- ADM is investing in regenerative agriculture for 15,000 soybean farmers in Maharashtra, India, aiming to improve supply reliability and build long-term sourcing stability by enhancing soil health and farmer resilience.
- The initiative, in partnership with TechnoServe, is part of ADM’s Farm Forward Initiative and is backed by a USD 500,000 investment from ADM Cares, covering four key soybean-producing districts over 18 months.
- Eight Farmer Producer Organisation (FPO) hubs are being established to serve as local support centers, with the goal of sustaining operations and strengthening the soybean supply chain beyond the initial program period.
On 28 May, ADM announced a new partnership with international non-profit TechnoServe to advance regenerative agriculture adoption among 15,000 new soybean farmers in Maharashtra, India.
“As part of ADM’s Farm Forward Initiative – our global platform dedicated to building farmer resilience and advancing sustainable agricultural practices – this programme is designed to strengthen agricultural communities and create long-term value across the supply chain,” said Amrendra Mishra, Managing Director of Ag Services & Oilseeds and Country Manager India, ADM.
By focusing on soil health, farmer capability, and digital decision-making, ADM is positioning upstream resilience as a critical lever for reducing sourcing risk and ensuring more consistent soybean output in a climate-sensitive region.
The programme is backed by a US$500,000 investment from ADM’s corporate social responsibility arm, ADM Cares.
The 18-month programme was rolled out in May across four key soybean-producing districts: Latur, Dharashiv, Beed, and Nanded.
Building resilience upstream
The main objective of the programme is to strengthen resilience and deliver more stable soybean production.
The programme will begin with a scoping phase to assess soil health and water conditions using existing government-backed technologies, generating tailored agronomic recommendations to support farmer decision-making.
“Resilient supply chains begin with resilient farming communities and that is precisely what this programme is designed to build, by supporting 15,000 new soybean farmers in Maharashtra with better agronomic practices, improved soil health and access to digital advisory tools,” said Mishra.
By improving productivity and reducing variability in output, the initiative is expected to contribute to more consistent yields and greater supply reliability.
Ensuring long-term impact
A key structural element of the programme is the establishment of eight Farmer Producer Organisation (FPO) hubs, designed to serve as local centres of support and coordination for participating farmers.
“The establishment of eight Farmer Producer Organisation (FPO) hubs creates lasting structures that connect farmers to resources and markets beyond the programme period, further strengthening the supply chain foundation over the long term. Together, these efforts strengthen the foundations of India’s soybean value chain and support long-term supply chain resilience,” said Mishra.
ADM expects these FPOs to continue operating after the 18-month programme with strengthened organisational structures, following targeted capacity building and training designed to enhance their ability to support farmers in adopting regenerative agriculture practices.
“Looking ahead, the long-term sustainability of these FPOs will be driven primarily by strengthened market linkages and improved access to working capital. ADM will continue to support the development of market connections, while partnerships with banking institutions will help ensure access to the financial resources needed to sustain and scale operations.
“In parallel, the programme will continue to facilitate linkages with relevant government schemes and ecosystem partners, enabling FPOs to access additional technical support and development opportunities,” said Mishra.
Tackling adoption barriers
The programme was designed to address structural barriers that limit uptake of regenerative practices.
These include limited access to tailored agronomic advice, hesitation to adopt new practices due to income risk, and low awareness and use of digital tools and support schemes.
“Many smallholder farmers simply don’t have access to tailored agronomic advice that reflects their specific soil, water and field conditions. That’s why the programme begins with a detailed scoping phase to assess soil health and water conditions using existing government-led technology solutions.
“These assessments will provide farmers with recommendations, helping them make more informed decisions about crop and resource management,” said Mishra.
Farmers’ reluctance to adopt new practices due to risk considerations is another key barrier, as changes can directly affect livelihoods.
The programme addresses this with 200 demonstration plots across participating villages over two cropping seasons.
“These plots allow farmers to observe the benefits of improved practices firsthand, including approaches that support soil health, water conservation and long-term productivity, before deciding whether to adopt them on their own farms,” said Mishra.
Technology and access to information also remain constraints. While digital agriculture tools and government programmes are available, awareness and effective use are often limited.
To bridge this gap, the programme will integrate initiatives such as the Maha-Agri Tech project and the Mahavistar app, Mishra said.
“Through integration with initiatives such as the Maha-Agri Tech project and advisory platforms like the Mahavistar app, farmers will gain access to satellite-based and drone-enabled insights on crop health, pest activity and field conditions, as well as real-time agronomic guidance. These tools can help farmers make more timely decisions and optimise the use of inputs such as fertilisers and crop protection products.”
Scalability and future expansion
Moving forward, Mishra said ADM would evaluate success based on adoption rates, improvements in soil health, expansion of land under regenerative practices, and gains in farmer knowledge and livelihoods.
Mishra added that baseline and endline surveys, combined with ongoing monitoring, will be used to track progress and generate insights into what works on the ground, including barriers to adoption and the effectiveness of different interventions.
“Beyond measuring outcomes, the programme is designed to generate practical insights into what works on the ground. This includes identifying barriers to adoption, evaluating the effectiveness of different interventions and assessing how easily successful approaches can be replicated across other farming communities.”
Mishra concluded: “Decisions on scaling will be guided by both the impact achieved and whether the model proves practical, effective and replicable in real-world conditions.”
