Item 1. Business
Item 1. BUSINESS
Company Overview
Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (the "Company" or "ADM") unlocks the power of nature to enrich the quality of life. The Company is an essential global agricultural supply chain manager and processor, providing food security by connecting local needs with global capabilities. ADM is a premier human and animal nutrition provider, offering one of the industry's broadest portfolios of ingredients and solutions from nature. The Company is a trailblazer in health and well-being, with an industry-leading range of products for consumers looking for new ways to live healthier lives. ADM is a cutting-edge innovator, guiding the way to a future of new consumer and industrial solutions. ADM is a leader in sustainability, scaling across entire value chains to help decarbonize the multiple industries it serves. Around the globe, the Company's innovation and expertise are meeting critical needs while nourishing quality of life and supporting a healthier planet.
The Company works with thousands of growers in the world’s most productive agricultural regions to purchase their crops. The Company uses its integrated global network of elevators, trucks, railcars, barges and ships to move those crops from areas of supply to areas of demand, and transforms many of those raw commodities into a broad array of products serving customers spanning food, feed, fuel, industrial, and consumer products.
ADM is a pillar of the global food supply system, playing a critical role in helping billions of people to obtain access to the fundamental nutrition they need. From staple foods, such as flour, oils, and sweeteners, to innovative alternatives like plant-based meat and dairy and lower-sugar, fat and salt solutions, ADM offers the industry’s broadest portfolio of food and beverage solutions. The Company is also a leader in animal nutrition, innovating in a world where more and more people want to feed their pets with the same kind of clean, simple, and healthy products that they eat themselves, and consumers expect livestock and poultry to be fed and raised naturally, humanely, and sustainably.
ADM is a global leader in health and well-being, with an industry-leading range of probiotics, enzymes, supplements, and more to meet the needs of consumers looking for new ways to live healthier lives.
The Company is also leading the way to a future of new consumer and industrial solutions from nature. With unparalleled expertise and capacity in precision fermentation, ADM is reimagining the world of lubricants, adhesives, home and personal care products, and more.
ADM also has significant investments and joint ventures that aim to expand or enhance the market for its products or offer other benefits including, but not limited to, geographic or product-line expansion.
The continued demand from customers for sustainably sourced products is a growth driver for ADM, and the Company invests in and supports sustainability efforts to enhance the long-term resilience of farmers, agriculture and critical supply chains, including the global food system. ADM’s Board of Directors actively oversees the Company’s sustainability strategy through a board-level Sustainability and Technology Committee (Sustainability Committee), and ADM’s Chief Sustainability Officer is part of the core strategy team and reports to the Chief Executive Officer and Chair of the Board.
Utilizing ADM’s unique position in the agricultural value chain, including relationships with farmers around the globe and an unparalleled origination, transportation, and processing network, the Company works with growers by supporting them with personalized services and innovative technologies and partnering with them to develop and enhance conservation practices, including a goal of enrolling five million regenerative agriculture acres by the end of 2025. The Company is actively working to improve the efficiency of its facilities and vehicles, finding alternative uses for waste, reusing and recycling water, and sequestering carbon at its onsite capture and storage facility. These efforts are helping advance ADM’s Strive 35 commitments to, by 2035, reduce absolute Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 25% from a 2019 baseline, reduce absolute Scope 3 GHG emissions by 25% from a 2021 baseline, increase use of low-carbon energy sources to 25% of total energy used, reduce absolute water withdrawal by 10%, and achieve a 90% landfill diversion rate.
As a global organization, the Company is strongly committed to a culture of inclusion and belonging. ADM fundamentally values the differences between individuals and believes a variety of perspectives and backgrounds support innovation, growth, and value creation.
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The Company’s innovation and expertise are helping people live healthier lives and support a stronger future. The Company’s globally-integrated footprint combines with local insights to give ADM capabilities few other companies have to meet critical global needs.
