Leading FMCG companies, including Nestlé, Unilever, and PepsiCo, have joined forces to support the transition to regenerative agriculture through the newly launched Regenerating Together framework agreement. Developed by the Brussels-based non-profit organization, Sustainable Agriculture Initiative (SAI) Platform, this initiative aims to provide a globally aligned approach for the adoption of regenerative agriculture practices in the food and beverage industry.
The introduction of the Regenerating Together project follows recent criticism from the FAIRR Initiative, an ESG advocacy group, regarding the lack of regenerative agriculture targets among major food and retail giants. As a response to this concern, SAI Platform collaborated with farmers, academics, and NGOs to develop a comprehensive program that assesses, monitors, and verifies farm practices to facilitate the global transition towards regenerative agriculture.
The framework focuses on four key impact areas: water, soil, biodiversity, and climate. It encompasses various steps, including risk screening assessment, outcome selection, adoption of principles and practices, and monitoring and assessment of progress. SAI Platform has already gained commitment from 30 agricultural co-ops, industry giants, and its own 170-strong member network, which includes Nestlé, Danone, Unilever, and PepsiCo.
The FAIRR Initiative recently reported that only a small fraction of food and grocery retailers, out of the 79 analyzed companies worth over $3 trillion in revenue, have quantified targets for regenerative agriculture. In contrast, SAI Platform’s Regenerating Together program sets a new standard for regenerative agriculture globally, fostering collaboration and providing the flexibility required at the farm level.
Commenting on the initiative, Eric Soubeiran, Vice-President of Sustainability Operations at Unilever, stated, “This new framework brings leaders together to work towards one common commitment.” Major companies, such as PepsiCo, have been actively engaging in regenerative agriculture efforts. In July, PepsiCo announced a partnership with Walmart to implement a regenerative agriculture scheme in the US, covering millions of acres of farmland. Last year, PepsiCo was among a group of twelve businesses that issued an action plan to scale up the use of regenerative agriculture.
SAI Platform’s Regenerating Together aims to unite the food and beverage industry in a resilient and productive food system that revitalizes natural ecosystems while improving farmers’ livelihoods. By transitioning towards farming practices that protect the future of our planet, SAI Platform and its members strive to secure a sustainable global food supply. Dionys Forster, Director General of the SAI Platform, concludes, “We look forward to continuing to work with our members and other industry players as we build towards this common goal.”
