PepsiCo & Nat Geographic: Promoting Regenerative Agriculture

PepsiCo has entered into a collaboration with the National Geographic Society to launch the Food for Tomorrow programme, a project designed to promote the use of regenerative agriculture.

The initiative comes as soil degradation becomes an increasing concern for the global food system.

According to the World Economic Forum (WEF), half of the planet's topsoil has been lost in the last 150 years due to soil erosion in agriculture, which has notable effects on compaction, nutrient degradation and soil salinity.

Degraded soil not only makes it more difficult for farmers to grow crops and sustain their livelihoods but also reduces the soil's capacity to capture and store carbon.

The WEF also notes that soil erosion can lead to polluted waterways and a decline in fish populations.

The Food for Tomorrow programme

The Food for Tomorrow programme, according to PepsiCo, focuses on using science, storytelling and education to encourage positive change within the global food system.

The project's central focus is regenerative agriculture, aiming to address the threats of habitat loss and soil degradation.

To achieve this, PepsiCo and the National Geographic Society will develop three short films showing how farmers can adopt regenerative farming practices.

In addition to the films, the programme will create a dynamic data visualisation mapping tool to showcase how this form of agriculture can improve food and farming resilience.

This tool is scheduled for publication on the National Geographic Society website in 2026.

A further component of the project is the 'Building Resilience in Agriculture' fund, which will award five scientific grants to innovative, nature-positive proposals that apply science in real-world contexts to scale regenerative agriculture practices globally.

“Our future will be shaped by how we grow our food today — and we’re reimagining what’s possible when that system nourishes both people and the planet,” explained Jill Tiefenthaler, Chief Executive Officer of the National Geographic Society.

“In collaboration with PepsiCo, we’re investing in solutions and the farmers, scientists and storytellers leading this essential work. We’re proud to fuel a global movement, rooted in science and hope, to help build a thriving future for generations to come.”

Understanding regenerative agriculture

The National Geographic Society reports that regenerative agriculture includes a set of practices used by farmers to prioritise soil health, enhance biodiversity and improve watershed health. The approach often combines long-standing traditional knowledge with modern technology and scientific innovation.

These techniques are varied and focus on restoring the natural balance of the farm's ecosystem.

Key regenerative agriculture techniques include:

• the use of cover crops to ensure soil is not left bare, minimising soil disturbance.
• intercropping, which involves planting different types of mutually beneficial crops in the same field.
• reducing the dependency on chemical fertilisers by using compost.
• implementing efficient water usage.
• moving grazing livestock between different pastures.
• employing a range of agroforestry approaches.

The primary goal of regenerative agriculture is to make farms more resilient to the effects of climate change.

PepsiCo’s agricultural agenda

This collaboration is part of PepsiCo's wider Positive Agriculture agenda, through which PepsiCo encourages the adoption of regenerative and restorative practices that can be scaled.

PepsiCo states it aims to use a shared value approach that involves understanding risks to ecosystems and communities while bringing together customers, suppliers, financial institutions, the insurance sector and governments.

PepsiCo aims to spread the adoption of regenerative agriculture across 10 million acres of land by 2030, supporting its key crops and ingredients.

PepsiCo believes these practices will be key in meeting the world's increasing nutritional demands while addressing critical risks such as water scarcity, soil degradation and biodiversity loss.

Ramon Laguarta, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer at PepsiCo says: “Climate change is putting pressure on the global food system, and farmers feel it every day.

As a company rooted in agriculture, we know just how fragile — and vital — that system is. But there are solutions that can help make businesses and farmers more resilient.

Food for Tomorrow combines PepsiCo’s deep food system expertise with National Geographic’s power to advance science and inspire action.

Together, we’re aiming to support farmers, protect the planet and help build a stronger, more resilient future for all.”