Simple Mills: Pioneering Regenerative Agriculture Through Farmer Partnerships
How a leading snack brand is transforming food systems by working directly with farmers to advance regenerative farming, biodiversity, and ecosystem health.
Simple Mills: Transforming the Food System with Regenerative Agriculture
Across the food industry, the move toward regenerative agriculture is gaining momentum. Leading the charge is Simple Mills, the well-known snack brand, which is reshaping supply chains and farm practices to prioritize ecosystem health, biodiversity, and sustainability. By forging direct connections with farmers and incentivizing the adoption of regenerative methods, Simple Mills is defining an innovative pathway beyond conventional and organic farming approaches.
What Is Regenerative Agriculture?
Regenerative agriculture refers to a holistic approach to farming designed to restore soil health, increase biodiversity, build farm resilience, and foster thriving rural communities. Unlike conventional farming, which often relies on chemical inputs, monoculture crops, and tillage, regenerative agriculture seeks to
- Minimize mechanical and chemical disturbance
- Keep soil covered and living roots in the ground year-round
- Maximize crop diversity
- Integrate animals into cropping systems
- Encourage agroforestry and perennial crops
Regenerative methods are tailored to local ecosystems; what works for a sunflower farmer in Minnesota may differ dramatically from coconut growers in Indonesia.
Simple Mills’ Commitment to Regeneration: Beyond Organic
While organic certification sets baseline standards for chemical reduction and soil health, Simple Mills pushes further. The brand supports farmers in implementing practices that go well beyond U.S. Organic standards. Their approach is based on the outcomes of soil health, biodiversity, and community empowerment rather than prescriptive checklists.
- They recognize that every farm, crop, and community requires unique methods.
- Simple Mills works with agricultural partners like the Soil Health Academy and Natural Resources Defense Council to encourage cover crops, diverse rotations, perennial crops, and pollinator habitats.
- The company promotes agroforestry, hedgerows, and integration of livestock where suitable.
Recent projects include integrating perennial tree crops such as chestnut and supporting almond farmers in California to test and implement regenerative soil practices.
How Simple Mills Partners with Farmers
Simple Mills has pioneered a direct trade model that upends the conventional commodity supply chain. Rather than buying anonymously through brokers, the company connects directly with growers to foster transparency and collaboration. This system offers distinct benefits:
- Farmers receive purchasing guarantees, minimizing financial risk during the transition to new practices.
- Upfront capital supports cultivation of diverse crops and adoption of regenerative techniques.
- Growers earn premium prices for implementing soil-improving methods like cover cropping, diverse rotations, and organic amendments.
- Simple Mills arranges product development around what farmers can sustainably grow, bringing together value-chain partners such as processors and additional growers to scale projects.
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This approach not only benefits ecosystem health but also empowers farmers by valuing their knowledge and practical constraints. As Simple Mills’ Emily Lafferty says, “What a farmer chooses to do is contingent on where they are and what they know, not what we prescribe. They know their land.”
Case Study: The Sunflower Value Chain in Minnesota
In April 2020, Simple Mills approached Minnesota farmer John Strohfus to grow 300 acres of organic sunflowers for a new product. Though he had never cultivated sunflowers organically before, Strohfus embraced the challenge, connecting with neighboring farmers and a North Dakota processor to establish a transparent, farmer-led value chain.
- This initiative resulted in the launch of Simple Mills’ USDA certified Organic Seed Flour Crackers, showcasing regenerative ingredients and a traceable supply chain.
- Within a year, Simple Mills grew its direct trade network from 3 to 8 farmers, expanding acreage and illustrating how collaboration accelerates regenerative impact.
Scaling Regeneration: Signature Products and Ingredients
Simple Mills is committed to designing new products—such as baking mixes and crackers—that advance at least one regenerative agriculture principle with every innovation. This means selecting ingredients with environmental benefits and supporting farming systems that restore ecosystems.
| Ingredient | Regenerative Benefits |
|---|---|
| Chestnut (nut flour) | Perennial tree, deep roots, carbon drawdown |
| Buckwheat | Broadleaf, pollinator nectar, phosphorus cycling |
| Flax | Quick-growing broadleaf, diversifies farm economics |
| Organic sunflower, pumpkin, flax (seed blend) | Soil carbon storage, increased biodiversity |
The focus on diverse cropping systems builds resilience—both ecological and economic—while offering nutrient-dense, innovative food products.
Supporting Ecosystem Services and Climate Goals
Science increasingly supports the environmental benefits of regenerative agriculture. These practices can sequester carbon in soil, buffer farms against drought, and expand habitats for pollinators and wildlife. For example:
- No-till cultivation and year-round ground cover reduce soil erosion and water runoff.
- Diverse rotations and perennial plants help cycle nutrients and increase farm resilience to climate extremes.
- Integration of livestock replenishes organic fertility in soil.
Simple Mills promotes these outcomes as climate-smart, positioning farming as a potential solution in the fight against global warming.
Farmer Empowerment: Building Lasting Relationships
Simple Mills invests in lasting, supportive relationships with farmers—a key to fostering innovation and resilience. Their model includes:
- Agricultural coaching and educational forums for peer-to-peer learning.
