Photo credit: PepsiCo, Inc.
Manufacturers PepsiCo and Unilever are joining other brands in launching a new program to promote sustainability in agriculture.
According to Food Engineering Magazine, the food and beverage companies have come together as part of the Supporting Trusted Engagement and Partnership (STEP) up for Agriculture, which the magazine describes as “a pre-competitive initiative to strengthen the capacity and sustainability of agricultural support organizations across North America.”
The program is designed to focus on environmentally friendly practices that promote soil health, reduce agriculture-related emissions, support water quality, promote biodiversity and improve farmers' well-being and livelihoods. STEP up for Agriculture aims to implement its practices on an area of 10 million hectares by 2030.
As pollution caused by heat retention continues to lead to rising global temperatures and extreme weather conditions, from floods to droughts, sustainable and regenerative agricultural practices are becoming increasingly important. Ensuring that soil health can sustain long-term agricultural use, that crop selection takes into account heavy rainfall and extended dry periods, and that agricultural infrastructure promotes resilience can support stable food systems and economies worldwide.
STEP Up for Ag plans to collaborate with and empower local organizations by providing tools, training and resources to promote renewable and sustainable practices.
“Regenerative agriculture is an important part of our building a stronger, more resilient supply chain and food system – and Unilever is committed to introducing regenerative agriculture principles to one million hectares worldwide by 2030,” said Kristina Friedman, head of sustainability at Unilever North America, according to Food Engineering.
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“STEP up for Ag can help us move faster and smarter, equip farmer-led groups with the tools they need, and open doors to more great suppliers to grow our business.”
With plans to launch a farmer-led cooperative in Spain and expand its efforts to other countries in the coming months, the program's growth could promise significant agricultural and environmental benefits. It could also help improve the environmental reputation of some of the billion-dollar brands involved.
STEP up for Ag is not the first environmentally conscious initiative from initiative members PepsiCo or Unilever – the former has supported projects such as global clean water programs and the latter is involved in systemic efforts to sensibly recycle product packaging. Both have now also been criticized for contributing to the plastics crisis, which can bring its own environmental problems and negative effects on agriculture.
Despite extreme heat, droughts, floods and pollution, farmers know that as they look to the future, they can use all the help they can get to maintain food supplies and their livelihoods.
“When we decided to do this regenerative agriculture thing, we wanted to be in it for the long haul,” Chris Beaudry, a fourth-generation farmer in Canada who works with the STEP up for Ag program, told Food Engineering Magazine. “Something that will benefit our soil, that will benefit me if I farm in my 50s or 60s, or my children if they farm after me.”
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