Energy Efficiency, GHG Emissions  -  November 5, 2021

McDonald’s Commits $5 Million to Reduce GHG In Farming Collaboration

McDonald’s USA has partnered with AgMission, a global collaboration to reduce GHG emissions in agriculture, to develop and implement climate-smart farming solutions with a $5 million commitment over the next five years.

The Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR), the U.S. Farmers & Ranchers in Action (USFRA), and the World Farmers’ Organisation (WFO) established AgMission to lower GHG emissions in the agriculture industry. This initiative plans to make the agriculture sector net-negative for GHG emissions. AgMission said this goal can be reached by bringing farmers, ranchers and scientists together to develop science-based solutions that can be deployed rapidly to mitigate the impacts of climate change.

Emissions that are economically and environmentally sustainable can be lowered by conducting agricultural research and data. Using integrated, interoperable data is important to coordinate the research project. Increasing adaptation and adoption of climate-smart solutions will also reduce GHG emissions. 

“Climate change threatens our environment, food security as well as farmer and ranchers’ livelihoods,” said FFAR’s Executive Director Dr. Sally Rockey in a statement. “We are elated that McDonald’s sees the value of AgMission’s approach and is partnering with us on this unprecedented initiative. AgMission’s expansive, coordinated effort builds on existing research to coordinate agriculture’s climate-change response, connecting data from one part of the world that could benefit another.”

McDonald’s commitment to AgMission shows the actions the fast food company is conducting to reach its goal of net zero emissions across its global operations by 2050. The restaurant chain joins PepsiCo as a founding partner of AgMission.

Since the agriculture industry accounts for 9.9% of GHG emissions in the United States and about 24% globally, this is the only sector with the possibility to be net negative for GHG emissions.

“Soil and farmlands already sequester one hundred more times carbon than is emitted in a year,” said Erin Fitzgerald, CEO, USFRA. “But farmers and ranchers cannot do it alone.”

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