In a bold move to elevate the role of farmers in the food-production value chain, PepsiCo has formally introduced its Global Farmer Initiative, recognising agricultural leadership across sustainability, innovation and global impact.
The first-ever ceremony took place at PepsiCo’s global headquarters in Purchase, New York, bringing together nearly 60 farmers and advisers from 19 countries in a three-day celebration of the men and women powering the world’s food system.
Anchored Around Regenerative Ambition
At the heart of the initiative lies PepsiCo’s “pep+” (PepsiCo Positive) transformation strategy, which has pledged to scale regenerative-agriculture practices across 10 million acres globally by 2030. So far, the company reports progress on 3.5 million acres.
“The business starts with farmers,” said CEO Ramon Laguarta. “They are the heartbeat of our supply chain and the foundation of the global food system.”
Celebrating the Best of the Field
Those honoured spanned six categories: Sustainability; Next-Gen Farming; Leadership & Advisory; Heritage & Growth; Quality; and the top prize – Farmer of the Year.
The inaugural Farmer of the Year accolade went to The Perry Family Farm of Alberta, Canada — a fourth-generation potato farm and long-time supplier to PepsiCo’s Lay’s brand. The farm has built a reputation for regenerative practices and renewable-energy initiatives.
Innovation, Collaboration and Supply-Chain Resilience
Beyond the honours, the event underscored PepsiCo’s investment in digital and training platforms for farmers — including a Climate Resilience Platform that supplies data-driven insights on weather, yield and soil-health — and collaborative efforts like the “STEP Up for Agriculture” initiative.
“With soil degradation and extreme weather threatening the world’s ability to feed a growing population, accelerating regenerative agriculture is essential,” said Chief Sustainability Officer Jim Andrew. “Farmers are at the centre of this transition — they are key to implementing practical, scalable solutions that build resilience across global food systems.”
For those in the agritech space, PepsiCo’s initiative signals more than accolades: it reflects a strategic shift in how major food companies are partnering with primary producers.
The spotlight on farmer-led innovation, combined with digital tools and regenerative-practice targets, suggests the supply-chain frontier isn’t just about efficiency anymore — it’s about resilience, climate adaptation and value-creation upstream.