Segment Descriptions
The Company’s operations are organized, managed, and classified into three reportable business segments: Ag Services and Oilseeds, Carbohydrate Solutions, and Nutrition. Each of these segments is organized based upon the nature of products and services offered. The Company’s remaining operations are not reportable business segments, as defined by the applicable accounting standard, and are classified within either Corporate or Other Business. Financial information with respect to the Company’s reportable business segments is set forth in Part II. Item 8. Note 17. Segment and Geographic Information.
Ag Services and Oilseeds
The Ag Services and Oilseeds segment includes global activities related to the origination, merchandising, transportation, and storage of agricultural raw materials, and the crushing and further processing of oilseeds such as soybeans and soft seeds (cottonseed, sunflower seed, canola, rapeseed, and flaxseed) into vegetable oils and protein meals. Oilseeds products produced and marketed by the segment include ingredients for food, feed, fuel, and industrial customers. Crude vegetable oils produced by the segment’s crushing activities are sold “as is” to manufacturers of renewable diesel and other customers or are further processed by refining, blending, bleaching, and deodorizing into salad oils. Salad oils are sold “as is” or are further processed by hydrogenating and/or interesterifying into margarine, shortening, and other food products. Partially refined oils are used to produce biodiesel and glycols or are sold to other manufacturers for use in chemicals, paints, and other industrial products. Oilseed protein meals are principally sold to third parties to be used as ingredients in commercial livestock and poultry feeds. The Ag Services and Oilseeds segment is also a major supplier of peanuts and peanut-derived ingredients to both the U.S. and export markets. In North America, cotton cellulose pulp is manufactured and sold to the chemical, paper, and other industrial markets. The Ag Services and Oilseeds segment’s grain sourcing, handling, and transportation network (including barge, ocean-going vessel, truck, rail, and container freight services) provides reliable and efficient services to the Company’s customers and agricultural processing operations. The Ag Services and Oilseeds segment also includes agricultural commodity and feed product import, export, and global distribution, and structured trade finance activities. The Company engages in various structured trade finance activities to leverage its global trade flows.
The Company has a 22.5% equity interest in Wilmar International Limited ("Wilmar"), a Singapore publicly listed company. Wilmar is a leading global agribusiness group headquartered in Asia engaged in the businesses of packaged oils and packaged foods, oil palm cultivation, oilseeds crushing, edible oils refining, sugar milling and refining, specialty fats, oleo chemicals, biodiesel and fertilizers manufacturing, and grains processing.
The Company has a 32.2% equity interest in Pacificor. Pacificor owns and operates grain export elevators in Kalama, Washington and Portland, Oregon.
The Company has a 50.0% equity interest in SoyVen, a joint venture between ADM and Cargill to provide soybean meal and oil for customers in Egypt.
The Company has a 37.5% equity interest in Olenex Sarl ("Olenex"), a joint venture between ADM and Wilmar that produces and sells a comprehensive portfolio of edible oils and fats to customers around the globe. In addition, Olenex markets refined oils and fats from the Company’s plants in the Czech Republic, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, and the U.K.
The Company has a 50.0% equity interest in Stratas Foods LLC, a joint venture between ADM and ACH Jupiter, LLC, a subsidiary of Associated British Foods, that procures, packages, and sells edible oils in North America.
The Company has a 50.0% equity interest in Edible Oils Limited, a joint venture between ADM and Princes Limited to procure, package, and sell edible oils in the United Kingdom. The Company also formed a joint venture with Princes Limited in Poland to procure, package, and sell edible oils in Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, and Austria.
The Company has a 50.0% equity interest in Terminal de Grãos Ponta da Montanha S.A., a joint venture between ADM and Viterra, that provides grain receiving, storage, and shipping services for the Agribusiness segment in Brazil.
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The Company has a 50.0% equity interest in Gradable, LLC, a joint venture between ADM and Farmers Business Network , offering a digital grain procurement platform that enables farmers and buyers to confidently pursue and derive value from grain produced using sustainable and regenerative practices.
