Whether working to boost sustainable farming in Brazil or decarbonizing crop production in Europe, PepsiCo starts these regenerative agriculture projects at the same point — by first understanding farmers’ concerns and what they need to thrive in today’s volatile market.
PepsiCo works with farmers to understand their specific needs in their local environment, whether it’s sourcing biological inputs or compost, Margaret Henry, VP of sustainable and regenerative agriculture for PepsiCo, told AgTechNavigator during an interview at the 2026 edition of World Agri-Tech San Francisco.
The CPG giant is leveraging technology to help farmers work more efficiently, whether it is through variable-rate or precision ag technologies, Henry noted. PepsiCo invested in AI capabilities, including an AI advisory system, providing agronomic advice to farmers cheaply, she added.
“We started [by] talking to the farmers about what keeps them up at night. A couple of things are trending. … It is a very hard time to farm. Input costs are only going up. Market volatility is extraordinarily challenging. There are a lot of headwinds,” Henry elaborated.
However, regen ag does not need to be difficult, Henry noted.
“It’s not actually rocket science, and [regen ag is] not a new shiny thing that’s going to go away, which means it’s okay that it’s not hot and exciting for ventures to invest in. I want this to be from the ground up. Farmers making decisions about what’s regen ag and what matters to them,” she added.
The link between MAHA and regen ag
At World Agri-Tech, Henry joined a panel of her peers to discuss the intersection of regen ag and health policy, including how the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement is influencing regulations.
MAHA might be a newer political movement, but the idea of promoting sustainable farming and educating consumers on food production has been gathering bipartisan support over the years across administrations, Henry pointed out.
“What I call regenerative agriculture, what a farmer calls... common sense farming, what the administration may call different things in different administrations, it is, at its heart, food security,” she elaborated. “The Make America Healthy [Again] movement and regenerative agriculture are very well aligned, and it’s been really interesting to see that bipartisan support.”
