Global grain trader pays farmers to adopt regenerative methods
Crop Storage 30/01/2024 Gemma Mathers
Farmers who enroll in ADM’s regenerative agriculture programme will receive incentive payments for conservation tillage, cover crops and companion cropping, says the global commodity trader and processor.
The programme is designed to work alongside government support schemes to ensure growers receive the support needed to undertake regenerative farming practices that will ensure the resilience of ADM’s UK supply chain.
ADM says it wants to scale up the programme in the UK using a “scorecard” concept to widen the range of commodities it sources from its farm suppliers while tracking and reporting on regenerative practices.
Cambridgeshire farmer Martin Lines, of the Nature Friendly Farming Network, praised ADM for supporting growers who produced crops using regenerative methods and marketed them through the multinational company.
Positive action
“Seeing the company incentivise farmers for positive actions across the farmed landscape that can deliver climate, biodiversity, and productivity improvements – on top of a market price for the goods we produce – is a positive step.”
As well as financial support, ADM has partnered with the UK farm consultants Ceres Rural, to provide one-to-one support for growers who adopt regenerative best practices throughout the growing season.
ADM Agriculture managing director Jonathan Lane said it would add value to arable commodities. “We look forward to rolling out the project to even more farmers and customers in the UK to help drive regenerative agriculture practices at scale.”
Farm data specialists Map of Agriculture will use satellite technology to verify the actions undertaken by growers – improving soil health, encouraging biodiversity and working to reduce their carbon footprints.
ADM says it will ensure data is reported back to growers so they can monitor the performance of their crops – using key performance indicators such as carbon emissions, nitrogen use efficiency, and cereal yields.
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