SWOF Spotlight: Get to Know Ingredion's Andrew Utterback
In each Tune Up Newsletter, we profile one farmer, team member, partner, or other SWOF affiliate to better understand their contribution to the program. In this edition, we’re spotlighting Andrew Utterback from our partner, Ingredion.
Andrew Utterback
Tell us a little about yourself and Ingredion?
Ingredion is a Fortune 500 food ingredient manufacturer. We focus on taking agricultural commodities and turning them into value added products for food and beverage companies. Ingredion operates globally with a focus on corn, tapioca, stevia, potatoes, and pulses. I have been with Ingredion for 16 years, most of which have been spent with a focus on the commodity sourcing side of the business. I spent several years contracting specialty corn with growers across the corn belt before moving into a larger role purchasing corn for our US manufacturing sites. While working in Commodity Purchasing, I began to work on our sustainable agriculture programs. It quickly became apparent that sustainable ag was more than a part time focus and that it was something that fit my interest in agriculture, innovation, and science.
What drives your passion for sustainability and what do you do for Ingredion in your role as Director of Global Sustainability Sourcing?
My role with Ingredion has two main foci. First, I am focused on meeting our goals around sustainable and regenerative agriculture as well as creating the strategy that drives those goals. My second focus is on creating commercial value through Ingredion’s work in sustainable and regenerative ag. I work with our Sales and Marketing Teams to create supply chain-level projects with Ingredion’s key customers that will drive value for all members of the supply chain. This will also position Ingredion as a trusted supplier deserving a larger share of the wallet with customers and the opportunity to bid for new business. My passion for sustainability is driven by the opportunity to work with our great suppliers on ways to improve their operations and the environment. Whether it’s executing on cover crops with a large row crop farm or a nutrient management plan with a smallholder grower which will improve their livelihood, it’s extremely fulfilling to see the impact my work has.
What does regenerative agriculture mean to you?
To me regenerative agriculture is a philosophy focused on rebuilding soil, improving water quality and quantity, improving biodiversity, while focusing on the rights and livelihoods of the suppliers. There is no set list of practices or measurements that can universally lead to a regenerative program. A true regenerative process can meet growers and the ecosystem where they are, identify challenges, find ways to incentive practices to effect positive change, and then be able to measure the outcomes. To truly be effective in regenerative agriculture, supply chain members must realize that agriculture is a dynamic system and that it takes a collaborative approach to make an improvement in the areas most important to you.
Ingredion has been a great partner for SWOF, even referring other corporate partners to the program. What do you think sets the Soil and Water Outcomes Fund apart from other regenerative agriculture programs or initiatives?
In my opinion, the biggest thing that sets SWOF apart is their in the field, hands on approach with growers. SWOF agronomists meet with prospective grower partners and work with them to choose interventions that will be most effective on their land while remaining agronomically viable. The other important aspect of SWOF is the trust they have built up across all points of supply chains. They work well with growers and have earned their trust, but SWOF also has the trust of our customers who have seen the output of their projects. Also importantly, SWOF has earned the trust of USDA which can be seen in the RCPP and Climate-Smart grants that are helping to keep costs for regenerative interventions plausible. As Ingredion, when we can find a partner who has earned the trust of others that we want to collaborate with, it makes it a much easier decision to work with that group.