BRAZIL- ADM, a global leader in sustainable agriculture supply chains, has announced the launch of its regenerative agriculture program in Brazil to further its commitment to sustainability and food security.
The program, which is set to contribute to soil health, biodiversity protection, and increased farm productivity, aligns with ADM’s goal to have 120,000 regenerative agriculture hectares in Brazil by 2027.
The Brazil program will prioritize three key practices during its initial stages. First, it will emphasize fertilizer use efficiency and the adoption of biological inputs to reduce chemical usage, thereby lowering carbon emissions while improving soil health and productivity.
Secondly, the program will promote no-till farming, providing technical assistance for the refinement and intensification of this widely used practice.
Lastly, covered soil and cover crops will be implemented to enhance soil health, especially during off-season windows, positively impacting water absorption, structure, biodiversity, and fertility.
“We know that customers are looking for lower-carbon intensity products with increased transparency in supply chains, and we’re committed to continuing to expand our efforts to help them meet their sustainability goals and consumer needs,” Luciano Souza, ADM’s grains director for South America, expressed pride in the expansion.
Pilot program for a sustainable future
The regenerative agriculture program in Brazil is set to kick off with a pilot engaging 20 soy farmers across 20,000 hectares in Minas Gerais and Mato Grosso do Sul. This phase will gather crucial information on current practices, and their impacts, and calculate carbon footprints.
Farmers participating in the pilot will receive technical assistance, training sessions, and measurements of soil organic matter and carbon sequestration.
All greenhouse gas emission calculations for the pilot will be facilitated by a calculator developed by Bayer S.A. in partnership with Embrapa, providing regionally specific data on field emissions, land-use change emissions, carbon footprint of inputs, and transportation-related carbon footprint.
“The partnership with ADM promotes an economically attractive model, where industry and producers connect and create solutions that benefit the entire value chain,” Felipe Albuquerque, Carbon’s New Business Development Manager at Bayer, stated, highlighting the collaboration.
The pilot’s primary data collection will provide valuable insights for ADM, Bayer, and other participants into environmental impacts and potential reduction opportunities.
ADM aims to engage 120,000 regenerative agriculture hectares in Brazil by 2027, building on its successful 2022 initiative in the United States, where the company enrolled 1,900 producers, resulting in a significant reduction of 253,000 MT of CO2e and sequestration of 115,500 MT of CO2.
This commitment to regenerative agriculture aligns with ADM’s broader goal of engaging 4 million regenerative agriculture acres globally by 2025.
ADM’s dedication to sustainability will be showcased at COP28 in Dubai, where the company will partner with the World Climate Foundation to discuss cross-sector action and investment in the futureproofing of agriculture and food systems.
ADM will also feature regenerative agriculture on the COP Presidency stage on December 4, further emphasizing its commitment to a sustainable and resilient future.
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