The initiative includes industry-first pilot programs to build a more sustainable and equitable food system
PepsiCo Foods North America announced its Planting Pathways Initiative, charting an industry-leading and transformative course for expanding agricultural opportunities. Recent USDA Census of Agriculture data shows that farmers under the age of 35 make up just 9 per cent of the U.S. farming industry. The initiative aims to provide opportunities for young people and people from various backgrounds to enter the agriculture sector.
The Planting Pathways Initiative will begin with pilot programs that drive sustainable, systemic industry change. Long-term partnerships with nonprofit leaders in the agriculture industry underpin the program, with a shared commitment to making measurable progress toward achieving equitable access across the agricultural supply chain.
“I was born on a farm and am proud to work for PepsiCo, a company rooted in agriculture. I have immense respect for the growers and producers that form the backbone of our country. PepsiCo has a business stake and responsibility to help grow a resilient and impactful supply chain from the seeds in the field to the products on the shelf to the many people at home enjoying our products,” said Margaret Henry, Vice President, of Sustainable & Regenerative Agriculture at PepsiCo. “Providing access to food and building leaders for tomorrow are at the heart of our business at PepsiCo. I’m proud these partnerships reinforce our commitment to innovation in agriculture.”