Hundreds of growers join regen-agri scheme

A regenerative farming initiative started by commodity trader ADM has exceeded expectations thanks to solid support by farmers, says the company.

ADM’s regenerative agriculture programme encourages farmers to implement practices that help to improve soil health and water quality, promote biodiversity – and curb carbon emissions.

More than 260 farmers enrolled on the programme in its first year. They receive payments for using regenerative farming methods and technical support on how best to implement these practices on their farm.

“Farmers understand the important role regenerative agriculture plays in securing the future of their businesses and the planet,” says Jonathan Lane, managing director of ADM Agriculture.

“ADM is committed to supporting farmers in our effort to create a more sustainable and resilient food system, and our UK experience gives us confidence as we seek to continue to scale up our efforts globally.”

The global company defines regenerative agriculture as an outcome-based farming approach that protects and improves soil health, biodiversity, climate and water resources while supporting farming business development.

Bigger target

After expanding from North America to Europe last year, ADM’s global regenerative agriculture programme targeting 1.4 million hectares in 2024. It is now targeting 2 million hectares in 2025.

Globally, ADM says the initiative reduced its Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions and delivered carbon dioxide sequestration that was equivalent to removing more than 135,000 cars from the road for a year.

ADM works with key implementation partners offering remote data collection and validation to give farmers a deeper understanding of their carbon footprint and sustainability performance.

The UK programme was designed with farm data specialists Map of Agriculture – giving ADM customers crucial insights into the environmental impact of their supply chains, including verification by techniques such as remote sensing.

For more details about the scheme, email ClimateSmartuk@adm.com.