McDonald’s USA has announced the company’s largest-ever investment in regenerative agriculture through a partnership with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), an effort that seeks to accelerate the implementation of regenerative grazing principles among U.S.-based beef cattle producers.
The Grassland Resilience and Conservation Initiative is a partnership between NFWF, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and key McDonald’s suppliers, and demonstrates the company’s commitment to responsible beef sourcing and stewardship of natural resources.
The initiative will see more than $200 million invested over the next seven years to help promote and accelerate regenerative grazing practices, habitat restoration, and water and wildlife conservation on cattle ranches spanning four million acres across 38 states. Participating ranchers will have the opportunity to leverage tools and resources to help them improve wildlife habitats, conserve water, and enhance soil health, which the company believes will strengthen the resilience of the supply chain.
Some of its suppliers, including Cargill, Golden State Foods, Lopez Foods, OSI, and The Coca-Cola Company, have elected to provide funds to NFWF to support the effort. NFWF will independently award competitive grants to organizations that will assist in participating ranchers in adopting practices that advance wildlife conservation and regenerative agriculture.
“As a brand that serves more than 90 percent of Americans every year, we recognize the responsibility we have to help safeguard our food systems for long-term vitality,” said Cesar Piña, Senior Vice President and Chief Supply Chain Officer, North America. “Through our support of this initiative, McDonald’s USA is demonstrating the power of partnership between the public and private sectors and that feeding the population and stewarding our natural resources can coexist.”
“The benefits of grassland conservation are far-reaching,” said Jeff Trandahl, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer at NFWF. “When cattle are managed to optimize multiple ecological and economic values, the land holds more water, grows better grass and supports more wildlife. Conservation practices voluntarily adopted by ranchers can improve the productivity of grasslands, increase ranching profitability and strengthen the vitality of rural communities across the United States.”
NFWF will manage and invest conservation funding to advance ranchers in their voluntary conservation efforts and will collaborate with conservation partners to identify impactful landscape-scale projects that will generate the greatest possible benefits to both wildlife populations and the productivity of vital U.S. ranch lands.
The first round of awards is expected in January 2026. Kateri and Carbon Yield will provide independent monitoring and quantification of any soil health improvements on behalf of McDonald’s USA.
For additional information about the Grassland Resilience and Conservation Initiative, visit nfwf.org.
