Strengthening food systems through sustainable practices
Sustainable farming practices enhance ingredient quality and nourishment, making a positive impact on people and the planet. Read More

This article is sponsored by WK Kellogg Co.
Our climate footprint is deeply connected to the food we grow, buy and eat. That’s why at WK Kellogg Co, we’re dedicated to making and sharing food that helps kids, families and communities be healthier and happier, together. And like other food companies, we’re responding to new pressures on how key ingredients affect nutritional quality, climate issues and farmer livelihoods.
The benefits of connecting and strengthening food systems holistically are hard to ignore — although the practices aren’t always easy to identify or implement. Here’s my take on how to approach this issue.
Environmental sustainability benefits
The regenerative agriculture movement has gained momentum as more people learn about the connection between healthy soil and the benefits for themselves and the environment. This thoughtful way of farming makes sure the harvested land stays healthy and sustainable for years to come. And although we’re still waiting on long-term studies, some research already shows that using regenerative farming methods can help crops capture more carbon—reducing the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere.
But to fully unlock the environmental benefits of adopting more sustainable farming practices, we need to measure them. Food companies need to analyze and assess how their crops and ingredients affect the environment — the same as a car manufacturer would do for auto parts or a fashion brand would do for fabric and material sourcing.
To better understand the environmental impact of WK Kellogg Co’s nine priority ingredients — corn, wheat, rice, sugar beet, sugar cane, raisins, strawberries, palm oil and cocoa — we engaged HowGood as a third-party partner to help us measure the carbon footprints of these ingredients during our first year as a new company. This allows us to establish benchmarks from the beginning, which will help inform our future sustainability goals.
What we’ve found is that building strong relationships with growers and suppliers helps ensure a smooth transition among farms, production sites and supply chains. Any disconnects create an incomplete picture in understanding the total environmental impact of whatever “ingredients” — literally or metaphorically — go into your company’s product. Better data means better outcomes, and it’s always best to have a consistent process and transparency from the start.
Food and nutrition benefits
With the world population expected to reach 9.8 billion by 2050, soil health and nutrient density are part of a larger conversation around food access, quality and nutrition. Maximizing an ingredient’s nutritional value is vital for human health, as nutrient-dense crops provide essential vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and phytonutrients. In fact, research from the last few years has shown connections between soil properties and the human gut microbiome — offering further evidence that soil biodiversity is interrelated with the gut microbiome. And as a registered dietitian, I believe that better health outcomes start with a healthy gut.
Partnering with the Nutrition Density Alliance has reinforced the nutritional benefits and improved food quality resulting from soil-building regenerative agriculture. Its recently released white paper covers the science linking soil health to human health and offers tips for how food companies can translate the nutritional benefits into informed shopper demand—and thereby, topline growth.
Regenerative agriculture can improve food qualities important to consumers—from nutrient density and taste to shelf life and aesthetics. The full life cycle of an ingredient can be shaped by the health of its soil; honoring that high-quality ingredient means maximizing its usage, which in turn also helps minimize food waste. One way to help educate customers on these benefits is through on-pack messaging. It’s readily available real estate for consumer-facing brands to make the most of, and we’ve seen the benefits at WK Kellogg Co.
Social and community benefits
Food nourishes more than physical needs — it meets emotional and societal needs, too. After all, few things bring people together quite like sharing a meal. At WK Kellogg Co, we think about how food can support community cohesion and enhance public health and well-being, beginning with how the food is grown.
The community benefits of sustainable agriculture practices start on the farm, and we are committed to supporting the current and next generation of farmer leaders. Through our partnership with the Dan Gillespie Soil Health Fund, we fund education and educational practices related to soil health and regenerative agriculture for youth, current farmers and ranchers, and others involved in agriculture. Prioritizing sustainable farming practices creates more opportunities for farmers and rural communities to flourish and meet consumer demands for sustainably grown food. At least 65 percent of consumers want to make the right spending choices to live a healthier and more sustainable life.
This creates a positive ripple effect that extends beyond the farm to the family table. In essence, every sustainable food purchase is a vote for a more sustainable and equitable food system. And with just one box of cereal, we can unlock both positive ingredients and social impact programming for kids, families and communities. Consumer marketing programs such as WK Kellogg Co’s Mission Tiger and Feeding Reading give us a roadmap for how to connect the foods we make to the experiences that spark happiness, health and confidence for kids—and gives customers a way to join us in giving back. To date, we have created almost 2 million sports and play experiences for kids. I encourage leaders at other organizations to think about how you can power more positive outcomes with the purchase of your product.
In conclusion
Acknowledging and acting on the connection between sustainability and food creates better outcomes for people and the planet. We understood this when we created WK Kellogg Co’s sustainable business strategy, Feeding Happiness. We have three focus areas—Make Eating Well Easy, Help Kids Be Their Best and Better Our Communities — but we don’t see them in silos. Each focus area impacts and influences the others so we can put healthier, happier futures within reach and create lasting impact in our communities.
