ReNest. From Roots to the Future. A journey into food.

Companies

Regeneration, Purina's commitment to agriculture and oceans

by Fabrizio Arnhold

21 May 2026

Degli Esposti (Purina): “La rigenerazione degli oceani e dei territori è la sfida da vincere”

3' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

3' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

In the lexicon of corporate sustainability, the term 'regeneration' is progressively replacing the more generic term 'impact reduction'. This distinction is far from secondary: it means moving from a defensive logic to one of reconstructing ecosystems. It is an approach that is emerging with increasing clarity even in the contexts of confrontation between companies and research - as was also recently revealed during the ReNest event, held in Milan from 12 to 24 May - and which is reflected in Purina's strategy in Europe, with an acceleration in recent years on two complementary fronts: regenerative agriculture and protection of marine habitats

Regenerative agriculture: beyond intermediate targets

The most significant figure is that the intermediate target set for 2025 has been exceeded at European level. Today, 29% of the cereals and plant proteins used by Purina in Europe come from agricultural supply chains that adopt regenerative practices, above the 20% threshold originally planned. An achievement involving more than 630 farmers and about 37,000 hectares of land.

The goal, however, is not an end point. The company is looking beyond, to 2030, when the target will become 50% sourcing from regenerative agriculture. This is part of the Nestlé Group's broader decarbonisation strategy, which aims to achieve zero net emissions by 2050.

The rationale is the progressive transformation of supply chains with technical and economic support programmes for farmers. Initiatives such as 'Sols Vivants' and 'LENs' operate in France, the United Kingdom and other European markets, and a new pilot project developed with specialised partners has been launched in Italia since 2025.

This is the case with the 'farm-based' model developed with Biospheres, a company specialising in agroecology and the large-scale implementation of regenerative practices, which puts the farm at the centre of customised pathways. The approach involves tailor-made agronomic plans, training and continuous monitoring, with the aim of improving soil fertility, climate resilience and farm profitability. Not a minor detail in a sector where sustainability is also linked to the economic aspect of the companies involved.

Italy as a supply chain laboratory

In the European context, Italia assumes the role of an operational laboratory. The projects active in the North-East, particularly between Veneto and Friuli-Venezia Giulia, involve dozens of farms and are integrated with the industrial pet food supply chain. The objective is twofold: to reduce the environmental impact of supplies and to strengthen the resilience of strategic crops such as wheat, barley and soya.

The approach is consistent with a broader trend in European agribusiness: the transition is no longer measured only in terms of avoided emissions, but also in terms of the capacity of soils to regenerate, retain carbon, host biodiversity and maintain productivity in the long run.

Oceans: the second frontier of regeneration

There is not only land. Purina, in fact, has opened up a second front: marine ecosystems. With the 'Ocean Restoration Program', launched at European level, the aim is to restore 1,500 hectares of marine habitats - the equivalent of about 3,700 football pitches - by 2030, including seagrass beds, oyster reefs and seaweed beds.

The choice is not only environmental, but directly linked to the company's supply chain. Part of the pet food ingredients are in fact derived from fishing by-products, making the health of marine ecosystems a structural element of the industrial model.

The programme is based on partnerships with scientific bodies and specialised organisations, with a step-by-step approach: first the definition of shared metrics, then the scalability of interventions. A strategy that reflects the complexity of the subject, where measuring environmental impact remains a major challenge.

A convergence of land and sea

The set of initiatives highlights a key element: the progressive integration of agricultural and marine regeneration within the same industrial strategy. Not two parallel strands, but a single perimeter of biodiversity protection within the industry.

In this scheme, sustainability is no longer a reputational appendage, but a supply chain continuity factor. The ability to ensure resilient supplies - from the ground to the ocean - becomes an increasingly relevant variable in economic terms as well.

While the challenge in the coming years will be to scale these models beyond the pilot phase, the Purina case shows how regeneration is rapidly becoming a competitive variable in European agri-food supply chains, as well as an indicator of environmental sustainability.

Brand connect

I prossimi eventi

Tutti gli eventi

Notizie e approfondimenti sugli avvenimenti politici, economici e finanziari.

Radiocor