Agricultural processor Cargill said it would support the adoption of regenerative agriculture practices on 10 million acres of North American farmland over the next 10 years. The practices will help Cargill meet its goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions in its global supply chains by 30 percent per ton of product by 2030, the company said in announcing the initiative on Wednesday.
It will focus primarily on rotations of row crops that include corn, wheat, canola, and soybeans. Cargill, based in the Minneapolis suburbs, said regenerative agriculture would “benefit the long-term profitability and resiliency of farmers.” Regenerative agriculture relies on practices that improve soil health, capture carbon in the soil, mitigate the impacts of climate change, and offer higher yields, say advocates.
There are more than 1.1 billion acres of farmland in Canada, Mexico, and the United States, the three largest countries in North America.
“When farmers adopt practices, and ultimately systems, such as reducing or eliminating tillage and adding cover crops, we can help mitigate climate change and protect water resources while improving the resiliency of the soil,” said Ryan Sirolli, Cargill’s sustainability director for row crops. “Investing in soil health principles is how agriculture can help enhance farmer livelihoods while reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving water quality, and increasing drought resilience.”