The Company is a supplier of raw materials to Wilmar, Stratas Foods LLC, Edible Oils Limited, SoyVen, and Olenex.
Carbohydrate Solutions
The Carbohydrate Solutions segment is engaged in corn and wheat wet and dry milling and other activities. The Carbohydrate Solutions segment converts corn and wheat into products and ingredients used in the food and beverage industry including sweeteners, corn and wheat starches, syrup, glucose, wheat flour, and dextrose. Dextrose and starch are used by the Carbohydrate Solutions segment as feedstocks in other downstream processes. By fermentation of dextrose, the Carbohydrate Solutions segment produces alcohol and other food and animal feed ingredients. Ethyl alcohol is produced by the Company for industrial use in products such as hand sanitizers and ethanol for use in gasoline due to its ability to increase octane as an extender and oxygenate. Corn gluten feed and meal, as well as distillers’ grains, are produced for use as animal feed ingredients. Corn germ, a by-product of the wet milling process, is further processed into vegetable oil and protein meal. Other Carbohydrate Solutions products include citric acids, which are used in various food and industrial products. The Carbohydrate Solutions segment is a leader in carbon capture and sequestration. By continuing to advance additional carbon capture and sequestration initiatives and projects aimed at replacing coal power and steam generation with lower emissions power, the Carbohydrate Solutions segment is well positioned to benefit from the replacement of essential materials historically made from fossil fuels with plant-based alternatives.
The Company has a 50.0% equity interest in Hungrana Ltd. which operates a corn wet milling plant in Hungary.
The Company has a 50.0% equity interest in Almidones Mexicanos S.A. which operates a corn wet milling plant in Mexico.
The Company has a 50.0% equity interest in Aston Foods and Food Ingredients, a Russian-based sweeteners and starches business.
The Company has a 40.0% equity interest in Red Star Yeast Company, LLC, which produces and sells fresh and dry yeast in the U.S. and Canada.
The Company has a 22.1% equity interest in LSCP, LLLP, which operates an ethanol plant facility in the U.S.
Nutrition
The Nutrition segment serves various end markets including food, beverages, and nutritional supplements for humans, and complete feed, feed premix and additives, pet food and pet treats for livestock, aquaculture, and pets. The segment engages in the creation, manufacturing, sale, and distribution of a wide array of ingredients and solutions including plant-based proteins, flavors and colors derived from nature, flavor systems, emulsifiers, soluble fiber, polyols, hydrocolloids, probiotics, prebiotics, postbiotics, enzymes, botanical extracts, and other specialty food and feed ingredients and systems. The Nutrition segment also includes activities related to the procurement, processing, and distribution of edible beans, the processing and distribution of formula feeds and animal health and nutrition products and the manufacture of contract and private label pet treats and foods.
The Company has a 45.3% equity interest in Vimison S.A. de C.V., a leader in the animal nutrition industry in Mexico.
The Company has 50% equity interests in ADM Matsutani LLC and Matsutani Singapore Pte. Ltd., joint ventures for the worldwide sales and marketing of Fibersol.
The Company has a 50% equity interest in ADM Vland Biotech Shandong Co., Ltd., which manufactures and commercializes human probiotics in Greater China. As of December 31, 2024, this joint venture ceased operations and has started liquidation actions.
The Company has a 42.8% equity interest in Dusial S.A., a leader in the complete feed industry in Southwest of France.
The Company has a 34.3% equity interest in Vitafort ZRT, a leading company in the Hungarian animal feed market.
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Corporate
Corporate includes the activities related to cost and equity method investments in early-stage start-up companies within ADM Ventures. In addition to identifying companies to invest in, ADM Ventures also works on select high-potential, new product development projects and alternative business models, all with the objective of supporting the Company’s strategic objectives.
Other Business
Other Business includes the Company’s remaining operations as described below.
ADM Investor Services, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, is a registered futures commission merchant and a clearing member of all principal commodities exchanges in the U.S. ADM Investor Services International Limited, a member of several derivative and commodity exchanges and clearing houses in Europe, ADMIS Singapore Pte. Limited, a clearing member of the Singapore exchange, and ADMIS Hong Kong Limited, are wholly owned subsidiaries of ADM offering brokerage services in Europe and Asia.
