New program supports farmers to adopt soil friendly practices across regions
ADM has partnered with Hill's Pet Nutrition Inc., a global leader in science-based pet food, to expand regenerative agriculture practices across farms in the United States and Europe. The program focuses on improving sustainability in the production of crops used in pet food.
The multi-year initiative will cover about 16,000 acres of corn and soybean farmland in Illinois and Minnesota. In addition, around 2,500 acres of soybean fields in Hungary will be included as part of a pilot program planned for 2025. Hungary plays an important role in ADM’s soybean sourcing, supplying crops to its processing facilities in Europe.
The partnership aims to improve soil health, reduce carbon emissions, control soil erosion, enhance water quality, and increase biodiversity. These improvements are expected to strengthen farm resilience and long-term productivity.
Farmers who participate in the program will receive financial support for adopting regenerative practices such as planting cover crops, improving fertilizer use, and using companion cropping methods. These payments are linked to measurable environmental outcomes, helping farmers offset costs while achieving sustainability goals.
ADM will also provide technical support through its network of partners. Farmers will receive education, access to peer networks, and assistance with data tracking and field monitoring. This will help measure both environmental and economic benefits.
"Farmers are at the heart of our pet food system, and this partnership enables us to support regenerative agriculture while sourcing high-quality ingredients grown with care for the land," said Greg Morris, ADM senior vice president and president, Ag Services & Oilseeds.
"By joining forces with Hill's Pet Nutrition, we're helping meet a growing demand from conscientious pet parents for sustainably sourced ingredients while making a meaningful difference in their communities, from farm field to pet food bowl," said Morris.
"At Hill's, our commitment to science-led nutrition starts long before a pet's meal is prepared -- it begins in the soil where our ingredients are grown," said Dave Baloga, executive vice president of Hill's Science & Technology.
"Because grains like corn and soy are foundational to our recipes, partnering with ADM to support regenerative farming is a natural extension of our purpose of reimagining a resilient future for all people, their pets and our planet. By investing in the health of the land, we are safeguarding the future of agriculture and the high-quality ingredients that pet parents trust us to provide for generations of pets to come," said Baloga.
Overall, the collaboration aims to meet rising demand for responsibly sourced products.
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