In its largest-ever investment in regenerative agriculture, McDonald’s USA announced a multi-million-dollar partnership with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to promote sustainable beef production across the United States.
The initiative, dubbed the Grassland Resilience and Conservation Initiative, will invest more than $200 million over the next seven years to help U.S.-based beef cattle producers accelerate the adoption of regenerative grazing practices. The program will reach ranches spanning four million acres across up to 38 states, providing tools and resources for ranchers to improve wildlife habitats, conserve water, and enhance soil health.
Cesar Piña, Senior Vice President and Chief Supply Chain Officer for McDonald’s North America, emphasized the company’s commitment to responsible sourcing. “As a brand that serves more than 90% of Americans every year, we recognize the responsibility we have to help safeguard our food systems for long-term vitality,” he said. “Through our support of this initiative, McDonald’s USA is demonstrating the power of partnership between the public and private sectors and that feeding the population and stewarding our natural resources can coexist.”
The program is also backed by key McDonald’s suppliers, including Cargill, Golden State Foods, Lopez Foods, OSI, and The Coca-Cola Company. The NFWF will manage the funds and award competitive grants to partner organizations that will work directly with ranchers. This will provide new pathways and resources to accelerate the adoption of regenerative grazing, including improving grazing land management and upgrading infrastructure.
According to Jeff Trandahl, Executive Director and CEO of NFWF, the benefits of the project extend far beyond conservation. “When cattle are managed to optimize multiple ecological and economic values, the land holds more water, grows better grass, and supports more wildlife,” Trandahl said. “Conservation practices voluntarily adopted by ranchers can improve the productivity of grasslands, increase ranching profitability, and strengthen the vitality of rural communities across the United States.”
As part of the initiative, the NFWF will independently award grants, with the first round of awards expected in January 2026. Independent monitoring and quantification of soil health improvements will be provided by Kateri and Carbon Yield, ensuring accountability and measuring the program’s long-term impact.
