Corporate strategies for scaling regeneration
RTRS International Conference 2024 | Session 4
The discussion highlighted the corporate strategies necessary to scale regenerative agriculture. Leaders from Bayer, Koppert, Unilever, and Bunge emphasized the critical role of collaboration, innovation, and financial incentives in supporting farmers’ transition to regenerative practices.
Session 4 “Regenerative agriculture: corporate action”, shifted focus to the corporate strategies needed to support and scale regenerative agriculture. Moderated by Round Table on Responsible Soy (RTRS) President Lieven Callewaert, the session featured leaders from Bayer, Koppert, Unilever, and Bunge.
Michel Santos of Bunge opened up the session as one of the Conference’s Gold sponsors. “It’s time to work together and change the tone and action across the sector,” he stated. “It’s time to build resilience as we face the impacts of climate change, to decrease food waste by improving productivity and sustainability, and to recognize the essential role of farmers in providing environmental services and fostering a low-carbon economy.”
Santos also shared insights about Bunge’s commitments, showcasing their progress in regenerative agriculture. “We are now expanding our regenerative agriculture program in Brazil and are proud to invest over $20 million by 2026 to reach 600,000 hectares,” he explained.
Following Santos, Gerhard Adam, Global Food Value Chain Partnership Lead at Bayer, took the stage as the session’s firestarter, highlighting the company’s commitment to regenerative agriculture. Bayer’s strategy includes investing in precision breeding, gene editing, and digital farming to support farmers in transitioning to more sustainable practices.
“We need to view the farm as a whole biological system,” Adam stated, emphasizing the need for a holistic approach to agriculture. He also stressed the critical role of collaboration across the value chain to achieve scalable impact. “To scale up this ambition, we cannot do it alone. We need to work together with farmers and the entire value chain,” he explained.
Adam also touched upon Bayer’s goals to significantly increase agricultural productivity while reducing environmental impacts. “Our mission is to help farmers increase their yields and quality by 50% by 2050, while also addressing greenhouse gas emissions and environmental responsibility,” he added. He further clarified that Bayer’s sustainability commitments extend beyond their own supply chain to include downstream impacts, ensuring that their products contribute to reducing environmental impact across the entire value chain.
Bayer is investing in various innovative solutions, including biological alternatives, cover crops, and crop protection technologies to support farmers. Additionally, they are increasing the use of digital farming to provide precision applications and sustainable solutions that help farmers reduce energy consumption while improving environmental outcomes.
“Innovation and technology are key to driving the change we need,” Adam concluded, stressing the need for continued partnership and collective action to drive sustainability in the agricultural sector. “We are committed to this journey, but we need your help to make it successful.”
Gustavo Ranzani Herrmann, Commercial Director South America at Koppert, presented innovations in biological crop protection, emphasizing the growing importance of sustainable practices in agriculture. He highlighted how Koppert’s biocontrol solutions, which use living organisms to combat pests and diseases, offer a sustainable alternative to chemical inputs. “It is now possible for growers to achieve this transition while bringing costs down and yields up,” Herrmann stated.
He acknowledged RTRS for fostering collaboration across the value chain and called the shift toward regenerative agriculture “unstoppable.” Ranzani explained that while 90% of the soybean market is still reliant on chemical solutions, the trend toward biological alternatives is rapidly gaining ground, especially in South America. “This shift toward sustainable and responsible agriculture is critical for the future,” he added.
Additionally, Ranzani emphasized Koppert’s commitment to increasing the use of biological alternatives in agriculture, which support farmers in their transition to regenerative practices. “We are working to support farmers with technologies that provide stability and sustainability in their operations,” Ranzani said. He stressed that this transformation cannot be achieved alone: “We need the collaboration of farmers, the value chain, and organizations like RTRS to drive this change.”
Michel Santos focused on the critical role of farmers in the regenerative transition. “Farmers are the businessmen with the highest risk, as there is so much they cannot control in the environment,” Santos said. He emphasised the need to provide farmers with clear economic incentives and a return on their investment to encourage the adoption of regenerative practices.
“We have to transform the language,” Santos argued. “It’s not just about what to do and when but also about providing economic advice and showing what’s possible within the business context.”
Santos also highlighted the importance of fostering a new relationship with farmers: “This is the time to be net positive, to understand the value of biodiversity, and to view farmers not only as producers of food and energy but as key providers of environmental services that drive sustainable development for all societies.”
For Raquel Bianchi, Vegetable Oils Procurement Manager at Unilever, foremost in her mind is the company’s goal of transitioning one million hectares to regenerative agriculture by 2030. She called for greater collaboration across the value chain, including partnerships with suppliers, industry peers, and government institutions.
“We do believe that we can make a bigger impact. I’ve heard a lot today about collaboration – and this is crucial. We’ve been collaborating with our suppliers but we can go further. There are other industry players we would be happy to collaborate with, and also with governmental institutions.”
“We aim to reach one million hectares of regenerative agriculture practice by 2030. This helps us focus on the transition we need to bring about at Unilever.”
“The time for pilots has passed,” Bianchi declared. “Now is the time to scale up and achieve real and lasting change.”
Barriers and opportunities
The discussions throughout the afternoon identified both barriers and opportunities for scaling regenerative agriculture. One recurring challenge was the complexity of implementing regenerative practices across diverse farming systems and regions. “There are so many definitions and practices around different farms,” Adam noted. “We have to harmonise standards and support farmers across the whole journey.”
Another key theme was the need for economic incentives. As Santos pointed out, farmers need a clear business case to justify the transition. “We believe the farmer will get a return, but they need the investment,” he said. Bianchi echoed this sentiment, calling for financial support to bridge the gap between current practices and regenerative goals.
The RTRS 2024 International Conference highlighted the organisation’s pivotal role in driving the regenerative transition. By evolving its certification standards to include regenerative practices, RTRS can help create a profitable pathway for farmers while ensuring environmental benefits. This aligns with the broader goal of positioning soy as a global leader in sustainable agriculture.
As the conference session concluded, one message was clear: the soy sector has a unique opportunity to lead the way in regenerative agriculture. By embracing collaboration, innovation, and economic incentives, the industry can not only address the environmental challenges of today but also set the standard for sustainable and regenerative farming practices worldwide.
