The National Geographic Society and PepsiCo have awarded five new research grants to scientists conducting on-farm trials aimed at strengthening soil resilience and accelerating regenerative agriculture practices in climate-stressed regions.

The initiative is part of Food for Tomorrow, a collaboration launched in 2025 that combines scientific research, education and storytelling to support transformation across the global food system. The selected researchers join a global network of National Geographic Explorers and were chosen from applicants across 140 countries.

The new projects focus on major crop systems central to food security and corporate supply chains, including wheat, maize, potatoes, soy and coffee. Over the next two years, researchers will test regenerative practices in real-world conditions and translate findings into practical guidance for farmers.

Soil Health at the Center of Climate and Biodiversity Strategy

Ian Miller, Chief Science and Innovation Officer at the National Geographic Society, highlighted the interconnected nature of regenerative agriculture with broader environmental goals. He noted that soil health is closely linked to freshwater protection, biodiversity restoration and carbon management.

The research reflects growing recognition that improving soil systems can contribute to climate mitigation, ecosystem resilience and long-term agricultural productivity. By focusing on measurable outcomes in working farms, the program aims to bridge scientific validation and field-level implementation.

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Connecting Corporate Supply Chains With Farmer Livelihoods

PepsiCo has identified regenerative agriculture as a central pillar of its sustainability strategy. The company has expanded its target to support regenerative, restorative or protective agricultural practices across 10 million acres by 2030.

Jim Andrew, Executive Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer at PepsiCo, said that climate change and extreme weather are placing increasing pressure on the global food system. He emphasized that farmers must make decisions each season that directly affect crop outcomes and that science-based practices can provide the confidence needed to adopt regenerative approaches.

For multinational food companies, regenerative agriculture is increasingly linked to supply chain stability, Scope 3 emissions management and investor expectations around climate risk disclosure.

Field Trials Across Diverse Climate Regions

The funded research spans multiple geographies and agricultural contexts. In Wisconsin, researchers are rebuilding biodiversity corridors through native prairie plantings across marginal farmland. Other projects in the state focus on nitrogen-fixing crop rotations to regenerate soils and improve moisture retention in potato production.

In Spain, trials are testing biochar, cover crops and beneficial microbes under varying irrigation conditions to strengthen resilience in Mediterranean farming systems. In Ethiopia, researchers are examining intercropping systems for coffee and potatoes to build a microbial evidence base while working directly with local farmers.

In Indonesia, trials on degraded maize fields are testing intercropping strategies integrated with DNA metabarcoding and an AI-enabled farmer application that blends indigenous knowledge with modern agricultural science.

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Science, Communication and Adoption Pathways

Alongside scientific research, the initiative includes storytelling and public engagement components. Since mid-2025, additional Explorers have documented agricultural transitions across multiple countries and crop systems. Their work is expected to culminate in multimedia exhibitions, journalism and digital outreach in 2026.

An interactive data visualization platform is also planned to help translate research findings into accessible insights for farmers, policymakers and supply chain stakeholders.

Implications for Food System Resilience

Regenerative agriculture is increasingly viewed as an operational necessity as climate volatility heightens production risk and regulatory scrutiny intensifies. Evidence-based practices that improve soil carbon, water retention and biodiversity can strengthen both environmental performance and financial resilience.

By aligning corporate sustainability targets with scientific validation and farmer-led implementation, the Food for Tomorrow initiative illustrates how cross-sector collaboration can support more resilient food systems. As climate pressures continue to reshape agricultural production, scalable regenerative practices may play a decisive role in securing long-term supply chain stability and rural livelihoods.

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