General Mills commits to regenerative ag practices goal

Company targeting 1 million acres by 2030

General Mills, Inc. announced today it plans to partner with organic and conventional farmers, supply chain partners and agricultural organizations to advance “regenerative agricultural practices” with the goal of having 1 million acres under the holistic approach to farming by 2030.

Regenerative agriculture farming methods are aimed at protecting and enhancing natural resources, soil health and productivity, and farming communities. Increasing crop diversity and adopting soil health production practices that focus on taking carbon from the air and storing it in the soil to improve climate change are important goals.

General Mills indicated it will partner with suppliers to increase adoption of key ingredients and crops, including oats, wheat, corn, dairy feed and sugar beets – all important crops for the company’s food products.

“As part of the food industry, we recognize that agriculture contributes to some of our most pressing sustainability challenges, and we believe that the most promising solutions start with healthy soil. We are on a journey to bring soil back to life through regenerative agriculture practices, which protect and intentionally enhance natural resources and farming communities. We believe that to generate positive impact at scale, all types of agriculture—organic and conventional—should be part of the conversation,” the company says.

Click here for more background on General Mills’ initiative.

Since 2015, General Mills has invested more than $4 million to advance soil health initiatives. Among its efforts General Mills is working with Gunsmoke Farms LLC to convert 34,000 acres of conventional farmland in South Dakota to certified organic acreage, using regenerative agriculture practices. General Mills also has developed The Soil Health Roadmap in partnership with The Nature Conservancy. The roadmap outlines steps to achieve widespread adoption of soil health systems on more than 50% of U.S. cropland by 2025.

For more information, read the World-Grain report here.