In a landmark move for sustainable agriculture, PepsiCo, Unilever, and other major retail and food and beverage companies today announced the launch of Supporting Trusted Engagement and Partnership (STEP) up for Agriculture (STEP up for Ag), a first-of-its-kind, pre-competitive initiative designed to accelerate the adoption of regenerative farming practices through locally tailored farmer support systems.

STEP up for Ag is built on the premise that scaling regenerative agriculture requires more than technical solutions—it demands strong, trusted relationships between farmers and the organizations that support them. By providing tools, training, strategic guidance, and funding to farmer-facing organizations, the initiative seeks to empower these groups to advise and support farmers directly, fostering adoption of sustainable practices while building resilient, future-ready supply chains.

“PepsiCo is rooted in agriculture, and farmers are at the heart of our food systems,” said Jim Andrews, Chief Sustainability Officer at PepsiCo. “STEP up for Ag is about investing in the organizations that support farmers every day, aiming to ensure they can grow, innovate, and lead the transition to more sustainable agriculture. When farmers thrive, we all thrive.”

The initiative aligns with PepsiCo’s goal to transition 10 million acres globally to regenerative agricultural practices by 2030, reflecting the company’s commitment to enhancing soil health, reducing emissions, promoting biodiversity, and improving livelihoods for farming communities. Unilever is complementing this vision, targeting the rollout of regenerative agriculture principles across one million hectares globally by 2030, leveraging STEP up for Ag to empower farmer-led organizations with the training, tools, and networks necessary to deliver meaningful impact.

Chris Beaudry, a fourth-generation farmer in St. Front, Saskatchewan and member of South East Research Farm, underscored the importance of the initiative: “When you start looking at your soil as having an interdependent relationship with you, you can start making decisions that benefit your crops, your farm, and society as a whole. STEP up for Ag gives farmers the flexibility to adopt practices that work for them and for future generations.”

Through STEP up for Ag, participating corporations and philanthropic partners will provide support to farmer support organizations to enhance their business and strategic planning, expand training and staffing, implement robust measurement and reporting systems, and unlock new revenue streams that strengthen their ability to support farmers over time. As Jim Moseley, former U.S. Deputy Secretary of Agriculture, notes, “Investing in farmer mentorship and peer-to-peer learning is crucial because those who have already adopted new conservation practices understand the long-term consequences for soil, water quality, and biodiversity.”

The initiative brings together a multi-tiered partnership model. Lead partners, including PepsiCo and Unilever, commit to funding and collaborating with specific farmer-facing organizations to accelerate adoption of regenerative agriculture practices. Contributing partners support existing or emerging organizations, while philanthropic partners, including The Platform for Agriculture and Climate Transformation (PACT) and the PepsiCo Foundation, provide catalytic funding and strategic insight. Phase I of the initiative engages farmer-facing support partners such as South East Research Farm in Canada, Practical Farmers of Iowa across the U.S., and FarmAdvisor in Indiana, pairing experienced conservation farmers with peers to accelerate adoption of soil health practices through mentorship and hands-on guidance.

Sarah Carlson, Senior Programs and Member Engagement Director at Practical Farmers of Iowa, emphasized the transformative impact of the initiative: “Having major names invest in our capacity at a pivotal moment enabled us to expand our reach, deliver timely technical and financial support, and empower more farmers to adopt regenerative practices.”

STEP up for Ag is not limited to North America. The initiative has launched its first European pilot in Spain with the farmer-led cooperative Garlan, supported by the Earthworm Foundation. Over the coming year, Garlan will design and implement its own regenerative agriculture program, offering farmers high-quality guidance on crop rotation and whole-farm approaches, while mobilizing other stakeholders in the landscape. Bastien Sachet, CEO of Earthworm Foundation, explained, “By working hand in hand with PepsiCo and receiving support from STEP up for Ag, we are co-designing a strong ecosystem around farmers that makes regenerative practices practical, profitable, and scalable.”

The program also builds on prior engagement in Türkiye, where regional workshops convened farmer support organizations, corporate partners, and NGOs to explore localized pathways for regenerative adoption. With ongoing expansion across Europe and other global landscapes, STEP up for Ag is establishing a shared ecosystem of support, fostering long-term, scalable change in agricultural systems worldwide.

Through this unprecedented collaboration, PepsiCo, Unilever, and their partners are demonstrating that systemic transformation in agriculture requires collective action. By equipping local organizations and fostering trusted, farmer-led networks, STEP up for Ag aims to create a ripple effect of innovation, resilience, and sustainability that will strengthen food systems, enhance livelihoods, and drive meaningful change on a global scale.