Louis Dreyfus partners The Nature Conservancy to accelerate sustainability initiatives
USA- Louis Dreyfus Co. (LDC), a global merchant and processor of agricultural goods, is intensifying its commitment to sustainability by collaborating with The Nature Conservancy (TNC) to advance regenerative agriculture and habitat conservation, to combat climate change within the global food and agricultural production sector.
The partnership, announced on January 12, underscores the joint commitment of LDC and TNC to foster regenerative practices and eliminate deforestation and native vegetation conversion across the entire food supply chain.
Recognizing that the global agrifood system accounts for 31% of greenhouse gas emissions and that agricultural expansion is a key driver in 88% of native habitat loss globally, the collaboration is set to tackle these critical issues.
Michael Gelchie, Group Chief Executive Officer for LDC, emphasized the urgency of transitioning to sustainable practices at the farm level, stating, “In a context of accelerating climate challenges affecting crops and farmer livelihoods worldwide, the long-term resilience of global food and agricultural supply chains requires a transition to sustainable practices where the food system begins.”
LDC’s existing commitment to eliminate deforestation and conversion of native vegetation by the end of 2025 will be bolstered by this collaboration.
The initiative will initially focus on grains and oilseeds value chains, along with coffee and cotton, encompassing two interconnected pillars for on-the-ground collaboration:
- Regenerative Agriculture: Implementation of LDC’s regenerative agriculture strategy, programming, financing, and impact accounting. This will involve large-scale, strategic efforts in the United States, Canada, Brazil, and Argentina, with joint assessments of ongoing projects to facilitate collaboration and scale-up across value chains.
- Deforestation- and Conversion-Free (DCF) Production: Expanding collaboration to support the implementation of LDC’s global DCF commitment, emphasizing incentive mechanisms for farmers and enhancing monitoring and reporting on implementation.
LDC’s regenerative agriculture plan targets a minimum of 3 million acres (approximately 1.2 million hectares) by 2030, engaging around 30,000 farmers in selected commodity supply chains. This approach focuses on transforming farming systems, enhancing soil health, restoring aquifers, promoting biodiversity, and mitigating climate change while ensuring farmers’ profitability and resilience over time.
Axelle Bodoy, Head of Regenerative Agriculture at LDC, expressed enthusiasm about working with TNC, stating, “With TNC’s support, we are ideally positioned to understand farmers’ needs and support the adoption of relevant innovations, co-design programs with farmers and other value chain partners to lead the development of more resilient, future-proofed agronomic systems.”
The collaboration extends beyond grains and oilseeds, with pilot projects underway in other supply chains such as citrus in Brazil and coffee in Vietnam, Indonesia, Uganda, and other origins.
Jennifer Morris, CEO of TNC, highlighted the imperative need for collective action, stating, “A successful transformation of the global food system is imperative to address the climate crisis and halt biodiversity loss.”
The collaboration between LDC and TNC represents a significant stride towards a sustainable and resilient global food system, engaging stakeholders across the entire value chain to unlock benefits for both people and nature.
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