PepsiCo has announced a new Positive Agriculture agenda to accelerate regenerative farming practices to seven million acres of land by 2030.
This area is approximately equal to its entire agricultural footprint, the cola giant added.
The initiative will eliminate at least 3 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions by the end of the decade.
Others goals in the Positive Agriculture strategy include improving the livelihoods of more than 250,000 people in its agricultural supply chain and sustainably sourcing 100% of its key ingredients by 2030.
In January, PepsiCo Inc said it aimed to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions across its supply chain by 2040, as consumers and investors increasingly call upon big corporations to play their part in the fight against global warming.
PepsiCo's Positive Agriculture
PepsiCo's Positive Agriculture programme aims to source crops and ingredients in a way that accelerates regenerative agriculture and strengthens farming communities.
The company will work with farmers across 60 countries to adopt practices that build resilience and improve and restore ecosystems.
In the US, for example, PepsiCo has worked with farmers to plant cover crops on over 85,000 acres and has seen up to a 38% net reduction in on-farm greenhouse gas emissions, including soil carbon sequestration.
Currently, PepsiCo works with various organisations, such as the US Agency for Sustainable Development, to improve the lives of its farmers, and plans to build more partnerships worldwide to have a stronger impact on workers.
PepsiCo procures ingredients from over 60 countries, of which an estimated 87% are sourced sustainability.
This new commitment will extend this to include crops from third parties, such as vegetable oils and grains.
'PepsiCo Positive' journey
The Positive Agriculture strategy is another step in the company's 'PepsiCo Positive' journey towards positive outcomes for the planet and people.
It follows the company's recent announcement to double its science-based climate goal, targeting a reduction of absolute greenhouse gas emissions across its value chain by more than 40% by 2030, as well as pledging to achieve net-zero emissions by 2040.
PepsiCo chairman and CEO Ramon Laguarta said, "As one of the world's leading food and beverage companies, a resilient food system is essential to our business, and with our scale we have an opportunity and responsibility to drive meaningful change.
"PepsiCo's Positive Agriculture agenda prioritises investment, innovation, and robust collaboration with our farming partners to deliver impact around the world. Working together, we can reduce our collective carbon footprint, feed a rapidly growing population, and provide meaningful economic opportunities for more people."
Other sustainability measures to undertaken by the group include the launch of Food Innovation Hubs, in partnership with the World Economic Forum, to develop local food systems that are 'inclusive, efficient, sustainable, and nutritious.'
© 2021 European Supermarket Magazine. Article by Conor Farrelly. For more Supply Chain news, click here. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: European Supermarket Magazine.
