McDonald’s said Monday it plans to invest $200 million over the next seven years to promote regenerative agriculture practices on cattle ranches.
The Chicago burger giant says the investment was its largest to date in support of regenerative agriculture in the U.S. The company has also funded regenerative projects on potato farms in Canada and Europe. “As a brand that serves more than 90% of Americans every year, we recognize the responsibility we have to help safeguard our food systems for long-term vitality,” Cesar Piña, McDonald’s chief supply chain officer for North America, said in a statement.
Regenerative techniques aim to conserve water, enhance soil health and reduce the need for synthetic chemicals and fertilizers. On cattle ranches, ranchers practicing regenerative agriculture move cattle frequently and let the land recover for weeks or months. That helps produce more grass with deeper roots, which take more carbon from the air to help improve soil.
U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas) applauded McDonald’s announcement to invest $200 million in regenerative practices on US cattle ranches. “It is great to see such a large and influential company like McDonald’s invest $200 million in regenerative farming,” said Senator Marshall. “I have continued to emphasize that the bridge between MAHA and agriculture is soil health. Producing nutrient-dense foods begins with healthy soil, and I am thrilled to see this effort happening here on American soil.”
Click here for more details on McDonald’s investment.
