What do Cargill, Taco Bell®, and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation have in common? Restoring natural habitats and expanding sustainable farming practices across the beef supply chain. To do so, Taco Bell has partnered with its long-time supplier Cargill and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) to implement conservation and regenerative agriculture practices across cattle grazing lands.
“At Cargill, we pride ourselves on connecting our customers to partners such as NFWF that can help drive sustainability efforts starting with nature and the rancher,” said Jeffrey Fitzpatrick, BeefUp Sustainability Program Lead at Cargill. “As beef is a beloved ingredient at Taco Bell, it's our job as their trusted supplier to encourage and support efforts that increase the sustainability of the supply chain through investment and collaboration.”
Taco Bell has a bold ambition to meet its parent company, Yum! Brands’, broader climate efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 50 percent by 2030. By leveraging the expertise of NFWF, this partnership will support beef producers with technical and financial tools to expand their regenerative ranching practices, from conserving grassland ecosystems to improving river water quality and biodiversity.
According to the release, the commitment from Cargill and Taco Bell will allocate $2 million and will leverage up to $2 million in federal funds for a combined total of $4 million in new grants over the next four years.
“We’re all about democratizing access to quality, flavorful meals at an affordable price,” said Missy Schaaphok, Director of Global Nutrition and Sustainability at Taco Bell. “What people don't see directly on our menu is how we also prioritize sustainability just as much as craveability.”
With purchased food in Yum! Brands’ supply chain producing more than two-thirds of its emissions, this program will be valuable in helping to sustain America’s natural resources while still feeding the taco nation.
“Through the voluntary implementation of managed grazing practices, benefits to both rancher operations and wildlife are realized,” said Jeff Trandahl, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of NFWF. “Taco Bell, in partnership with Cargill, will help organizations working directly with ranchers in the Intermountain West to implement important changes, providing better habitat for wildlife, increasing carbon sequestration, and creating a more resilient ecosystem for people and for the species that depend on these rangelands for their very survival.”
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