Announcing a combined total of $4 million in funding to implement conservation and regenerative agriculture practices across cattle grazing lands, including support beef producers with technical and financial tools, Taco Bell, as part of its parent company Yum! Brands, has partnered with long-time supplier Cargill and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) to improve its environmental effects on its supply chain, says a recent release.
With the goal of operating 10,000 restaurants in the coming years, Taco Bell and Cargill will allocate $2 million and will leverage up to $2 million in federal funds in grants over the next four years to help ranchers expand their regenerative ranching practices, including conserving grassland ecosystems and improving river water quality and biodiversity.
Invasive species, limited water, residential developments and climate change threaten the grasslands where beef cattle live, says the release, therefore this partnership is estimated to conserve and restore tens of thousands of acres and sequester up to 44,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent per year in 2030.
With applications open May 4 through August 3, organizations supporting ranchers in the Intermountain West, including Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah and Wyoming, will be eligible with projects to start in 2024.
“We’re all about democratizing access to quality, flavorful meals at an affordable price,” says Missy Schaaphok, director of Global Nutrition & Sustainability at Taco Bell. “What people don’t see directly on our menu is how we also prioritize sustainability just as much as craveability.”
Taco Bell aims to prioritize commitments and collaborative efforts to improve sourcing efforts, says the release, including membership in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef.
