Farmers across the UK, France and Belgium are set to benefit from a new initiative to scale regenerative agriculture. PepsiCo and Soil Capital have announced a long-term strategic partnership to offer financial incentives, expert guidance, and digital tools to help rapeseed farmers transition to sustainable practices.
The new venture will cover more than 35,000 acres (14,000 hectares) of farmland to help growers tackle local issues, such as heavy rainfall in France where this caused major disruption in 2024, and soil compaction which is often a challenge for farmers in the UK. To assist with the transition to sustainable agricultural practices, farmers in PepsiCo’s European supply chain will be given access to Soil Capital’s expertise and tools. This includes practices such as switching to organic fertilizers and growing cover crops to improve soil health, enhance water efficiency, prevent land degradation, and reduce carbon emissions.
"Farmers are at the heart of a sustainable food system, and regenerative agriculture is key to building resilience for our food supply, the environment, and farming communities,"[i] explained Archana Jagannathan, Chief Sustainability Officer at PepsiCo Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
Chuck de Liedekerke, CEO of Soil Capital, commented:
“This is a partnership founded on putting farmers first and working to transform the food system at scale and with pace. Backed by science and measurable environmental benefits, we look forward to supporting the transition, building resilient agricultural supply chains, and reimagining the relationship between society, land-use, food, and nature.”[ii]
PepsiCo and Soil Capital hope that they can reduce the financial and structural barriers to regenerative agriculture by tailoring solutions towards regional needs. The coalition will provide financial incentives to support the costs of adopting practices such as reduced tillage, cover cropping, and organic fertilisation. Further, farmers will also receive expert agronomic guidance throughout their transition, along with access to digital tools to track their carbon footprint.
Jagannathan adds: "Scaling these practices requires practical solutions tailored to local challenges. By working across the value chain, we can help remove barriers, accelerate adoption, and drive meaningful progress, reducing agricultural emissions while ensuring the long-term sustainability of our key ingredients."[iii]
PepsiCo & Soil Capital claim that the first phase of the collaboration has already demonstrated tangible environmental benefits, for example French farmers have improved their greenhouse gas balance by 38% and similarly, UK farmers by 36%. Additionally, cover crop adoption has increased from 49% to 65% in France and from 22% to 34% in the UK, improving soil organic matter and water retention.
David Fuller-Shapcott, a UK farmer who is participating in the program has spoken about the benefits he has seen:
"Regenerative farming has changed the way I work. With the right support I’ve introduced cover crops and reduced tillage, cutting my farm’s emissions by 360 tonnes between 2022 and 2023 and becoming a net carbon storer. Seeing these changes firsthand proves that sustainable practices don’t just work - they make a real difference for farmers like me."[iv]
The partnership with Soil Capital comes as PepsiCo increases its regenerative agricultural goal, from an initial 3.5 million acres delivered in 2024, to a new goal which targets 10 million acres globally by 2030. Further, to help reach this target, PepsiCo recently announced STEP up for agriculture alongside Unilever and several other major retail and food and beverage companies[v].
Announced last month, STEP (Supporting Trusted Engagement and Partnership) up for Agriculture is a first-of-its-kind collaboration to scale regenerative agriculture through locally tailored support systems. The initiative will strengthen farmer-facing organisations by providing tools, training, and funding to accelerate adoption of sustainable practices and build resilient supply chains[vi].
[i] PepsiCo and Soil Capital partner to scale regenerative agriculture across the UK, France and Belgium
[ii] Ibid
[iii] Ibid
[iv] Ibid
[vi] Ibid
Lauren has extensive experience as an analyst and market researcher in the digital technology and travel sectors. She has a background in researching and forecasting emerging technologies, with a particular passion for the Videogames and eSports industries. She joined the Critical Information Group as Head of Reports and Market Research at GRC World Forums, and leads the content and data research team at the Zero Carbon Academy. “What drew me to the academy is the opportunity to add content and commentary around sustainability across a wealth of industries and sectors.”
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