Five new research grants target soil resilience and regenerative practices across major crop systems including wheat, maize, potatoes, soy and coffee.
PepsiCo advances its goal to expand regenerative practices across 10 million acres by 2030, linking corporate supply chains to climate resilience.
On farm trials across the United States, Spain, Ethiopia and Indonesia aim to deliver science based guidance farmers can apply in real conditions.
Global Food Security Meets Climate Risk
The National Geographic Society and PepsiCo have awarded five new research grants to scientists conducting on farm trials designed to strengthen soil resilience and accelerate the adoption of regenerative agriculture in climate stressed food production regions.
The initiative forms part of Food for Tomorrow, a collaboration launched in 2025 that combines science, storytelling and education to drive transformation across the global food system. The newest Explorers were selected from a highly competitive pool of applicants spanning 140 countries and join National Geographic’s global network of researchers, conservationists and educators.
The projects focus on staple and high value crops central to global food security and corporate supply chains. Over the next two years, researchers will test regenerative practices under real world conditions and translate findings into practical guidance farmers can implement.
Linking Soil Health to Climate and Biodiversity Goals
Ian Miller, chief science and innovation officer at the National Geographic Society, emphasized the environmental stakes and the interconnected nature of regenerative farming.
“For over a century, the Society has been funding innovative science to better understand our world. Regenerative agriculture is an exciting new area of focus for us,” he said. “This work is deeply interconnected with many longstanding issues that we tackle: safeguarding freshwater and coastal ecosystems; restoring landscapes to support biodiversity, reduce our carbon footprint, and secure irrecoverable carbon reserves, and more.”
The research underscores growing recognition that soil health sits at the center of climate mitigation, biodiversity protection and water system resilience.
Corporate Supply Chains and Farmer Livelihoods
PepsiCo has positioned regenerative agriculture as a core pillar of its sustainability strategy and recently expanded its target to support regenerative, restorative or protective practices across 10 million acres by 2030.
“The global food system is under increasing pressure from climate change and extreme weather, and meeting this moment requires supporting the people at the heart of it the farmers,” said Jim Andrew, executive vice president and chief sustainability officer at PepsiCo. “Farmers get one chance each season to make a crop succeed. That’s why strong, science backed practices matter. By continuing to demonstrate what works, we can give farmers the confidence that regenerative agriculture not only helps build a more resilient food system but also strengthen their livelihoods.”
For multinational food companies, regenerative practices are increasingly tied to supply chain stability, climate risk mitigation and investor scrutiny around Scope 3 emissions.
RELATED ARTICLE: PepsiCo Doubles Regenerative Farming Footprint to Over 1.8 Million Acres: 2023 PepsiCo ESG Report
Field Research Across Diverse Climate Hotspots
The funded projects span diverse geographies and agricultural challenges:
In southwestern Wisconsin, Omar de Kok Mercado is rebuilding biodiversity corridors through a connected wild grid of native prairie plantings across marginal farmland, combining ecological data with art and storytelling to support landscape scale regeneration.
Potato producing regions in Wisconsin will host Jamie Spychalla’s research on nitrogen fixing alfalfa rotations to reduce moisture stress, regenerate soils and improve yields.
In Spain, Ahan Dalal is testing biochar, cover crops and beneficial microbes under drought and normal irrigation scenarios to develop resilience strategies applicable across Mediterranean farming systems.
In Ethiopia, Hewan Degu is studying regenerative coffee and potato intercropping systems to build a microbial evidence base while working directly with farmers.
On depleted maize fields in Indonesia, Al Greeny S. Dewayanti is testing intercropping with sacha inchi while integrating DNA metabarcoding and an AI powered farmer app that combines indigenous knowledge with modern science.
Science, Storytelling and Adoption Pathways
The five research Explorers join another cohort documenting the human side of agricultural transition. Since mid 2025, storytelling Explorers have conducted fieldwork in 12 countries across 13 crop systems and livestock operations. Their work will culminate in multimedia exhibitions, journalism, community forums and digital campaigns later in 2026.
An interactive data visualization tool is also expected this year, designed to translate research insights into accessible knowledge for farmers, policymakers and supply chain stakeholders.
Why It Matters for Executives and Investors
Regenerative agriculture is moving from pilot projects to operational necessity. Climate volatility is increasing production risk, while regulators and investors are demanding measurable emissions reductions and ecosystem protection. Evidence based farming practices that improve soil carbon, water retention and biodiversity offer both environmental and financial resilience.
By aligning corporate sustainability goals with farmer led solutions and scientific validation, initiatives like Food for Tomorrow illustrate how public interest institutions and multinational companies can collaborate to de risk food systems while advancing global climate objectives.
As climate pressures intensify, scalable regenerative practices may determine not only agricultural productivity but the resilience of global supply chains and the communities that sustain them.
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