ADM and Bayer are expanding a joint program in Maharashtra, India that directly affects soybean origination, sustainability standards and long-term feed raw material availability. The three-year extension will quadruple farmer participation and significantly increase cultivated area, reinforcing traceable soy supply chains aligned with international sustainability frameworks.

ADM and Bayer have agreed to extend their partnership supporting sustainable soybean cultivation in India’s Maharashtra state, scaling the program from 25,000 to 100,000 farmers over the next three years. The initiative will expand soybean acreage from 35,000 hectares to 200,000 hectares and extend operations to seven districts, broadening its footprint beyond the original production zones.

Launched in 2022, the program reached its initial target of 25,000 farmers by May 2025. The expansion is structured around Farmer Producer Organizations and is anchored in the ProTerra sustainability framework, covering production management, crop protection practices, monitoring, documentation and post-harvest pest management. These elements are increasingly relevant for feed and oilseed buyers seeking verifiable, deforestation-free and responsibly produced soy.

Bayer has led large-scale in-person and digital training on Good Agricultural Practices, biodiversity and IPM-based crop management, engaging more than 58,000 farmers through outreach initiatives. ADM, meanwhile, has trained its agronomy teams to support nutrient, pesticide and GAP implementation, linking farm-level practices to downstream market requirements.

Commenting on the extension, Amrendra Mishra, Managing Director of Ag Services & Oilseeds and Country Manager India at ADM, said: “By leveraging ADM’s market linkages and global resources, we aim to equip 100,000 farmers with the tools to strengthen economic resilience, enhance sustainable livelihoods, and lead the future of Indian agriculture through practices that advance environmental and supply chain sustainability.”

Simon Wiebusch, Country Divisional Head – Crop Science Division of Bayer for India, Bangladesh & Sri Lanka, said: “By scaling proven solutions across Maharashtra, we aim to help farmers improve yields sustainably while building a more resilient, future-ready agri-ecosystem.”

India is a major soybean producer for domestic use, with soymeal playing a key role in poultry and livestock feed. Programs that improve yields, traceability and sustainability standards can influence the quality and reliability of soy-based feed raw materials in regional markets, even without direct export growth.