agribusinessreview.comDECEMBER 20248 opinionIN MYBy Michelle French, Senior Director of Global Sustainability Programs, ADMCULTIVATING SUSTAINABILITY: THE VITAL ROLE OF FARMERS IN REGENERATIVE AGRICULTUREAs one of the world's largest agricultural supply chain managers and processors, ADM recognizes our role within the global food system. With that comes an opportunity to protect our planet. ADM has committed to direct actions that enhance the sustainability of the supply chains in which we operate. A foundational aspect of this work is regenerative agriculture, which can increase the sustainability and resilience of our food and agricultural systems. ADM's regenerative agriculture efforts are grounded in five principles: Minimizing soil disturbance; maintaining living roots in soil; continuously covering bare soil; maximizing diversity with an emphasis on crops, soil microbes, and pollinators; and responsibly managing inputs, including nutrients and pesticides. The principles of regenerative agriculture practices as based on Indigenous ways of land management that are adaptive to local physical conditions and culture.ADM is working to implement and scale regenerative agriculture practices, with a goal of reaching 4 million acres by 2025. And it all starts at the ground level, with unparalleled support of the farmers who tend to the land. Listening to farmers and finding what worksADM's regenerative agriculture programs are differentiated by the level of care and attention toward the growers. From working with a network of hundreds of thousands of farmers globally, ADM knows farmers want to do what's right, and that farmers believe in regenerative agriculture practices as a sustainable solution to secure the future of their businesses and our planet. From those conversations, ADM has shaped its regenerative agriculture programs to focus on empowering farmers in the ways that work best for them and their land. The end goal: To ensure the longevity of farms and of the world we share. It all starts with financial incentives for farmers. ADM has established practice-based programs, with rewards of up to $25 per acre for practices such as planting cover crops, double cropping to prevent bare or fallow soil, and implementing no-till or strip till practices. ADM also offers outcomes-based programs that incentivize farmers for results; growers can pick the practices that are most feasible and impactful for their operations, earning rewards for the results of those practices, such as achieving a carbon-intensity score lower than the regional benchmark. Underpinning this all is trust. ADM's 120-plus year history provides farmers with comfort and confidence. Farmers know that ADM will follow through when we say we'll pay and support them for implementing regenerative agriculture practices.How ADM provides holistic support to farmersSuccessful implementation of ADM's programs involves not only flexible financial support, but also ease of entry and technical support. ADM has prioritized the development of a farmer-facing program that is easy to understand and sign up Michelle French
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