Meijer Regenerative Agriculture Roadmap Development
The Meijer Regenerative Agriculture Development project sought to develop a comprehensive roadmap with key mechanisms and strategies for Meijer to engage in regenerative agriculture. The project consisted of (1) a literature review over existing definitions of regenerative agriculture; (2) competitor benchmarking of ten retailers and manufacturers; (3) internal benchmarking through a Label Insight report; (4) a supplier sustainability survey; (5) supplier interviews; and (6) supplier site-visits. Data was primarily analyzed thematically to identify common interests, barriers, motivators, and engagement mechanisms. The research revealed that the industry is shifting toward regenerative agriculture with major players, such as Walmart, implementing strategies, though the absence of standardized metrics makes it difficult to assess the depth or impact of existing commitments. A similar trend was identified amongst producers and suppliers, with general interest in achieving the perceived benefits of regenerative agriculture, and almost all surveyed suppliers reported engagement in at least one regenerative agriculture practice. Motivations to engage were primarily identified as financial incentives, intrinsic motivations based on the need for healthy soil for operational longevity and success, industry trends, and proven on-farm benefits. Major barriers, however, were identified in technical, educational, and financial gaps that are critical to address in order to lower barriers to entry. The context-dependent nature of agriculture was a recurrent theme, presenting a paradox between the burden of rigid standards and the need to defi ne a scope. This creates a need for Meijer to develop a program that works alongside producers to allow growers to maintain their autonomy. Thus, a roadmap has been developed to create an actionable plan for Meijer to engage in regenerative agriculture, with the ultimate goal of expanding regenerative agriculture engagement throughout the supply chain. Target areas for engagement were identified as partnerships, producer education, consumer education, marketing, and the development of an optional regenerative agriculture program. The proposed initiatives are designed to engage both internal and external stakeholders, emphasizing capacity building and participation and engagement expansion. In the short-term (1-2 years), strategies are recommended to build a solid foundation for future engagement. Medium-term actions (3-4 years) emphasize action-based strategies to advance regenerative agriculture. Long-term (5+ years) focuses on active participation and measurable outcomes. This approach aims to drive comprehensive changes throughout Meijer’s supply chain and the market, with the goal of ensuring long-term supply chain viability and improved environmental impacts.
Kejia Chen (SD)
Licieli Olivo (SD)
Annika Throne (SD)
Tianqi Xu (BEC,SS)