Insurance activities include Agrinational Insurance Company (Agrinational) and its subsidiaries. Agrinational, a wholly owned subsidiary of ADM, provides insurance coverage for certain property, casualty, marine, medical, and other miscellaneous risks of the Company. Agrinational also participates in certain third-party reinsurance arrangements.
Methods of Distribution
The Company’s products are distributed mainly in bulk from processing plants or storage facilities directly to customers’ facilities. The Company has developed a comprehensive transportation capability to efficiently move both commodities and processed products virtually anywhere in the world. The Company owns or leases trucks, trailers, railroad tank and hopper cars, river barges, towboats, and ocean-going vessels used to transport the Company’s products to its customers.
Concentration of Revenues by Product
The following products accounted for 10% or more of revenues for the following periods:
% of Revenues
Year Ended December 31
2024 2023 2022
Soybeans 19% 18% 17%
Soybean Meal 12% 13% 12%
Corn 12% 12% 14%
Status of New Products
The Company continues to expand its market footprint and business growth through the continuous development of its portfolio and optimization of production systems. Internal capabilities and acquisitions expand the Company’s ability to unlock the potential of nature and serve customers’ evolving and expanding needs through its offerings of innovative ingredients for all segments.
Source and Availability of Raw Materials
A significant majority of the Company’s raw materials are agricultural commodities. In addition, the Company sources specific fruits, vegetables, and nuts for extracts to make flavors and colors. In any single year, the availability and price of these commodities are subject to factors such as changes in weather conditions, plantings, government programs and policies, competition, changes in global demand, changes in standards of living, and global production of similar and competitive crops. The Company’s raw materials are procured from thousands of growers, grain elevators, and wholesale merchants in North America, South America, Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA), Asia, and Australia, pursuant primarily to short-term (less than one year) agreements or on a spot basis. The Company is not dependent upon any particular grower, elevator, or merchant as a source for its raw materials.
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Some of the principal crops that ADM sources and processes present specific climate change risks. For example, South American soy and global palm present risks of deforestation due to their proximity to the forest and other high-carbon-value landscapes. In addition, when not managed appropriately, row crops such as corn, soy, wheat, and canola present environmental risks such as water quality impairment, erosion, soil degradation, and GHG emissions. However, these crops also present an opportunity to combat climate change through their ability to sequester carbon in the soil using regenerative agricultural practices. In 2022, ADM launched its “re: generations” program to engage and encourage growers in its supply chain to implement regenerative agriculture practices. In the first year of the program, the Company exceeded its goal to enroll one million acres. The Company has since expanded its regenerative agriculture program to cover more than 2.8 million acres across 18 U.S. states and Canada and has also extended the program into new geographies, launching regenerative agriculture projects in Europe and South America, with a goal to enroll five million acres globally by the end of 2025.
Under the stewardship of ADM’s Board of Directors, the Company has established several key social and environmental policies that collectively outline expectations for its employees, business partners and contractors, and the Company as a whole with respect to its sourcing operations. These policies set the standards that govern the Company’s approach to environmental stewardship, employee conduct, and raw material sourcing, among other areas, and outline ADM’s positions on issues of widespread public interest. These standards are included in, among others, the Company’s Code of Conduct; Environment, Health, and Safety Policy; Human Rights Policy; Commitment to Protect Forests, Biodiversity, and Communities; Statement on Genetically Modified Organisms; Statement on Animal Testing; Commitment to Anti-Corruption Compliance; Protocol for Managing Supplier Non-Compliance and ADM Supplier Expectations, all of which are available on the Company’s website (see Item 1, Business - Available Information).
