McDonald’s USA announced Monday that it is making its largest investment in regenerative agriculture to date to support its commitment to responsible beef sourcing.
The Chicago-based burger giant is launching the Grassland Resilience and Conservation Initiative along with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) and USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), as well as key McDonald’s U.S. suppliers. The goal of the initiative is to accelerate regenerative grazing principles among cattle producers across 4 million acres in up to 38 states.
The initiative will invest more than $200 million over the next seven years to assist producers in improving grazing land management, restoring grasslands and natural ecosystems, conserving water, enhancing soil health and upgrading ranch infrastructure. Participating ranchers will also receive economic returns such as incentive payments.
McDonald's spells out its commitment on the company's website.
With over 13,500 U.S. locations, McDonald’s is often cited as the largest purchaser of beef in the country. “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,” said Cesar Piña, SVP and Chief Supply Chain Officer of McDonald’s North America, in a statement. “Through our support of this initiative, McDonald’s USA is demonstrating the power of partnership between the public and private sectors and that feeding the population and stewarding our natural resources can coexist.”
Some of McDonald’s USA supplier partners are joining in with funding to the NFWF. These include Cargill, Golden State Foods, Lopez Foods, OSI and The Coca-Cola Company. The NFWF will independently award grants to organizations that assist ranchers in adopting practices that advance wildlife conservation and regenerative agriculture.
“The benefits of grassland conservation are far-reaching,” said Jeff Trandahl, executive director and CEO at NFWF, in a statement. “When cattle are managed to optimize multiple ecological and economic values, the land holds more water, grows better grass and supports more wildlife. Conservation practices voluntarily adopted by ranchers can improve the productivity of grasslands, increase ranching profitability and strengthen the vitality of rural communities across the United States.”
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