2026 Pesticides in the Pantry:
Transparency & risk in food supply chains

Key Findings - assessing year-over-year data from past reports

Industry-Wide Regression, Not Progress:

  • Average company score remains at dismal 2-3 points out of 27 possible (7-11%) - virtually unchanged from previous years, indicating persistent industry-wide failure to address pesticide accountability

  • Only one company (Lamb Weston) has a quantified pesticide reduction goal - down from modest 2023 baseline, as companies continue to avoid measurable commitments

  • Corporate backsliding accelerates: Major companies are actively removing pesticide-related commitments and transparency measures from their public reporting:

    • ADM removed its 2023 public commitment to reduce chemical pesticides by 2030, replacing it with vague "responsible inputs" language

    • General Mills eliminated disclosure of pesticides avoided by organic farmers - data previously reported is no longer publicly available

    • Conagra stopped reporting on pesticide use entirely while facing criticism for neonicotinoid-coated seeds in popcorn supply chain

  • Universal gaps persist unchanged across all 17 companies: Zero companies have established farmworker pesticide protection programs, zero companies have supplier standards restricting high-concern pesticides (glyphosate as desiccant, neonicotinoids, WHO Class I/II pesticides), and comprehensive pesticide data disclosure remains virtually nonexistent

  • Majority of companies (12 of 17) score 0-2 points total - demonstrating that most major food manufacturers have made zero meaningful progress on pesticide accountability since initial assessment

  • Industry leaders remain outliers, not indicators of momentum: Del Monte Philippines (scored 7/27) filed for bankruptcy in July 2025; Lamb Weston's leadership (9/27) represents the exception that proves the rule of industry inaction

  • Active resistance to pesticide reduction: Companies like Cargill promote pesticide use in their cocoa sustainability programs rather than reduction, while PepsiCo publicly defends glyphosate safety in ESG reporting - revealing corporate opposition to pesticide accountability frameworks

This data demonstrates that the food industry has not responded to stakeholder demands for pesticide reduction and transparency. Three years after initial assessment, the sector shows regression rather than improvement, with leading companies actively dismantling previous commitments.