In addition to policies, a portion of the Company’s commodity sourcing is conducted using third-party certification programs including ADM Responsible Soy, Biomass Biofuel Sustainability Voluntary Scheme, Round Table for Responsible Soy, International Sustainability and Carbon Certification, Round Table on Sustainable Palm Oil, and U.S. Soy Sustainability Assurance Protocol. These programs have standards that are established to provide transparency on specific sustainability-related criteria. ADM procures canola, soybeans, and palm under these programs.
Trademarks, Brands, Recipes, and other Intellectual Property
The Company owns trademarks, brands, recipes, and other intellectual property including patents, with a net book value of $660 million as of December 31, 2024. More than 90% of these intangibles are in the Nutrition segment which is not materially dependent upon any individual trademark, brand, recipe or other intellectual property.
Seasonality, Working Capital Needs, and Significant Customers
There is a degree of seasonality in the growing cycles, procurement, and transportation of the Company’s principal raw materials: oilseeds, corn, wheat, and other grains. The Company has seasonal financing arrangements with farmers in certain countries around the world. Typically, advances on these financing arrangements occur during the planting season and are repaid at harvest.
The prices of agricultural commodities, which may fluctuate significantly and change quickly, directly affect the Company’s working capital requirements. Because the Company has a higher portion of its operations in the northern hemisphere, principally North America and Europe, relative to the southern hemisphere, primarily South America, inventory levels typically peak after the northern hemisphere fall harvest and are generally lower during the northern hemisphere summer months. Working capital requirements have historically trended with inventory levels.
No material part of the Company’s business is dependent upon a single customer or very few customers.
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Competition
The Company has significant competition in the markets in which it operates based principally on price, foreign exchange rates, quality, global supply, and alternative products, some of which are made from different raw materials than those utilized by the Company. Given the commodity-based nature of many of its businesses, the Company, on an ongoing basis, focuses on managing unit costs and improving efficiency through technology improvements, productivity enhancements, and regular evaluation of the Company’s asset portfolio. The Company’s Nutrition business is a vertically integrated business that provides ingredients and solutions for humans, animals, and pets in a highly competitive environment with a variety of companies offering the same products and services. The industry includes ingredient suppliers, contract manufacturers, global fast moving consumer goods companies, and private label brands, as well as smaller companies that specialize in specific niche markets. The Company focuses on staying ahead of the curve in terms of innovation and science-based solutions, building direct-to-consumer sales channels and focusing on consumer needs, expanding into new markets, building strategic partnerships, leveraging data and technology, and building a strong distribution network.
Research, Creation, Design, and Development (R&D)
R&D expense, net of reimbursements of government grants, for the year ended December 31, 2024 was $269 million.
The Company is committed to global health and sustainable products, recognizing the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health. ADM ’ s R&D efforts focus on creating science-based products, solutions, and technologies aligned with macro trends in food security, sustainable processes, health, and personalized nutrition. The Company strategically invests in R&D across the entire nutrition value chain by leveraging its access to innovative processes and product optimization. The R&D team is also engaged in BioSolutions initiatives which are a key part of ADM’s commitment to utilize its value chain to reduce its carbon footprint, redesign core products with sustainable alternatives, and explore new markets.
The Company is dedicated to transforming aspirations into solutions and brand innovation. The integration of interdisciplinary experts in biology, chemistry, physiology, nutrition, agronomy, and product development provides a competitive edge.
R&D teams are closely connected to customers and the global markets. Targeted product development leverages innovative ingredients and ADM’s existing portfolio across different segments. R&D innovation centers across three continents enable the rapid transformation of ideas into products. An external network of collaborators, including customers, key opinion leaders, start-ups, and academia amplifies the Company’s scientific excellence.
The scope and application of the Company’s technical capabilities reinforce its commitment to global health and sustainable products. High-throughput screening and characterization facilities strengthen ADM’s extensive ingredient database. Formulation platforms enable rapid upscaling or downscaling for cost-effective innovation. Resources dedicated to functional ingredient characterization enhance the Company’s capacity to deliver on the science behind each product.
