The long-term security of the global agricultural supply chain is increasingly dependent on the climate resilience of smallholder farming communities. In a strategic move to promote sustainable sourcing practices in South Asia, global agribusiness giant ADM has announced a partnership with the international non-profit organisation TechnoServe. The initiative aims to drive the adoption of regenerative agriculture practices among 15,000 new soyabean farmers in the state of Maharashtra, India.
The 18-month local programme is funded by a USD 500,000 investment from ADM Cares, the company's corporate social investment arm. Operating as part of ADM’s global Farm Forward Initiative, the programme will be deployed across four key agricultural districts in Maharashtra, specifically Latur, Dharashiv, Beed, and Nanded. By combining corporate governance with on-the-ground execution, the partnership seeks to establish a scalable, sustainable model that improves soil health and water-use efficiency while securing the regional supply of oilseeds.
Technology Integration
A defining element of the partnership is its focus on integrating digital agriculture solutions with existing government programmes. For modern agribusinesses, leveraging technology is crucial to reducing agricultural input costs and improving resource efficiency at scale.
The ADM and TechnoServe programme will collaborate with the Maha-Agri Tech project, a Maharashtra state-led initiative that empowers farmers through precision farming technologies. This integration delivers several key operational advantages:
Data-Driven Farm Management: By utilising satellite-based insights and drone-enabled applications, participating growers gain access to real-time data on crop health, soil moisture levels, and localised pest activity.
Targeted Input Application: Precision data enables farmers to execute highly targeted applications of chemical fertilisers and crop protection products, reducing overall input expenditures and preventing chemical runoff.
Personalised Digital Advisories: The programme connects farmers directly to public advisory platforms, such as the Mahavistar app, to deliver real-time, personalised agronomic recommendations tailored to current weather and soil conditions.
To support this digital infrastructure, the initiative will begin with a comprehensive scoping phase to benchmark soil and water conditions, followed by the establishment of approximately 200 demonstration plots over two cropping seasons to showcase sustainable practices in real-world environments.
Farmer-Producer Organisations
While environmental metrics are vital to corporate sustainability targets, the long-term viability of regenerative agriculture relies heavily on improving farmer livelihoods. The programme is structured to ensure that sustainable farming practices translate into tangible cost efficiencies, consistent crop yields, and increased market access for growers.
To guarantee that these practices are sustained beyond the initial 18-month funding window, the partnership will focus on capacity building within local agricultural networks. Specifically, the programme will establish and develop eight Farmer-Producer Organisations (FPOs) to serve as permanent regional hubs.
By transforming these FPOs into focal points of technical support and agricultural education, ADM and TechnoServe are creating a self-sustaining support network. These hubs will continue to provide independent farmers with the training, digital resources, and market connections needed to maintain high environmental standards, proving that economic development and environmental stewardship can be aligned within the global food supply chain.
