From key emission reduction measure to greenwashing strategy

This report by the NewClimate Institute analyzes the use of regenerative agriculture in the sustainability and climate strategies of the 30 largest multinational food and agriculture companies, warning that the term is being diluted and misused as a greenwashing strategy rather than a tool for systemic redesign.

• Regenerative agriculture has become a mainstream term among the world's largest food and agriculture companies, though adoption levels vary. Out of 30 companies analyzed, 24 mention regenerative agriculture in sustainability communications, 18 provide a definition, 8 have quantitative targets (termed 'extensive users'), and 8 are piloting projects (termed 'early experimenters').
• There is no standardized definition of regenerative agriculture among the analyzed companies. Furthermore, corporate strategies often lack ambition, omitting essential practices such as the reduction of chemical inputs or fertilizer use, and instead layer a few regenerative practices over 'business-as-usual' operations.
• The report identifies significant risks regarding how companies claim emission reductions and removals. Companies frequently conflate the two and rely on soil carbon sequestration, despite debates over its potential and limited permanence. The lack of reliable measurement and verification systems makes robust claims nearly impossible.
• Meat and dairy companies specifically use 'regenerative grazing' to justify maintaining unsustainably high production levels. The report describes the claim that pasture soil carbon sequestration neutralizes livestock methane emissions as misleading, as these practices only sequester small amounts of carbon.

APA

NewClimate Institute (2024). From key emission reduction measure to greenwashing strategy. http://www.newclimate.org/resources/publications/navigating-regenerative-agriculture-in-corporate-climate-strategies

Chicago

NewClimate Institute. From key emission reduction measure to greenwashing strategy. 2024. http://www.newclimate.org/resources/publications/navigating-regenerative-agriculture-in-corporate-climate-strategies.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=NewClimate Institute |title=From key emission reduction measure to greenwashing strategy |date=26 September 2024 |url=http://www.newclimate.org/resources/publications/navigating-regenerative-agriculture-in-corporate-climate-strategies |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{newclimateinstitute2024from, author = {{NewClimate Institute}}, title = {{From key emission reduction measure to greenwashing strategy}}, institution = {NewClimate Institute}, year = {2024}, month = sep, url = {http://www.newclimate.org/resources/publications/navigating-regenerative-agriculture-in-corporate-climate-strategies}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }