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Cargill is introducing a sustainable agriculture programme to help Australian canola growers connect with new and emerging markets. The initiative, named Cargill SustainConnect, is designed to open new revenue streams for growers in Australia and to meet the rising demand from domestic and international customers for sustainable Australian canola. Through the programme, Cargill will provide financial incentives for positive environmental outcomes through the adoption of sustainable practices, while helping to improve soil health and decarbonise the agricultural supply chain. Cargill has partnered with carbon measurement business Regrow to measure, report and verify carbon outcomes using in-field data, remote sensing and crop and soil health modelling. Cargill SustainConnect works by helping growers implement chosen interventions and share data from their activities. Growers will receive a guaranteed $25 per hectare, subject to practices being implemented in compliance with the one-year agreement. Total compensation will be based on the total hectares the grower enrols in the programme.

Regrow will validate the interventions and growers will receive payment for the interventions and access to opportunities in environmental markets and sustainable supply chains. This will help Cargill’s downstream customers, who rely on agricultural supply chains to achieve their sustainability goals. The programme is currently available to Australian canola farmers in New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia and Victoria, with the initiative expected to extend to Western Australian in the future. Ben Fargher, Cargill environmental market lead, APAC, said: “Changes made at the grassroots of our supply chains can deliver a significant impact in reducing emissions and building the resilience of our soils for the next generation. We are actively working hand-in-hand with canola growers to lead the way, supporting them with tools, resources – and importantly, market access – to make the shift to sustainable agriculture.” Cargill is currently mulling whether to expand the Cargill programme to grains in the future – the first barley pilots are underway.