Ducks Unlimited Canada and PepsiCo announce collaboration to provide additional incentives to producers enrolled in FCC’s Sustainability Incentive Program

Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) has joined forces with PepsiCo to offer additional financial incentives for producers who participate in Farm Credit Canada’s (FCC) Sustainability Incentive Program and grow oats or canola within their crop rotation. Beginning May 2024, PepsiCo will provide financial support to eligible producers based in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba who commit to planting perennial forage on unproductive cropland to improve biodiversity and drive positive change. Support will equal 50 per cent of the total payment producers receive on behalf of FCC’s program, up to a $1,000 maximum per application.

At its core, PepsiCo is an agriculture company. PepsiCo believes that regenerative agricultural practices will be pivotal in meeting the increasing demand for food as the global population grows, while also addressing the need to protect and enhance our natural resources. By collaborating with DUC, PepsiCo will extend its engagement with farming communities in Canada, helping to create a more resilient, sustainable agricultural system.

“The uptake from our producer partners who have already taken advantage of our partnership with FCC has been incredible,” says Paul Thoroughgood, national manager of sustainability at DUC. “Now with PepsiCo at the table, we can support even more farmers across the Prairies, recognizing them for the positive impacts they have on the landscape by providing even more incentives.”

Ducks Unlimited Canada’s Marginal Areas Program offers a solution for Canadian farmland that lacks productivity due to poor drainage, soil conditions, periodic flooding, inaccessibility, or salinity. Historically, DUC has offered participating producers a 10-year agreement as a way to assist with the cost of establishing perennials while alleviating the financial burden associated with land management challenges. Additionally, FCC participants who also partake in DUC’s Marginal Areas Program will be eligible to receive an incentive payment based on a percentage of their total borrowings, up to a maximum payment of $2,000 or $50/acre of enrolled acres.

“Our Sustainability Incentive Program encourages sustainable farming practices while supporting nature-positive outcomes,” says Curtis Grainger, FCC director of sustainability programs. “Now, with support from PepsiCo, we can further reward producers who take steps to add to the long-term health of Canada’s agriculture and food industry.”