World’s leading FMCG companies commit to new global framework for regenerative agriculture practices
27th September 2023
- In an industry-first, SAI Platform’s ‘Regenerating Together’ programme offers a globally aligned definition of regenerative agriculture.
- Over 20 leading FMCG companies and farmer cooperatives have already developed and tested the framework across their global supply chains.
- With over half the world’s agricultural land already degraded, and 70% more food needed by 2050, there is a need to transform agricultural practices to ensure future food security.
- SAI Platform has over 170 members from the food and beverage industry, including Nestle, Danone, Unilever and PepsiCo, who have all committed to the framework.
SAI Platform is thrilled to announce today the launch of the ‘Regenerating Together‘ global framework for regenerative agriculture. Today’s release signifies an important moment for SAI Platform and its’ members and the agri-food industry at large as for the first time, the sector has a globally aligned approach for the transition to regenerative agriculture practices.
SAI Platform member and founding member of the Regenerating Together programme Katharine Teague, Group ESG Director, ABF Sugar commented: “SAI Platform’s Regenerating Together framework is an exciting opportunity to drive outcomes and further build collaboration across the food and agriculture industry to make a more resilient, sustainable food system. We are looking forward to a framework that delivers long-term impacts for our farmers and value chain. By coming together, we can find workable solutions to tackle climate change, biodiversity loss and reducing soil health.”
With climate change set to decrease the productivity of farming globally by up to 30%, we are at a critical moment for the agriculture industry. The Regenerating Together framework and broader programme unite the food and beverage industry to bring about large-scale, long-term systemic change to future-proof global food supply.
Yves Leclerc, Global Director of Agriculture Sustainability, McCain and Steering Committee chair of the Regenerating Together programme added: “We urgently need to transition towards a more regenerative food system – for our people and our planet. As chair of the Regenerating Together Steering Committee, I am delighted that the framework launched today will enable farmers to take action and implement regenerative practices, and crucially support the measurement and verification of progress.”
Commenting on the what this framework signifies on-the-ground Leclerc concluded: “Having piloted the resources with our growers, I see the potential this can have to provide clarity and consistency on what regenerative agriculture means and the outcomes we are looking to achieve. The potential impact is huge and the development of this global framework through cross-industry collaboration is a key step towards scaling the transition to more sustainable farming practices”
The framework sees over 30 agriculture cooperatives, industry giants and the broader 170-strong SAI Platform membership, including Nestlé, Danone, Unilever and PepsiCo commit to a global standard for regenerative agriculture. In collaboration with farmers, academia, NGOs and these businesses, SAI Platform has established an aligned approach to agriculture that aims to mitigate and adapt to the impact of climate change, improve soil health, support biodiversity, retain water in the soil and reduce its consumption while keeping farmers’ business viability central in a just transition approach. SAI Platform’s Regenerating Together programme aims to unite the agriculture industry with a common goal – a resilient and productive food system that will regenerate natural ecosystems and improve the quality of farmers’ livelihoods.
Speaking about the launch of the framework, Eric Soubeiran, Vice-President Business Operations Sustainability, Unilever, said: “SAI Platform’s ‘Regenerating Together’ programme has grown from the industry recognising that we must evolve our approach to sustainable agriculture, to an agreement that we need to drive measurable outcomes to create a resilient food supply chain. As individual organisations, we have set targets to implement regenerative agricultural practices, but this new framework brings leaders together to work towards one common commitment. We believe this framework sets a new standard for regenerative agriculture globally, whilst providing the flexibility that’s needed at farm level.”
SAI Platform’s Regenerating Together framework is designed for practical use at farm-level to drive farmers’ transition to regenerative agriculture. It will allow crops, dairy and beef farmers anywhere in the world to work with supply chain partners to achieve measurable regenerative agriculture outcomes and enables the industry to translate the often-ambiguous concepts of regenerative agriculture into action at farm level. In addition, the framework will be integrated into SAI Platform’s existing industry solutions including the European Roundtable for Beef Sustainability (ERBS), the Farm Sustainability Assessment (FSA) and the Sustainable Dairy Partnership (SDP).
“At SAI Platform we have a proven track record of developing industry initiatives and programmes that continuously improve sustainability and deliver measurable outcomes in the agriculture sector. With our Regenerating Together programme, we are proud to be driving collaboration across the food and beverage industry at what is a critical moment for the sector. Regenerative agriculture is the way forward to ensure productivity and farm ecosystem viability – we must act now and further transition towards farming practices that protect the future of our planet. We look forward to continuing to work with our members and other industry players as we build towards this common goal”
Dionys Forster, Director General, SAI Platform.
Developed in consultation with farmers, academics and NGOs, the framework will assess, monitor and verify farm practices to aid the global transition towards regenerative agriculture. SAI Platform’s Regenerating Together programme identifies four key areas of impact – water, soil, biodiversity and climate – and has devised four clear steps through which to enact the framework: risk screening assessment, outcome selection, the adoption of principles and practices and the monitoring and assessment of progress.
Jo Lawrence, Senior Manager, Agriculture Sustainability Global Concepts, Arla Foods, and founding member of Regenerating Together commented: “Our farmer owners are experts for their farm in many aspects regarding soil, water and biodiversity and many are already practising regenerative farming practices within their individual context. What they need from us and the wider industry to accelerate their efforts is an agreed-upon science-based framework for regenerative farming as a concept and a way to measure the direct impact and that is exactly what the Regenerating Together programme offers. As one of its founding members, we at Arla Foods are excited to drive forward the future of regenerative agriculture.”
Today’s announcement of the Regenerating Together global framework for regenerative agriculture is the result of an extraordinary collaboration across crop, beef and dairy sectors. Furthermore, this is a farm-level framework designed with flexibility and pragmatism to drive the transition to regenerative agriculture and transform to a more sustainable food system.
On the implications of today’s launch, founding member of SAI Platform and the Regenerating Together programme, Antonia Wanner, Group Head of ESG Strategy and Deployment, Nestlé said: “The Regeneration Together Framework is the result of strong collaboration between the food and beverage industry and farmer cooperatives. It delivers clear industry alignment on the definition of regenerative agriculture and its principles, and how to measure its outcomes. In essence, it’s a pragmatic tool that can help farmers transition to regenerative agriculture and will help the industry to scale-up its efforts. We’re pleased to contribute to this Framework alongside other partners and we look forward to continuing to work with SAI Platform and its members as we look to build more resilient agricultural systems over the long-term.”