Unilever: Regenerative Agriculture for Iowan Soybean Farmers

Unilever ranks among the globe's top suppliers of wellbeing, food and personal care products, employing over 128,000 people across the world.

The company has made a commitment to advancing regenerative agriculture methods, offering funding, educational programmes and resources to farmers seeking to reduce their environmental impact.

Following the introduction of its STEP Up for Agriculture programme in partnership with PepsiCo and additional companies, Unilever is expanding its assistance to American farmers.

Backing Iowa's farming community

Unilever is expanding its regenerative agriculture initiative in Iowa, US, assisting regional soybean producers.

The business has collaborated with regional organisations such as Practical Farmers of Iowa for several years, delivering funding and educational support to enable farmers to embrace regenerative methods.

The company assists farmers in implementing techniques that rebuild soil health, promote biodiversity and support rural communities.

Its partnership with regional groups has already enabled Iowa farmers to expand cover cropping, conservation tillage and additional sustainable farming approaches.

Via its STEP Up for Agriculture initiative, the company is collaborating with Iowa farmers who cultivate soybeans for Hellmann's mayonnaise.

This collaboration started in 2018, when Unilever made an investment in Practical Farmers of Iowa to deliver science-based guidance and farming networks built on trust.

Unilever's Iowa initiative has expanded to become the business's most extensive regenerative agriculture project globally, delivering regional farmers with training, funding and technical support.

The scheme now assists over 900 farmers managing 185,000 acres of agricultural land.

Kristina Friedman, Head of Sustainability for Unilever North America, says: "Regenerative agriculture is a big part of how we're building a stronger, more resilient supply chain and food system.

"STEP Up for Ag can help us move faster and smarter, empowering farmer-led groups with the tools they need and opening doors to more great partners that can grow our business.

"Our longstanding work with Practical Farmers of Iowa has been game-changing and this next chapter is a huge step forward."

Understanding the step up for agriculture programme

In September 2025, PepsiCo, Unilever and additional leading retail and food and beverage businesses combined forces to introduce the STEP Up for Agriculture initiative.

STEP Up for Ag represents a pioneering collaboration designed to expand regenerative agriculture through farmer support.

The programme backs PepsiCo's objective of converting 10 million acres of agricultural land to regenerative agriculture methods by 2030.

STEP Up for Ag bolsters regional organisations by equipping them with tools, training and resources required to assist farmers, speeding up the uptake of regenerative, restorative or protective methods.

Converting farms to more sustainable operations demands collaboration from every company and organisation participating.

The programme is creating a collective ecosystem of support designed to empower farmers and catalyse transformation in the industry.

Throughout the coming two years, STEP Up for Ag will enable peer learning, conduct in-person workshops and create shared tools and resources.

Jim Andrew, Chief Sustainability Officer at PepsiCo, says: "PepsiCo is rooted in agriculture, and farmers are at the heart of our food systems.

"STEP Up for Ag is about investing in the organisations that support farmers every day, aiming to ensure they can grow, innovate and lead the transition to more sustainable agriculture.

"When farmers thrive, we all thrive."