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National Geographic Society and PepsiCo's Partnership for Regenerative Agriculture Research

In a groundbreaking initiative, the National Geographic Society has partnered with PepsiCo to fund five new grants dedicated to enhancing regenerative agriculture practices around the globe. This collaborative effort aims to support on-farm research focusing on the resilience of critical food crops while addressing the pressing challenges posed by climate change.

The Imperative of Regenerative Agriculture

As the global food system faces unprecedented pressures from climate change, the need for sustainable agricultural practices has never been more urgent. Regenerative agriculture presents a holistic approach that aims not only to yield crops but to restore and enhance the health of our ecosystems. This partnership is designed to provide farmers with evidence-based solutions, ensuring that both the planet and people benefit from sustainable farming practices.

The Selected Research Projects

The grants are allocated to a diverse range of projects focusing on essential food crops such as wheat, maize/corn, potatoes, soy, and coffee. Here’s a glimpse of some notable projects:

1. Investigating Wheat and Maize Practices in Spain
- Lead Researcher: Ahan Dalal
- In Spain's climate-stressed regions, Dalal will collaborate with local farmers to implement regenerative practices including biochar, cover crops, and beneficial microbes under varying watering conditions. The goal is to create a resilience blueprint that farmers can adopt throughout the Mediterranean.

2. Protecting Coffee Futures in Ethiopia
- Lead Researcher: Hewan Degu
- Focusing on Ethiopia, the birthplace of coffee, Degu's project aims to build a microbiological foundation for regenerative intercropping systems involving coffee and potatoes, while simultaneously empowering farmers with knowledge for practical implementation.

3. Enhancing Soil Health in Indonesia
- Lead Researcher: Al Greeny S. Dewayanti
- Dewayanti plans to explore the soil regeneration potential of intercropping sacha inchi, a nutrient-rich plant, in Indonesia’s depleted maize fields. The project will also incorporate modern AI technology to aid farmers in combining indigenous farming wisdom with contemporary practices.

4. Restoring Biodiversity in Wisconsin
- Lead Researcher: Omar de Kok-Mercado
- In southwestern Wisconsin, de Kok-Mercado will work on enhancing biodiversity by creating a native prairie plant corridor across marginal farmlands, merging ecological data with creative storytelling and art to promote large-scale regeneration.

5. Potato Production Resilience Experiment in Wisconsin
- Lead Researcher: Jamie Spychalla
- Spychalla's research focuses on integrating nitrogen-fixing alfalfa as a cover crop within potato production systems to alleviate moisture stress due to climate change, while fostering community engagement throughout the process.

A Larger Vision: Food for Tomorrow Initiative

These research projects fall under the broader umbrella of the Food for Tomorrow initiative, a collaboration designed to leverage science, storytelling, and education for meaningful reform within the global food system. Launched in 2025, this initiative aligns with PepsiCo’s goal of advancing regenerative practices across 10 million acres by 2030. This commitment underscores the importance of supporting farmers—who are the backbone of our food systems—by providing them with practical, science-backed strategies to navigate the challenges of modern agriculture.

As Ian Miller, the Chief Science and Innovation Officer at the National Geographic Society, states, "This work is deeply interconnected with many longstanding issues that we tackle safeguarding, including freshwater and coastal ecosystems, and restoring landscapes that support biodiversity."

Conclusion: The Path Forward

The partnership between the National Geographic Society and PepsiCo exemplifies how collaboration can drive innovation in addressing global food security challenges. By funding these critical research projects, they are not only equipping farmers with necessary tools but are also fostering a sustainable future, vital for both the environment and for human livelihoods. Over the coming months and years, the findings from this research will hopefully provide actionable insights that enable widespread adoption of regenerative practices globally, setting a precedent for future initiatives.

For more details about the initiatives and to follow their journey, connect with @insidenatgeo on social media.