PLANO, TX — PepsiCo Foods North America announced the launch of the Planting Pathways Initiative, a transformative course intended to expand agricultural opportunities.
Designed to provide more opportunities for young people to enter the agricultural sector, the initiative will begin with pilot programs created to build a more sustainable and equitable food system.
“I was born on a farm and am proud to work for PepsiCo, a company rooted in agriculture,” said Margaret Henry, VP, Sustainable & Regenerative Agriculture at PepsiCo. “I have immense respect for the growers and producers that form the backbone of our country. PepsiCo has a business stake and responsibility to help grow a resilient and impactful supply chain from the seeds in the field to the products on the shelf to the many people at home enjoying our products.”
The program includes long-term partnerships with nonprofit leaders in the agriculture space.
Through a multi-year partnership with Practical Farmers of Iowa (PFI), farmers will be equipped with business plans, coaching, capital and robust networks to succeed in the agriculture industry.
“We are grateful to partner with PepsiCo Foods North America on this initiative to enable underrepresented farmers to start and maintain a thriving farm business,” said Sally Worley, executive director of PFI. “PepsiCo’s Planting Pathways Initiative has the potential to provide opportunities for more people to succeed in farming.”
“PepsiCo has a business stake and responsibility to help grow a resilient and impactful supply chain from the seeds in the field to the products on the shelf to the many people at home enjoying our products.” — Margaret Henry | VP, Sustainable & Regenerative Agriculture | PepsiCo
Partnership with the Farm Foundation will create career opportunities within the PepsiCo supply chain and develop Field to Future, a two-year cohort program to enable college students to receive career development support in the agricultural sector. The program will include conferences, mentorships and scholarships provided by The PepsiCo Foundation, as well as the possibility to participate in a two-year paid internship within PepsiCo.
“Pairing PepsiCo Foods’ commitment with Farm Foundation’s network of food and agriculture experts creates opportunities that will shape these industries for years to come,” said Shari Rogge-Fidler, president and CEO of Farm Foundation.
This initiative aligns with the goals of PepsiCo Positive (pep+), which seeks to create a more resilient and inclusive food system by directly supporting farmers, securing a steady supply of key ingredients and improving social outcomes throughout the supply chain.
