India’s agricultural sector, characterised by a vast network of smallholders, sits at the heart of both national livelihoods and global food systems. Employing more than 40% of the country’s workforce[1] and supplying essential commodities to global markets[2], it is both a cornerstone of economic stability and a critical link in global food and nutrition security. 

Yet, resilience cannot be built through short-term interventions alone. As climate volatility, resource constraints, rising input costs, and uneven market access intensify, the sector needs approaches grounded in long-term commitment, trusted standards, and deep collaboration with farming communities of all scales. For many smallholder farmers operating with limited access to capital, infrastructure, and formal markets, one-off interventions are rarely sufficient; progress depends on sustained partnership over time. 

Our Commitment to India’s Agricultural Future 

For ADM, building agricultural resilience is a long-term global priority. This commitment is powerfully reflected in our work across India — a region where we see immense potential to scale sustainable impact. Rather than viewing sustainability as a series of isolated initiatives, we have focused on building inclusive systems that deliver consistency, accountability and measurable impact. Our work is guided by the ProTerra framework which sets clear, independently verified expectations for responsible sourcing, environmental stewardship, and social responsibility. 

ADM India’s five years of ProTerra Certification marks an important milestone in this journey. As an independently verified standard, ProTerra enables responsible sourcing, environmental stewardship, and social responsibility, demonstrating how our long-standing presence in the region has evolved into sustained alignment with internationally recognised standards to support agricultural stability at scale. By embedding these standards into how we partner with farmers, local government, and industrial leaders like Bayer, we aim to translate intent into measurable, on-the-ground impact. This gives our stakeholders confidence that responsible practices and stringent quality standards are deeply integrated into the value chain. By adhering to ProTerra principles, we ensure that sustainability goes hand-in-hand with product excellence and traceable reliability, even as climate and market pressures intensify. 

Building Resilience through Long-Term Partnerships 

Global standards provide direction. Real resilience, however, is forged through enduring partnerships and deep local understanding. In a landscape as diverse as India’s, our decades of experience have taught us that building resilience requires more than just technical input, it requires trust. This long-term commitment allows us to translate global principles into practical, context-specific solutions that respond to farmers’ realities. 

By providing continuity of sustained support, we help farmers mitigate risk and confidently adopt new, regenerative methods, particularly smallholders who face greater barriers to technology, finance, and reliable market access. 

At the heart of this approach is ADM India’s Sustainable Agriculture Programme, locally known as Shashwat Sheti Upakram or SSU (Programme for Phased Transition to Sustainable Farming) which empowers soybean farmers through strategic partnerships. The programme goes beyond foundational training to provide technical support across the farming cycle, from seed planning and soil health mapping to precision irrigation and fertigation techniques. It also prioritises systematic sample collection and analysis to help farmers make informed decisions in their practice. By promoting Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), Integrated Pest Management (IPM), and responsible resource use, the programme addresses the specific needs of diverse farming operations. This equips farmers to navigate climate volatility while linking them to organised, traceable supply chains. 

These long-term investments in capability building and continuous improvement lay the groundwork for scalable and lasting impact within India’s agricultural sector in Maharashtra, while reinforcing the resilience and credibility of global food and feed supply chains. 

The Power of the Ecosystem: A Collaborative Model 

Resilience in agriculture is built over time through trust, consistency, and partnerships that reflect farmers’ realities. In India, we have taken a sustained, collaborative approach to advancing sustainable agriculture for more than two decades. Since 1998, we have been deeply integrated into the local ecosystem — working alongside farming communities, local institutions, and value chain partners to build long-term capabilities. 

In Maharashtra and Karnataka, we partner with government stakeholders to support soybean growers. In collaboration with India’s Ministry of Agriculture, these efforts align our sustainability efforts with national agricultural priorities, such as enhanced crop productivity, responsible input use, and market linkages. 

Building on this robust foundation, we launched our flagship SSU programme in 2021, a locally led, globally aligned initiative that brings our ecosystem approach to life. By integrating the distinct expertise of partners, including Bayer Crop Science, Coromandel International Limited, and a local NGO called Swayam Shikshan Prayog, the programme ensures inclusive growth through tailored, practical guidance ranging from agronomy and inputs to community engagement and market linkages. 

The extension of our partnership with Bayer through 2028 demonstrates our intent to further scale this proven model, with the ambitious aim of quadrupling our impact — expanding from our 2022 project baseline to support 100,000 soybean farmers. 

Turning Long-Term Commitment into Measurable Impact 

ADM’s long-term commitment and alignment with the ProTerra Principles has translated into a verified 5-year track record. Five consecutive years of certification reflect our long-term commitment to verified sustainability, robust internal control systems, and consistent application of responsible practices.

Key outcomes from this journey include:

• 53,000 farmers engaged across 7 districts

• 95,000 hectares under sustainable management

• Collaboration with 5 partner organisations

• ProTerra-certified for Non-GMO Soybean Seed, Meal, Oil, and Lecithin, underpinning our assurance of consistent product quality and safety.

This progress has been recognised externally. For the fourth time, ADM has received the Sustainable Agriculture Award from the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce, reinforcing the value of standards-led, farmer-centric programmes. 

Looking Ahead: Scaling Sustainable Impact Across India 

As we continue to expand our footprint in India, our focus remains clear: to support farming communities today while safeguarding food and nutrition security for generations to come. 

Building resilient food systems requires shared commitment across the industry to align, invest for the long term, and scale what works.

By Amrendra Mishra, Managing Director of Ag Services & Oilseeds and Country Manager India, ADM

[1] Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) 2022–23

[2] Government of India, Export Surge: India Steps Up on Global Stage, Press Information Bureau, 7 October 2025