The Projects Behind Nat Geo & PepsiCo's Regen Partnership

The National Geographic Society and PepsiCo have unveiled five new research grants aimed at accelerating practical progress in regenerative agriculture — from rewilding farmland to applying artificial intelligence that translates complex genomics into actionable insights for growers.

These projects, part of the Food for Tomorrow programme, mark a powerful fusion of science and storytelling dedicated to strengthening the long-term health of global food systems. The initiative, launched in 2025, is a partnership between the National Geographic Society and PepsiCo supporting cutting-edge research, visual media, and education focused on regenerative agriculture.

“The global food system is under increasing pressure from climate change and extreme weather, and meeting this moment requires supporting the people at the heart of it — the farmers,” says Jim Andrew, Chief Sustainability Officer at PepsiCo.

“Farmers get one chance each season to make a crop succeed. That’s why strong, science-backed practices matter. By continuing to demonstrate what works, we can give farmers the confidence that regenerative agriculture not only helps build a more resilient food system but also strengthen their livelihoods.”

What are the projects?

Chosen from more than 140 proposals worldwide, five scientists join the wider community of National Geographic Explorers — individuals working at the forefront of conservation, climate science, and cultural understanding. Over the next two years, they will advance regenerative practices for climate-stressed crops such as wheat, maize, soy, potato, and coffee across environments ranging from the US Midwest to Indonesia’s tropical farmland.

In southwestern Wisconsin, researcher Omar de Kok-Mercado is restoring native prairie ecosystems on maize, soy, and wheat farms through a connected “wild grid” of biodiverse corridors. His work blends ecological science with creative storytelling to reveal how rewilding marginal lands can rebuild soil health, biodiversity, and resilience.

Also in Wisconsin — the potato heartland of the US — Jamie Spychalla is testing the benefits of integrating nitrogen-fixing alfalfa as a rotational, harvestable cover crop. Her study explores how this regenerative approach can mitigate climate impacts, enhance soil structure, and boost yields while uniting local growers through shared learning.

In drought-prone Spain, Ahan Dalal is collaborating with wheat and maize farmers to test locally tailored methods such as biochar application, cover cropping, and beneficial microbial treatments. His goal is to create a science-based framework that helps Mediterranean farmers adapt to increasing climate uncertainty.

Across Ethiopia’s highlands, the birthplace of coffee, Hewan Degu is exploring how intercropping coffee with potatoes can enhance soil microbiomes and safeguard coffee production amid changing weather. Her study directly engages smallholder farmers, translating research insights into locally relevant guidance for regenerative practice.

On Indonesia’s degraded maize lands, Al Greeny S. Dewayanti is introducing sacha inchi — an omega-3-rich vine — as an intercrop to regenerate soil. Her project merges traditional agricultural wisdom with modern tools such as DNA metabarcoding and an emerging AI-powered advisory app for farmers.

Regenerative agriculture storytelling

These five scientists join another group of Food for Tomorrow Explorers focused on storytelling — photographers, filmmakers, and journalists capturing real-world transitions to regenerative farming across more than a dozen countries. Their collective work will culminate later in 2026 through interactive exhibitions, visual features, and digital campaigns spotlighting global agricultural transformation.

​​​​​​​Together, these efforts illustrate a critical shift in how science, corporate sustainability, and storytelling can align to build resilience within food systems. PepsiCo, which aims to promote regenerative methods across 10 million acres globally by 2030, continues to see collaboration as essential to driving lasting impact for both the environment and farming communities.

“For over a century, the Society has been funding innovative science to better understand our world. Regenerative agriculture is an exciting new area of focus for us,” says Ian Miller, Chief Science and Innovation Officer at the National Geographic Society.

“This work is deeply interconnected with many longstanding issues that we tackle: safeguarding freshwater and coastal ecosystems; restoring landscapes to support biodiversity, reduce our carbon footprint, and secure irrecoverable carbon reserves and more.”