PepsiCo’s demonstration farms helping farmers, customers, and the ag industry
By Michelle Bufkin, Ag Daily
A Fortune 500 company fighting for farmers and the entire agricultural industry is rare when so many seem to be looking to defame and degrade agriculture. However, becoming an ally to ag is exactly what PepsiCo is striving to do at a regional and individual level with its demonstration farms.
The program, which originated in India, now has roughly 200 demonstration farms globally, including in the United States. Christine Daugherty, vice president of sustainable agriculture and responsible sourcing at PepsiCo, says the farms are a way to work directly with farmers to solve issues they are facing and to provide customers with more sustainable products.
“We work with farmers on how we can help with water stewardship, water management, technological improvements, or innovative soil practices,” said Daugherty. The company is invested in sourcing their raw products sustainably and they believe providing educational opportunities for farmers will help them accomplish that goal.
The demonstration farm topics range from personal protection equipment to drones to water stewardship and satellite imaging. The topics depend on the location and needs of the region. In developing nations more fundamental information such as protection equipment, fertilizer application, or chemicals are demonstrated. In the more developed countries, the demonstration farms focus on drones, satellite imagery, or water stewardship such as drip irrigation.
“Our mindset is global impact, locally relevant. We want to work with our farmers on good water stewardship, soil health, sustainable agriculture practices,” Daugherty said. “However, we have to be sure that the technologies we bring them are relevant to their capability, their community and their financial ability to implement.”