on Systemic Change and Climate Action: The program aims to foster systemic change in agricultural practices, focusing on combating climate change and improving long-term sustainability in farming.
- PepsiCo’s Broader Sustainability Goals: The PAO Accelerator is part of PepsiCo’s larger pep+ (PepsiCo Positive) agenda, centered around sustainable practices and human capital, aiming for significant global impact by 2030.
PepsiCo’s announcement of the third year of its Positive Agriculture Outcomes (PAO) Accelerator marks a significant step in the company’s journey towards more sustainable and regenerative agriculture. This program is a cornerstone of PepsiCo’s broader sustainability agenda, pep+, which aims to transform the company’s end-to-end operations with a focus on environmental stewardship and social impact.
The PAO Accelerator initiative catalyzes more than $30 million in investments, supporting nearly 40 agricultural projects through 2028. These projects span nine countries: Australia, Colombia, Egypt, India, Iraq, Pakistan, Poland, Romania, and the United Kingdom. This global reach underscores PepsiCo’s commitment to fostering diverse and impactful agricultural projects across different regions.
A vital aspect of the PAO Accelerator is its collaborative approach. PepsiCo offers co-investment opportunities to local farming communities, encouraging them to bring innovative ideas and solutions forward. This co-investment strategy not only supports the development of new agricultural technologies but also ensures that the solutions are tailored to each region’s specific needs and conditions.
The program’s focus areas include building resilience through climate-related analysis, improving soil health, and strengthening farms’ climate resilience. These initiatives are crucial in the evolving climate crisis and aim to set farmers up for long-term success. For example, in Australia, the program includes a project with grain growers to test and validate soil health management practices, reducing greenhouse gas emissions on farms. In Colombia, funding will support installing sprinkler irrigation systems to increase potato crop quality and yield while reducing water use.
Collaboration with organizations like 3Keel, a UK-based landscape innovation firm, is another critical component of the PAO Accelerator. This partnership aims to connect European organizations interested in supporting regenerative solutions with local farmland managers, fostering a network of innovation and sustainable practices.
Since its launch in 2021, the PAO Accelerator has supported many projects, from efficient irrigation systems to innovations that turn agricultural waste into fertilizer, all aimed at improving soil health and sustainability.
The PAO Accelerator is a critical part of PepsiCo’s pep+ transformation, which puts sustainability and human capital at the center of the company’s growth strategy. By 2030, PepsiCo aims to spread regenerative farming practices across 7 million acres, improve the livelihoods of over 250,000 people in its agricultural supply chain, and sustainably source 100% of its key ingredients.
This initiative reflects PepsiCo’s broader vision to be a global leader in beverages and convenient foods, driving value and growth while operating within planetary boundaries and inspiring positive change for the planet and its people.
Image provided by PepsiCo
