KIND Snacks has announced a significant milestone in its commitment to sustainable ingredient procurement. Following the conclusion of the three-year KIND Almond Acres Initiative, the company confirmed that 50% of its almond supply is now sourced from farms leveraging regenerative agriculture practices on a mass-balance basis. This progress aligns with the brand's long-term goal to source 100% of its almonds from regenerative farms by 2030.
Scaling the Pilot Programme
In 2023, KIND launched the KIND Almond Acres Initiative in partnership with ofi, an international food and beverage ingredient supplier. The primary objective was to test and validate regenerative practices in California, which accounts for approximately 80% of global almond production.
The initiative functioned as a pilot to identify effective methods for improving soil health, resource efficiency, and on-farm resilience at scale. Over the course of the three-year programme, the scope expanded from an initial site in Madera to include an additional 500 acres in Bakersfield, California. This geographic expansion allowed researchers to evaluate the performance of regenerative practices across varied growing conditions and climates.
Operational and Environmental Results
The data collected during the pilot, supported by ofi’s AtSource sustainable sourcing solution and Digital Footprint Calculator, indicates that regenerative practices can deliver measurable improvements to operational efficiency and environmental impact. Key performance metrics reported by the company include:
Water Management: A 19.5% increase in water use efficiency.
Input Efficiency: A 33% reduction in the requirement for nitrogen fertiliser.
Carbon Intensity: A 28% decrease in overall carbon intensity across pilot sites.
Soil Health: Documented increases in soil organic carbon and a reduction in soil compaction.
KIND intends to utilise the findings from this pilot to support the broader adoption of regenerative agriculture across the almond industry. The company notes that because regional conditions in California vary significantly, a uniform approach to regenerative farming is not feasible. By documenting and sharing the outcomes of specific practices—such as the integration of cover crops, compost, and subsurface irrigation—KIND aims to provide actionable insights for growers.
Future Implementation
Following the success of the pilot, KIND is transitioning to the next phase of its regenerative supply chain strategy. This involves expanding these validated practices across its primary almond supplier network. The company continues to collaborate with research institutions, including the University of California Merced and the University of California Davis, as well as organisations such as the California Water Action Collaborative and Mad Agriculture, to refine and scale its approach to sustainable almond production.
