McDonald’s is planning to invest $200 million over the next seven years to promote regenerative agriculture practices on cattle ranches.
Associated Press reports the Chicago burger giant said the investment was its largest to date in support of regenerative agriculture in the U.S.
The company has also funded regenerative projects on potato farms in Canada and Europe.
“As a brand that serves more than 90% of Americans every year, we recognize the responsibility we have to help safeguard our food systems for long-term vitality,” Cesar Piña, McDonald’s chief supply chain officer for North America, said in a statement.
Regenerative techniques aim to conserve water, enhance soil health and reduce the need for synthetic chemicals and fertilizers.
On cattle ranches, ranchers practicing regenerative agriculture move cattle frequently and let the land recover for weeks or months.
That helps produce more grass with deeper roots, which take more carbon from the air to help improve soil.
