Rapid Regen Challenge — the^delta prize

The Rapid Regen Challenge, a flagship CSR initiative by PepsiCo and expertly designed and executed by the^delta prize (AIC NCORE Developmental Impact Foundation), aims to revolutionize India's agricultural landscape. This challenge is specifically crafted to empower non-profit organizations and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to spearhead the deployment of farmer-centric, low-risk, and high-yield regenerative agriculture practices. The core mission is to significantly regenerate India's soil health while simultaneously boosting the net incomes of smallholder farmers.

The program sets ambitious goals for its participants over a 24-month period. In Year 1, selected organizations will focus on demonstrating the proof of viability, targeting 500 hectares across 500 to 1,000 farmers. Building on this success, Year 2 will scale up to prove scalability across 5,000 hectares and involving 5,000 to 10,000 farmers, organized within 2-5 contiguous blocks per district. The challenge targets key outcomes, including doubling soil organic carbon from a baseline of 0.3% or less, increasing smallholder farmer net incomes by at least 25% without escalating cultivation costs.

Participants are encouraged to propose innovative and context-specific regenerative practices, such as composting, bio-inputs, crop rotation, intercropping, mulching, reduced tillage, agroforestry, biological pest management, and precision nutrient management. The program also supports technology-enabled transition models, including remote sensing, digital advisory, and IoT systems, allowing non-profits to partner with agritech startups or research institutions for in-house tech capabilities. This holistic approach ensures comprehensive support for the selected organizations, fostering a sustainable and prosperous future for Indian agriculture.