The Soil and Water Outcomes Fund, a leading agricultural ecosystem services program, today announced that McCormick & Company, a global leader in flavor, has joined its Midwest Climate-Smart Commodity Program. In collaboration with PepsiCo, a global leader in food and beverage, the organizations will provide greater financial and technical support to farmers enrolled in the Midwest Climate-Smart Commodity Program helping to drive adoption of voluntary, regenerative agriculture practices.
The Midwest Climate-Smart Commodity Program is administered by the Soil and Water Outcomes Fund (SWOF) and was created in 2023 with a $95 million grant awarded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities, and $62 million in corporate commitments from companies like PepsiCo. Farmers enrolled in the program, who span 12 states across the Midwest and Plains regions, have opted to implement conservation practices such as reduced tillage, cover crops, extended crop rotations, and fertilization management to help improve soil health, water quality, reduce erosion, and more.
“We are excited to welcome McCormick to our climate-smart project,” said Dan Yeoman, co-managing director of the Soil and Water Outcomes Fund. “With the continued support of PepsiCo and the addition of McCormick, these strategic collaborations within the supply chain are expanding our ability to drive meaningful environmental outcomes while providing the tools and resources farmers need. Together, we are making significant strides in building a more sustainable and resilient food system despite a changing climate.”
The Soil and Water Outcomes Fund continues to grow its opportunities for farmers and environmental impact through strategic supply chain partnerships. As a part of the Midwest Climate Smart Commodity Program, McCormick and PepsiCo are working together to support more farmers as they transition to regenerative agricultural practices. Together, the organizations aim to incentivize positive environmental outcomes on more than 90,000 acres of agricultural land within their shared supply shed states of Minnesota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and parts of northern Iowa. Corporate commitments such as these can help mitigate the risks and costs farmers face when adopting more sustainable practices. This effort is estimated to generate approximately 62,000 MT of CO2e abatement in the supply chain, in addition to other positive environmental outcomes in water and soil health.
“At McCormick, we understand the critical value of partnering with stakeholders across our supply chain to deliver a stronger impact which is why we are excited to join forces with the Soil and Water Outcomes Fund to advance our shared goals around climate change,” said Donald Pratt, Chief Procurement Officer at McCormick & Company. “Participation in this program alongside PepsiCo underscores our commitment to sustainable sourcing and farmer resiliency, and highlights our work to partner with suppliers and farmers to improve practices across our supply chain that benefit people, communities, and the planet.”
“As one company, we cannot drive systemic change alone. At PepsiCo, we seek to foster strategic partnerships and opportunities for collaboration to help drive more positive outcomes for farmers. We’re looking forward to continuing our role in the Midwest Climate-Smart Commodity Program, and aim to extend its impact by working alongside McCormick to offer the support and resources farming communities need to embrace and implement regenerative farming across more acres this year, and for years to come,” said Margaret Henry, Vice President, Sustainable Agriculture, PepsiCo.
Building on the success of Midwest Climate-Smart Commodity Program and other efforts, the Soil and Water Outcomes Fund has enrolled over 750,000 acres across 17 states in 2024, resulting in more than $25 million in payments to participating farmers during its fifth enrollment season. A map of eligible cropland areas is available by visiting www.theoutcomesfund.com. Farmers or landowners interested in enrolling in the program can learn more by contacting SWOF at contactus@theoutcomesfund.com.
