Amrendra Mishra is Country Manager, India and Managing Director of Oilseeds at ADM, a Chicago headquartered company. It is a 42,000-people-strong company with customers across six continents and a revenue of $93 billion in 2023. Amrendra chats with Benedict Paramanand, Editor of SustainabilityNext, about his company’s contribution to food security and environmental health. Edited excerpts:
What is ADM’s approach to climate-smart agriculture, and what potential impact does it foresee on farming communities and the environment?
At ADM, sustainability is at the core of our purpose and growth strategy, extending beyond environmental stewardship. Our commitment is anchored in three pillars: Feed the World, Protect Nature, and Enrich Lives – a holistic approach that enables us to unlock the power of nature to enrich the quality of life.
In today’s context, where climate change, biodiversity loss, and resource scarcity are pressing challenges, climate-smart agriculture (CSA) represents a transformative opportunity to address the dual crises of climate change and food security. ADM embraces CSA as a vital strategy to empower farming communities, enhance productivity, and protect the environment.
Through regenerative practises such as precision farming, intercropping, cover crops and reduced tillage, we aim to increase productivity, build resilience to climate impacts, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. These practices lay the groundwork for more adaptive and resource-efficient farming systems that have benefits for growers, their communities and the planet.
In India, where a rapidly growing population drives increasing demands on food and natural resources, CSA can mitigate risks for farmers while improving yields and incomes. ADM’s initiatives, such as the ‘Shashwat Sheti Upakram’ (Programme for Phased Transition to Sustainable Farming), illustrate our commitment to sustainable agriculture.
In collaboration with partners including Bayer Crop Sciences, Swayam Shikshan Prayog (SSP), and the College of Agriculture, the programme has not only improved farmer livelihoods but also demonstrated the tangible benefits of sustainable farming such as increased crop productivity and increased community resilience, reinforcing ADM’s leadership in responsible sourcing and farmer empowerment.
However, the success of CSA depends on collective action. Investments in farmer education, widespread adoption of climate-resilient technologies, and the implementation of supportive policies are crucial. Public-private partnerships, like ADM’s collaboration with Bayer and local NGOs, are instrumental in delivering scalable, impactful solutions that align with our vision for a sustainable future.
What is ADM’s perspective on sustainable farming practices, including soil enrichment, crop management, and resource efficiency?
As the world grapples with the dual challenge of meeting rising food demands while balancing environmental sustainability, sustainable agriculture efforts should focus on building resilient farming systems. These systems are designed to withstand the impacts of climate change, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and sequester carbon, all while improving the livelihoods of farmers.
At the heart of our approach lies a holistic strategy that integrates essential elements such as soil enrichment, diversified crop practices, and resource-efficient solutions, creating a foundation for long-term agricultural resilience.
- Promoting soil enrichment: By working closely with partners, we support farm-level soil testing to understand nutrient needs and provide tailored recommendations for fertiliser use. This ensures that soil health is optimised, enhancing crop productivity while reducing environmental impact.
- Integrating crop management: Empowering farmers with knowledge, tools, and the best agricultural practices, we provide training programs that cover everything from pest and disease management to water-efficient irrigation, harvesting techniques, and post-harvest strategies. These efforts are reinforced through hands-on demonstration plots, offering practical insights into sustainable practices.
- Efficient resource utilisation: Through modern farming techniques and innovative technologies, we enable farmers to optimise water, seeds, and fertilisers, achieving greater efficiency with minimal waste.
By weaving together essential practices such as soil enrichment, advanced crop management, and resource optimisation, our integrated approach to sustainable agriculture aims to transform farming systems. At its core, this approach supports farmers in adapting to a volatile climate, improving their livelihoods, and ensuring the long-term viability of the agricultural sector.
How does ADM plan to expand its sustainability initiatives across other regions of India?
As the world’s most populous country, India’s rapidly growing population will inevitably drive greater demand for food and resources. However, this growth also places additional pressure on agricultural systems already strained by issues like erratic weather conditions and water scarcity. India’s ambition to reach net zero emissions by 2070[1] underscores the urgent need to embrace sustainable practises that can restore degraded land, enhance productivity, and mitigate the effects of climate change.
For more than two decades, ADM India has been working in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture to support some 250,000 smallholder farmers in Maharashtra and Karnataka. Through this collaboration, we provide small and midsize growers with sustainability resources, technology, best practices in conservation, and important market connections. As a result, these farmers can now access global markets as registered vendors with ADM.
This opens doors for them to meet the growing global demand for soy, all while increasing their incomes and improving their farming practices. In addition, ADM’s partnership with Coromandel International Limited strengthens our commitment to sustainable agriculture by training farmers through the ProTerra Foundation on non-GMO agricultural production. By analysing soil samples from 3,000 farmers, we aim to document improvements in organic soil carbon content and track the positive environmental impacts of sustainable practices.
[1] Decarbonising India: Charting a pathway for sustainable growth
