Mondelēz, Unilever, FrieslandCampina and others commit to regenerative agriculture acceleration

Regenerative agriculture commitment overview: what 40 food companies pledged

• Forty food companies commit to accelerate regenerative agriculture across supply chains
• Declaration supports SAI Regenerating Programme aligning measurement implementation and farmer adoption
• Programme sets indicators outcomes and targets improving soil water biodiversity resilience
• Consumer demand remains mixed as inflation prioritises affordability over sustainability concerns
• Framing benefits around soil health and nutrition may increase consumer interest

Forty of the world’s leading food companies have committed to accelerating regenerative agriculture across their supply chains.

Companies including Mondelēz International, ADM, Unilever and FrieslandCampina have signed a joint declaration pledging to boost regenerative methods in food production.

Specifically, the declaration is in support of the Regenerating Together Programme by the Sustainable Agriculture Initiative (SAI). By signing it, these major companies have aligned themselves on measurement, implementation, and farmer adoption.

What have food companies pledged to do?

Major food companies have pledged to support SAI’s Regenerating Together Programme, which provides a framework for regenerative agriculture.

Regenerative agriculture has no universally accepted definition, but the collaboration between major food companies on such a programme brings large sections of industry into alignment.

The programme establishes a set of indicators, outcomes and impact areas, which industry will now share by aligning with it.

It aims to improve soil health, water stewardship, climate resilience and biodiversity.

However, it remains flexible to take into account local contexts, according to SAI. The programme supports the development of context-specific roadmaps for implementation.

“Securing this level of support is a pivotal moment in moving regenerative agriculture from ambition to action. The breadth and calibre of signatories is a clear signal that the industry is ready to leave fragmented approaches behind and work together towards meaningful change”, says Dionys Forster, director general at SAI Platform.

The Regenerating Together Programme will launch next month.

Are consumers ready for regenerative agriculture?

The increasing commitment of industry itself to regenerative agriculture poses a crucial question – how ready are consumers themselves?

Many consumers simply do not care about sustainability, according to Dr Robert Gerlach, CEO of ag-tech start-up Klim. With inflation limiting their product choices, they are more focused on affordability This has meant that their interest in regenerative agriculture is limited as well.

However, this doesn’t mean that consumers are dead set against it. Reframing regenerative agriculture around soil health and nutrient availability is likely to improve consumer interest, suggests Nigel Murray, CEO of UK supermarket retailer Booths. Higher soil quality means more nutrient-dense foods, and of course, consumers want to be healthy.

Awareness of regen ag has grown over the years, and it is becoming more salient. According to Google Trends, searches for the term saw a significant uptick after July 2025.

Industry is making a big commitment to regenerative agriculture. While it may seem distant for many consumers, it is certainly not entirely remote from their concerns. It just depends on framing.