Plano-based PepsiCo Foods North America today announced a new program called Planting Pathways Initiative that it said will chart an industry-leading and transformative course for expanding agricultural opportunities for young people and people from varied backgrounds to enter the agriculture sector.
The company cited recent USDA Census of Agriculture data that shows that farmers under the age of 35 make up just 9% of the U.S. farming industry—a driving reason for the initiative’s launch.
The Planting Pathways Initiative will begin with pilot programs that drive sustainable, systemic industry change with the goal of creating more opportunities in agriculture, PepsiCo said.
“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,” Margaret Henry, VP of sustainable & regenerative agriculture at PepsiCo, said in a statement. “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.”
The company said that long-term partnerships with nonprofit leaders in the agriculture industry underpin its program, with a shared commitment to making measurable progress toward achieving equitable access across the agricultural supply chain.
“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,” Henry said.
The company said partnerships include:
- Multiyear partnership with Practical Farmers of Iowa (PFI) to provide opportunities for underrepresented and beginning farmers to enter and thrive in the agriculture industry. PepsiCo Foods North America will work with PFI to equip farmers with strong business plans, coaching and capital, robust networks and training opportunities.
- Partnership with the Farm Foundation to create career opportunities within the PepsiCo Foods North America supply chain and the agriculture industry at large. The investment will develop a two-year cohort program, Field to Future, that enables college students to receive career development support in the agricultural sector, including conference attendance, mentorships, scholarships provided by The PepsiCo Foundation and more. It will also allow select individuals to participate in a two-year paid internship within PepsiCo.
Growing opportunities in agriculture
The company said its investment and focus on these partnerships are aimed at addressing widespread global food system challenges by bringing fresh perspectives, innovation, and energy into the agriculture industry.
PepsiCo Foods said that all its products are “born in the field”—starting as potatoes, corn, or oats—and the company is committed to cultivating “a robust agricultural supply chain from the seed to the shelf.”
“We’re grateful to partner with PepsiCo Foods North America on this initiative to enable underrepresented farmers to start and maintain a thriving farm business,” Sally Worley, executive director of Practical Farmers of Iowa, said in a statement. “PepsiCo’s Planting Pathways Initiative has the potential to provide opportunities for more people to succeed in farming.”
Pepsico said that the Field to Future cohort program, in partnership with the Farm Foundation, is a critical component of the Planting Pathways Initiative.
“Field to Future will foster future leaders in the food and agriculture industries,” Shari Rogge-Fidler, president and CEO of Farm Foundation, said in a statement. “Pairing PepsiCo Foods’ commitment with Farm Foundation’s network of food and agriculture experts creates opportunities that will shape these industries for years to come.”
Aiming for positive impacts on the planet and people
PepsiCo launched PepsiCo Positive (pep+) in 2021, the end-to-end transformation of its business to drive positive impact for both the planet and people.
This announcement directly supports the pep+ Positive Agriculture agenda that seeks to create a more resilient and inclusive food system by directly supporting farmers, securing a steady supply of key ingredients, and improving social outcomes for all people throughout the supply chain, the company said.
PepsiCo generated more than $91 billion in net revenue in 2023, driven by a complementary beverage and convenient foods portfolio that includes Lay’s, Doritos, Cheetos, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Mountain Dew, Quaker, and SodaStream.
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