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McDonald's USA's $200 Million Commitment to Regenerative Agriculture

In a significant move towards sustainable food sourcing, McDonald's USA has unveiled its largest investment in regenerative agriculture with a stunning $200 million commitment through the Grassland Resilience and Conservation Initiative. This initiative is in collaboration with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), as well as the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and selected suppliers of McDonald's.

For over 70 years, beef has been integral to McDonald's menu and brand identity. This new initiative not only highlights the company's dedication to responsible sourcing but also emphasizes its role in environmental stewardship. McDonald's aims to enhance the health and resilience of ecosystems through improved grazing practices among beef cattle producers across the United States.

Investment in Sustainable Practices

The Grassland Resilience and Conservation Initiative will span four million acres in up to 38 states. It focuses on encouraging ranchers to implement regenerative grazing techniques, restore critical habitats, and conserve precious water resources. The program intends to provide tools and incentives to participating ranchers to enhance wildlife habitats and improve soil health.

Leading suppliers, including Cargill, Golden State Foods, Lopez Foods, OSI, and The Coca-Cola Company, have pledged additional financial support to this cause. The NFWF will award competitive grants aimed at helping ranchers adopt these practices, thereby linking economic benefits with ecological conservation.

As Cesar Piña, Senior Vice President and Chief Supply Chain Officer of North America at McDonald's, stated, "As a brand that serves more than 90% of Americans every year, we recognize the responsibility we have to help safeguard our food systems for long-term vitality." This initiative exemplifies the collaboration needed between public and private sectors to achieve environmental goals while ensuring a stable food supply chain.

Empowering Ranchers

Many ranchers pride themselves on their role as stewards of the land, working diligently to maintain their communities and environmental health. The Grassland Resilience and Conservation Initiative aims to build upon existing best practices at the ranch level, paving the way for ranchers to adopt regenerative grazing methods swiftly.

The NFWF will collaborate with selected partner organizations to offer support that includes improving grazing management, protecting ecosystems, safeguarding water, and upgrading ranch infrastructure. As noted by Jeff Trandahl, Executive Director of NFWF, optimizing ecological and economic values leads to richer grasslands, enhanced water retention, and increased wildlife populations. By voluntarily adopting conservation practices, ranchers stand to boost their ranch productivity and profitability while benefiting rural communities across America.

Long-term Conservation Impact

The NFWF will oversee the conservation funding associated with the initiative, focusing on impactful landscape-scale projects. These projects aim to generate significant benefits for both wildlife and ranch productivity, enhancing the sustainability of the nation's vital ranch lands. Competitive grant-making will begin in January 2026, marking an important step forward in the initiative’s implementation.

Furthermore, McDonald’s is collaborating with Kateri and Carbon Yield to monitor and quantify improvements in soil health resulting from this initiative, ensuring transparency and accountability.

For more details on this groundbreaking initiative, interested parties are encouraged to visit NFWF.org.

About McDonald's USA

McDonald’s USA, LLC, proudly serves a diverse menu crafted from quality ingredients to millions of customers each day. Approximately 95% of the 13,500 McDonald’s restaurants across the U.S. are independently owned and operated. For further information about McDonald's and its initiatives, visit www.mcdonalds.com and follow them on social media platforms including X, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.

About the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation

The NFWF collaborates with various partners to establish impactful conservation solutions that promote the coexistence of people and nature. Since its founding by Congress in 1984, NFWF has become the largest conservation foundation in the U.S., funding thousands of projects aimed at restoring the nation's fish, wildlife, plants, and habitats for future generations.