Inside McDonald’s US$200m Move to Secure Greener Beef Supply

For McDonald’s USA, a steady supply of beef is integral to keeping operations moving and mouths fed. 

After 70 years with beef at the core of its business, McDonald’s is now committing US$200m to regenerative agriculture through the Grassland Resilience and Conservation Initiative, a collaboration with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), US Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the company’s long-standing beef suppliers.

The seven-year investment aims to scale regenerative ranching practices across up to four million acres in 38 US states and is directly tied to the strength and stability of McDonald’s beef supply chain.

From conserving water and restoring habitats to supporting rancher livelihoods, every aspect of the initiative serves a dual purpose – protecting the environment while securing the future of beef sourcing for one of the largest fast-food brands in the world.

Supporting farmers to build resilient supply chains

McDonald’s sets out to provide cattle ranchers with technical guidance, resources and economic support to make sustainable land management a practical part of their operations.

The company’s investment focuses on regenerative grazing, which is a method of pasture management that helps rebuild soil health, increase water retention and promote biodiversity.

By conserving water, restoring grassland habitats and improving grazing practices, ranchers working with the programme will help preserve the ecosystems they rely on. These efforts also improve the quality and stability of the land, which in turn supports a more secure beef supply.

Economic incentives form a key part of the offer. By backing ranchers financially as they adopt regenerative methods, McDonald’s recognises the pressures producers face.

Cesar Piña, Senior Vice President and Chief Supply Chain Officer for North America at McDonald’s, explains: “As a brand that serves more than 90% of Americans every year, we recognise the responsibility we have to help safeguard our food systems for long-term vitality.”

He adds: “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 effort goes beyond ranch-level change, extending to the entire beef value chain. Ranchers adopting these practices can help improve the long-term security of the US beef supply, from field to restaurant.

Private and public sector partners join in

McDonald’s is not doing this alone. Its major suppliers – Cargill, Golden State Foods, Lopez Foods and OSI – are backing the initiative, as is The Coca-Cola Company.

These partners are not just funding general projects; they will each independently issue competitive grants to local organisations that assist ranchers with on-the-ground implementation.

That means practical changes – fencing improvements, upgraded water systems and new infrastructure – are being supported by a combination of private capital and conservation expertise. These projects also enable collaboration between local communities, state-level organisations and national suppliers to meet shared supply chain goals.

Working alongside NRCS, the initiative targets better grazing management, grassland restoration and ranch infrastructure.

The role of these improvements is not just ecological, but economic too. Ranches that manage cattle in alignment with ecosystem needs are more productive, more profitable and more resilient to weather and market changes.

Jeff Trandahl, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer at NFWF, comments: "The benefits of grassland conservation are far-reaching. When cattle are managed to optimise multiple ecological and economic values, the land holds more water, grows better grass and supports more wildlife.”

“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.”

Long-term tracking of impact

McDonald’s wants the data to match its investment. To monitor progress and measure improvements in soil health, McDonald’s USA is working with Kateri and Carbon Yield, who are tasked with independently quantifying soil health changes linked to regenerative practices.

NFWF, meanwhile, is in charge of managing the conservation funding. It will direct investment into landscape-scale projects that deliver measurable ecological results while improving the productivity of ranch lands. These grants begin in January 2026, marking the first of many steps in a long-term approach to sustainable beef sourcing.

The initiative shows that McDonald’s is treating supply chain resilience and ecological health as inseparable priorities.

By investing in the very land where its beef supply begins, the brand ties its long-term success not just to sales, but to the sustainability of American ranching.