Arcos Dorados and McCain expand regenerative farming plan

Arcos Dorados, the operator of McDonald's in Latin America, and its longtime supplier McCain Foods have deepened their joint initiative to produce potatoes using regenerative agriculture. The partnership, which has spanned three decades, aims to secure a long-term supply of quality potatoes while restoring soil health and farm resilience.

The progress is tracked through the Regenerative Agriculture Challenge, a program launched in 2024 that assesses potato growers in Balcarce and the surrounding region across 10 key indicators audited by Carbon Group. Adoption among McCain's supplier network surged from 20% of growers in the first campaign to 62% of hectares during the second edition, which ran between November 2025 and June 2026.

In Argentina, 100% of growers in McCain's local network were already integrated into the company's Regenerative Agriculture Framework by the close of fiscal year 2026 in June, ahead of McCain's global 2030 target. Data from INTA shows that growers adopting regenerative practices reduced direct costs by 40% to 50% and increased income by up to 30% through improved soil fertility and input efficiency.

Argentina consumes approximately 100,000 metric tons of frozen potatoes each year, with 80% destined for foodservice. McCain celebrated 30 years in Argentina in 2025 with an announced 100 million dollar investment over five years to expand and modernize its Balcarce processing plant, South America's largest facility of its kind.