Campbell’s has launched a pilot project with Ahold Delhaize to implement regenerative agriculture practices for potato farming, marking a significant step in the company’s commitment to sustainability. The collaboration will support potato farmers in North Carolina, New York, and Michigan as they adopt practices aimed at improving soil health and reducing carbon emissions. The harvested potatoes will be used to produce Campbell’s soups and popular snack brands such as Kettle Brand chips and Cape Cod chips, which will be sold in Ahold Delhaize’s U.S. stores.
This initiative is part of a broader trend where major food companies, including Campbell’s, are increasingly focused on regenerative agriculture, which emphasizes practices that restore and maintain soil health, reduce carbon emissions, and enhance biodiversity. Regenerative agriculture also seeks to improve the overall resilience of agricultural systems. Campbell’s collaboration with Ahold Delhaize represents an expansion of the company’s efforts to incorporate these sustainable practices into its supply chain, specifically targeting the potato supply that supports its soup and snack products.
The pilot program will be implemented across 1,000 acres of land, with each of the participating farms working to improve nutrient management through practices such as cover cropping, compost application, and the conversion of farm equipment to renewable energy sources. These practices are intended to create a more sustainable and environmentally friendly farming system, benefiting both the land and the farmers involved. By focusing on potatoes, this pilot marks a unique approach, as previous regenerative agriculture efforts by Ahold Delhaize centered on wheat.
Campbell’s Chief Sustainability Officer emphasized the importance of such collaborations in helping connect consumers to the farmers who grow the ingredients used in their products. The company aims to actively measure and improve sustainability and regenerative practices within its supply chain. This partnership is also part of Ahold Delhaize’s ongoing efforts to accelerate the adoption of regenerative agriculture across its food supply chains. Earlier this year, Ahold Delhaize entered into similar partnerships with other major food brands like Kellanova and General Mills, focusing on different crops.
The pilot will also serve to increase consumer awareness of regenerative agriculture, a practice that remains relatively unknown to many consumers despite its potential benefits for the environment. By linking regenerative agriculture efforts to well-known consumer brands like Kettle chips, Ahold Delhaize and Campbell’s aim to raise visibility and understanding of these practices. Through these efforts, the companies hope to not only reduce emissions across the food value chain but also educate consumers about the importance of sustainability in food production.
The potato pilot is part of Campbell’s broader sustainability strategy, which has already made significant strides in implementing regenerative agriculture in other crops. In the past, the company has worked with its tomato growers to introduce sustainable farming practices and launched a grant program to offset the costs of implementing these methods. Additionally, Campbell’s recently received funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to further support the adoption of regenerative agriculture across its supply chains.
Campbell’s has also been advancing climate-friendly practices among its potato growers. In 2023, the company partnered with McCain Foods, a major french fry producer, to help implement regenerative agriculture practices on over 6,000 acres of farmland in Wisconsin and Maine. This partnership further strengthens Campbell’s commitment to sustainable farming practices and showcases the company’s dedication to reducing its environmental footprint across its entire potato supply chain.
Through this pilot with Ahold Delhaize, Campbell’s is extending its regenerative agriculture efforts to a new crop, underscoring the growing importance of sustainability in the food industry. The collaboration with farmers in North Carolina, New York, and Michigan offers an opportunity to not only improve the environmental impact of potato farming but also set a model for other food companies to follow in their efforts to integrate sustainable farming practices into their supply chains. The success of this pilot could have far-reaching implications, influencing how food companies approach sustainability and engage with consumers on environmental issues in the future.
In conclusion, this partnership represents a key milestone in Campbell’s and Ahold Delhaize’s shared commitment to regenerative agriculture and sustainability. By working directly with farmers to implement environmentally responsible farming practices, the companies are helping to drive change in the food supply chain, while raising awareness among consumers about the importance of sustainable food production. As the demand for sustainable products grows, initiatives like this will be crucial in transforming the way food is produced and consumed, benefiting both the environment and future generations.
