Climate Lobbying Overview: Cargill Inc (Cargill) appears to have positive top-line communications on climate change policy, alongside more negative engagement on land-use related policy. The company has supported net-zero emissions reductions in line with the IPCC but has limited engagement with specific climate-related policies. Cargill generally advocates against on transition consumer habits and diets in line with IPCC recommendations.

Top-line Messaging on Climate Policy: Cargill has broadly supportive top-line messaging on climate policy. In a C2ES joint letter from January 2021, the company stated support for net-zero emissions reductions and national climate policies toward this aim. Similarly, via the America is All In initiative in December 2020, the company stated support for the US to set a goal of net-zero emissions by 2050. In its 2022 ESG Report, released in November 2022, Cargill was unclear if it supports government regulation on climate change, noting that it will advocate for policy that aligns with the company’s strategic priorities. In the company’s Q3 2022 Federal Lobbying Disclosure, Cargill stated it had engaged on the Inflation Reduction Act, but did not disclose a position. The company stated support for the Paris Agreement in its 2022 ESG Report.

Engagement with Climate-Related Regulations: Cargill provides detail on some of its climate-related positions in its 2021 CDP Disclosure, but primarily highlights joint letters and notes only a few specific policies, such as the Growing Climate Solutions Act, related to climate change. The company has limited disclosure on its policy positions on its corporate website, accessed in November 2022. Beyond this, InfluenceMap did not find evidence of Cargill’s position on, or engagement with, climate-related legislation and regulation.

Engagement with Land-Use Related Regulations: Cargill appears to have negative engagement on land-use related regulations. Cargill suggested it does not support  consumer habit changes or reducing the production of livestock in its 2022 ESG report, released in November 2022, stating “we believe cattle can be a force for good in mitigating climate change and protecting the environment.” Evidence also suggests that the company does not acknowledge uncertainty associated with technologies to improve efficiency of agricultural production on its “Agricultural Policy” section of its corporate website, accessed in November 2022. In a February 2021 video featured on Euractiv, a Cargill executive suggested that the company does not support changes in consumer habits, stating the industry must meet individual dietary choices. However, in its 2022 ESG Report, released in November 2022, Cargill stated support for the broad decarbonization of agriculture.

Positioning on Energy Transition: Cargill appears supportive of the transition of the energy and transport sectors. In its 2022 ESG Report, released in November 2022, Cargill stated support for the transition to a low-carbon economy. The company has also indicated support for greater use of biofuels in the energy mix on its corporate website, accessed in November 2022. In September 2021, Cargill joined a call to action by a multi-stakeholder coalition advocating for the decarbonization of the shipping industry by 2050. In its 2020 participation in the America is All In initiative, the company stated support for a zero-emissions power sector. The company also reported lobbying on energy-related tax credits in the Inflation Reduction Act in its Q3 2022 Federal Lobbying Disclosure but did not disclose a position.

Industry Association Governance: Cargill does not disclose memberships to industry associations on its website and provides only high-level information on its memberships in its 2021 CDP Response. As listed in its CDP disclosure, the company is a member of the US Chamber of Commerce, which holds largely negative positions on climate policy. Cargill is also a member of FoodDrink Europe and the European Chemical Industry Council. The company has not published a formal review of its alignment with industry associations as of November 2022.