PepsiCo, Unilever, and other Major Retail, Food, and Beverage Companies Launch "STEP up for Agriculture" Initiative

Core Insights - The launch of the Supporting Trusted Engagement and Partnership (STEP) up for Agriculture initiative aims to enhance the capacity and sustainability of farmer-facing support organizations across North America, involving major companies like PepsiCo and Unilever [1][5][12] - The initiative focuses on promoting regenerative agriculture practices to improve soil health, reduce emissions, and enhance biodiversity, with PepsiCo targeting the adoption of these practices across 10 million acres by 2030 [2][5][6] Group 1: Initiative Overview - STEP up for Agriculture is a collaboration among leading retail and food companies to scale regenerative agriculture through locally tailored support systems [5][8] - The initiative aims to strengthen farmer-facing organizations by providing tools, training, and funding to accelerate the adoption of sustainable practices [5][12] - A pilot program is already underway in Spain, marking a global push towards regenerative agriculture [5][11] Group 2: Goals and Commitments - PepsiCo sources approximately 50 key agricultural crops from over 60 countries and aims to drive regenerative agriculture practices across 10 million acres by 2030 [2][5] - Unilever is committed to implementing regenerative agriculture principles across 1 million hectares globally by 2030 [6][12] - The initiative seeks to create a shared ecosystem of support that empowers farmers and drives lasting change at scale [8][12] Group 3: Importance of Local Support - The success of regenerative agriculture relies on trusted relationships and local expertise, with farmer-led support groups being critical for adoption [3][4] - The initiative emphasizes the need for an ecosystem of learning, where experienced farmers mentor others to adopt new conservation practices [7][9] - By investing in local organizations, the initiative aims to unlock scale and foster innovation throughout the supply chain [4][5] Group 4: Future Plans - Over the next two years, STEP up for Agriculture will facilitate peer learning, host workshops, and develop shared tools to scale impact [10][11] - The initiative will establish measurement, reporting, and verification systems to track sustainable progress against goals [11][12] - The partnership model includes contributions from corporate, philanthropic, and farmer-facing support organizations to enhance advisory capacity [12][14]