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CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, US — Archer Daniels Midland Co. (ADM) was ranked 27th on Fortune’s 2021 Change the World list, which ranks the top 50 companies making a positive impact through practices that are part of their core corporate purposes.

ADM has pioneered innovations in protein for more than seven decades, starting in the 1950s and 1960s and the invention of textured vegetable protein. The company patented it as the first plant-based meat alternative and created the world’s first soy-based patty in 1991.

Now, ADM focuses on taste, texture and functionality to create protein solutions that are applicable to a variety of cultures around the world.

It also has made large-scale investments in protein solutions spanning plant-based, cell-based, microbial fermentation, insect and more.

“The future of food is dependent on finding sustainable and diverse protein sources that will feed the world for years to come,” said Juan Luciano, chairman and chief executive officer. “As a global leader in protein nutrition solutions with tremendous scale and expertise at our fingertips, ADM is uniquely positioned to drive the next wave of protein innovations.”

According to research, by 2050, the world will need to produce 60% more food to feed a growing population. More and more consumers are adopting a flexitarian lifestyle for health and environmental reasons. ADM said a diversified approach is needed and alternative proteins are one path to feeding the world in a sustainable way, while reducing the environmental footprint of food production.

“As the foundation of food on tables around the world, we recognize the integral role ADM has in advancing a more sustainable food system,” Luciano said. “ADM is committed to pioneering the science and innovation that are essential to developing the next generation of healthy and nutritious foods for a growing population, and doing so in a sustainable way.”

The Fortune Change the World list is an annual recognition of companies with annual revenues of $1 billion or more that have had a positive social impact through activities that are part of their core business strategy. Fortune writers and editors, with help from the Shared Value Initiative, evaluate the companies by these four factors: Measurable social impact; business results; the benefit the socially impactful work brings to the company; degree of innovation; and corporate integration.

Source: World Grain