ADM and TechnoServe launch Maharashtra programme for 15,000 soybean farmers
ADM and TechnoServe have agreed to promote regenerative practices among 15,000 new soybean farmers in Maharashtra through an 18-month programme backed by a $500,000 ADM Cares investment.
ADM has announced a new partnership with international non-profit TechnoServe to promote regenerative agriculture among 15,000 new soyabean farmers in Maharashtra. The programme sits under ADM’s global Farm Forward Initiative, which the company presents as a platform for strengthening farmer resilience and advancing more sustainable agricultural practices across supply chains.
The local initiative is funded through a $500,000 investment from ADM Cares and is scheduled to run for 18 months. It will be rolled out in the districts of Latur, Dharashiv, Beed and Nanded. That footprint matters because these are important soyabean-growing areas where farmer incomes are closely tied to crop performance and where climate and soil constraints directly shape production stability.
The programme is built around three operational priorities: improving soil health, turning farmer producer organisations into support hubs for regenerative agriculture, and expanding access to digital advisory tools and relevant government support. The structure suggests the project is designed to move beyond one-off demonstrations and instead build a support system that influences everyday farm decisions.
Under the memorandum of understanding, the work is set to begin in May 2026. ADM will provide strategic direction, governance and oversight, while TechnoServe will handle on-the-ground implementation. The first phase will assess soil health and water conditions using existing government-led technology solutions, with the stated aim of giving farmers more tailored agronomic recommendations for decision-making.
The next stage will establish about 200 demonstration plots across programme villages over two cropping seasons. Those plots are intended to show farmers how specific practices can improve soil condition, conserve water and support long-term productivity. To extend the programme beyond the initial 18-month period, the partners also plan to create eight FPO hubs that can continue supporting farmers after the formal project phase ends.
Both organisations are positioning the initiative as a combination of corporate resources and field-level development expertise. ADM links the project to the idea that sustainable supply chains start with resilient farming communities, while TechnoServe argues that smallholder farmers need to be placed at the centre of agri-food systems. For Maharashtra’s soyabean sector, that means regenerative agriculture is being packaged not as a broad slogan but as a practical bundle of soil assessment, demonstration fields, digital advice and local institutional support.