- Facilitation of grower connectivity, supporting collaborative projects and supply chain solutions.
- Assistance with soil health research and financial support for equipment and tool upgrades.
- Engagement with international programs such as the PUR Project—integrating agroforestry into coconut production networks in Indonesia.
These investments help farmers navigate the challenges of changing practices and ensure the collective benefits reach beyond individual operations.
Pioneering Projects: The Almond Project
Recognizing that Californias almond sector is both ecologically significant and resource intensive, Simple Mills launched The Almond Project—a multi-year, farmer-driven experiment in Californias Central Valley. The goal: revolutionize almond growing by rigorously evaluating regenerative soil health principles and scaling proven successes.
By working closely with select almond farmers, Simple Mills seeks to demonstrate that resource-efficient, biodiversity-supporting practices can work at scale for one of the most widely consumed nuts in the U.S.
Market Impact: Driving Change Across the Industry
Simple Mills success is influencing the broader food system. As more companies—big and small—commit to regenerative agriculture, demand grows for diversified, sustainably grown crops. This economic incentive encourages traditional farmers to reconsider their approach, making environmental improvement and commercial improvement a true win-win.
- Major food brands (General Mills, Cargill, PepsiCo) are establishing their regenerative agriculture commitments, each with varying definitions and approaches.
- Simple Mills advocates for an outcomes-based approach focused on measurable benefits to soil, biodiversity, and communities.
Expanding direct trade networks and innovative sourcing enables greater transparency for consumers eager to know where—and how—their food is grown.
Challenges and Opportunities in Scaling Regenerative Agriculture
Despite its promise, regenerative agriculture faces barriers, including
- Risk and cost for farmers transitioning away from conventional systems
- Regional variation in available methods and knowledge
- Need for markets to reward ecological outcomes
Simple Mills model—offering guarantees, coaching, and partnership—alleviates these risks, making regenerative agriculture more accessible. Their experience illustrates that impactful change requires:
- Deeper supply chain relationships built on trust and shared learning
- Flexible support tailored to local needs
- Market incentives for ecosystem services
- Consumer transparency and education
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: How does Simple Mills choose which regenerative agricultural practices to support?
A: Instead of mandating specific practices, Simple Mills works with farmers to identify methods that best suit their lands, crops, and region. The company encourages approaches such as cover crops, reduced tillage, and agroforestry, but leaves decisions to growers with local expertise.
Q: What are some of the specific crops Simple Mills sources through regenerative practices?
A: Key crops include organic sunflower, almond, buckwheat, flax, chestnut, coconut, and pumpkin seeds. Signature products like Organic Seed Flour Crackers and Nut & Seed Flour Baking Mixes incorporate these sustainably grown ingredients.
Q: What impact does regenerative agriculture have on climate change?
A: Regenerative agriculture offers significant climate benefits by sequestering carbon in soils, reducing fertilizer and pesticide use, increasing farm resiliency, and expanding biodiversity—all crucial in mitigating climate change.
Q: How does Simple Mills support farmers during their transition?
A: The company provides purchasing guarantees, upfront capital, agricultural coaching, peer forums, and support for soil health research and equipment upgrades to ensure farmers can adopt regenerative methods with minimized risk.
Q: Why is direct trade important for regenerative agriculture?
A: Direct trade fosters transparency, trust, and collaboration, enabling tailored support for farmers and connecting consumers more closely with their food’s origin, which supports a resilient and ethical food system.
Conclusion: Baking Positive Change Into Every Bite
Simple Mills is creating a forceful ripple in the food industry by blending product innovation, farmer collaboration, and ecological stewardship. Their model demonstrates that regenerative agriculture not only rebuilds soil and biodiversity but also strengthens rural livelihoods, enriches consumer choices, and mitigates climate risks. As regenerative principles are increasingly embedded into supply chains and products, the company is showing how business can be an engine for systemic, lasting change—one ingredient, one partnership, and one snack at a time.
References
- https://midwestpermaculture.com/simple-mills-supports-regenerative-permaculture-farmers/
- https://non-gmoreport.com/articles/simple-mills-direct-trade-program-benefits-farmers-encourages-regenerative-ag-practices/
- https://www.simplemills.com/Learn/RegenerativeAgriculture.aspx
- https://www.simplemills.com/SimpleMills/media/agri/Regen-Ag-Flyer_R6.pdf
- https://www.simplemills.com/Learn/Blog/Blog-Posting/May-2020/Everything-You-Need-to-Know-About-Regenerative-Agr.aspx
- https://trellis.net/article/simple-mills-how-bake-sustainability-food-design/
- https://rfsi-forum.com/meet-the-activator-simple-mills/
- https://www.greenqueen.com.hk/regenerative-crackers-simple-mills-new-product-supports-sustainable-farming-practices-3/?sp=1
- https://www.simplemills.com/Learn/Blog/Blog-Posting/April-2022/How-We%E2%80%99re-Revolutionizing-California-Almond-Farmin.aspx
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