In India’s climate conversation, one element remains profoundly undervalued despite being central to both ecological stability and national food security: soil. As extreme weather, groundwater depletion,
and land degradation intensify across agricultural belts, the country’s ability to nourish its people and sustain rural livelihoods depends more than ever on rebuilding the health of the very ground we cultivate. Encouragingly, India is witnessing a decisive shift as leading food and beverage companies embed regenerative agriculture into their core strategies not as corporate benevolence, but as long-term survival intelligence.
PepsiCo India articulates this connection with unusual clarity. “Healthy soil is the foundation of a healthy food system,” says Yashika Singh, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer and Sustainability Head, PepsiCo India and South Asia. “As an agri-company at heart, we believe that caring for soil is not just an environmental priority but a way of supporting and enriching the lives of the farming communities we work with.”
That philosophy is visible on the ground, quite literally. PepsiCo India’s regenerative agriculture approach is focused on restoring soil fertility, strengthening water systems, and improving farm resilience. Their Mitti Jaanch Kendras in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal bring scientific soil testing directly to thousands of farmers, enabling them to understand nutrient balance, pH levels, and crop needs insights that were once inaccessible or prohibitively expensive. Singh notes that soil care goes beyond measurement: “We are also working closely with farmers and agronomists to improve soil health through practices such as applying compost, farmyard manure, green manure, and crop mulching.” Over just two years, organic matter has been added across 16,000 acres of potato fields, enriching microbial life, improving soil structure, and enhancing nutrient uptake. “For us, nurturing soil is ultimately about nurturing livelihoods,” she emphasizes. “When the soil is healthy, entire farm ecosystems become stronger.”
Across the industry, this recognition of soil as a living, fragile asset is gaining momentum. Diageo India, another major agri-dependent enterprise, has placed regenerative agriculture at the center of its Spirit of Progress ESG action plan. “As part of our Spirit of Progress ESG action plan, we are strengthening soil health by equipping smallholder farmers with regenerative practices that build long-term farm resilience,” says Srinidhi Rao, Head – Sustainability, Diageo India.
In Punjab and Haryana, regions that contribute nearly 79% of Diageo India’s agri raw material value, the company’s program trains farmers in direct seeding of rice, improved crop-residue management, efficient irrigation systems, and agroforestry. “These practices reduce soil disturbance, conserve water, and enrich organic matter,” Rao explains, “resulting in better soil structure, higher nutrient availability, and improved carbon sequestration.”
Diageo India’s work stretches beyond incremental improvements. In Nizamabad, Telangana, the company is running a three-year pilot involving 410 farmers across Kharif and Rabi seasons to adopt water-efficient, carbon-reducing methods such as alternate wetting and drying. “Together,” Rao adds, “these initiatives are enhancing soil health across our sourcing regions and supporting more climate-resilient livelihoods.”
Taken together, these efforts from industry leaders illuminate a fundamental truth: regenerative agriculture is not a trend; it is the blueprint for India’s agricultural future. Soil rich in organic matter absorbs more carbon, retains more water, withstands drought, and reduces dependency on chemical inputs. It strengthens ecosystems, stabilizes yields, and elevates rural incomes. It is a climate solution, a food security strategy, and a rural development engine, woven into one.
But most importantly, soil health is not an abstract environmental mission. As both Singh and Rao remind us, it is about dignity, prosperity, and resilience for the millions of farming families whose labour feeds the nation.
If India is to weather the storms of climate change, literally and figuratively, its greatest ally may be beneath our feet. The question is not whether we can afford to invest in soil regeneration; it is whether we can afford not to.