ADM’s R&D strategy prioritizes fulfilling customer expectations and supporting the Company’s growth. The Company’s future strategy aims to deliver world-class solutions more efficiently and sustainably, and to capitalize on ADM’s full potential.
Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG)
The Company knows that the health of our natural resources is critical to our future, and that its commitment to sustainable practices will result in a stronger ADM and a better world. ADM is committed to being a force for change in developing innovative, sustainable solutions in agriculture, food and nutrition, industrial and consumer products, energy, and packaging materials while pursuing ways to continually improve the Company’s efforts in both protecting the environment and enhancing environmental sustainability. The United Nations Development Programme created the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) blueprint as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity. ADM focuses its efforts toward goals that align with its business objectives and allow the Company to make the greatest contribution towards the achievement of the SDGs, specifically Zero Hunger, Clean Water and Sanitation, Decent Work and Economic Growth, Climate Action, and Life On Land.
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Governance
The Sustainability and Technology Committee of the Board actively oversees the Company’s objectives, goals, strategies, and activities relating to sustainability. The Sustainability Committee also oversees the Company’s compliance with sustainability laws and regulations, assesses performance relating to industry benchmarks, and assists the Board of Directors in overseeing the Company’s operations as a sustainable organization and responsible corporate citizen in order to enhance shareholder value and protect ADM’s reputation. The Company’s Chief Sustainability Officer, Senior Vice President of Global Operations, and Chief Technology Officer regularly attend committee meetings as management representatives. The Executive Council of ADM, the Company’s highest strategic and operational body, provides close supervision of the Company’s ESG efforts and in-depth review of sustainability issues. Furthermore, regional sustainability teams, along with the corporate sustainability team, support the Chief Sustainability Officer to drive sustainability efforts in the Company’s facilities and supply chains around the world. ADM’s sustainability efforts are also supported by functional expertise throughout the Company such as in Operations and Utilities, Supply Chain and Procurement, Agricultural Services and Oilseeds, and Environmental Health and Safety (EHS).
Strategy
The Company aims to mitigate climate change and protect biodiversity through renewable product and process innovations, supply chain efforts including a commitment to no-deforestation or native vegetation conversion and regenerative agriculture, and a strategic approach to operational excellence with a focus on enhancing the efficiency of ADM’s production plants throughout its global operations.
ADM believes sustainability is critical to its future growth strategy. ADM’s strategic plan of sustainable growth leverages the trends and technologies in sustainability to help the Company grow and create value for its stakeholders. Agricultural Services and Oilseeds is focused on traceability of sourcing and differentiation and working with growers on low carbon agricultural practices and products. Carbohydrate Solutions is focused on decarbonization efforts that increasingly position the segment to offer low-carbon intensity feedstocks for biosolutions and biomaterials, including fuel solutions, to replace petroleum-based products. Nutrition is working with suppliers and customers to identify nature positive solutions that can reduce environmental impact in supply chains. The growth of these projects and businesses will be integral to supporting the objective of helping the planet limit total global warming to the 1.5°C threshold indicated by the United Nations. Additionally, the Company has incorporated the achievement of GHG emission goals and water reuse goals to executive performance measurement to reflect the strategic importance of ESG to its business.
Moreover, ADM has a large industrial footprint and believes it is important to reduce GHG emissions related to its business activities and the entire agricultural supply chain. The Company continues to use internal and external resources to identify opportunities and take action to reduce its GHG emissions globally to meet its continued commitment to mitigate the effects of climate change.
ADM's Strive 35 plan is an ambitious plan to, by 2035, reduce absolute Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 25% from a 2019 baseline, reduce absolute Scope 3 GHG emissions by 25% from a 2021 baseline, increase use of low-carbon energy sources to 25% of total energy used, reduce absolute water withdrawal by 10%, and achieve a 90% landfill diversion rate. To support the Company’s Strive 35 environmental goals, ADM developed a feasibility study with a leading engineering professional services firm that provides the technology pathway for absolute reduction of GHG emissions by 2035. The Company has also committed to develop a global strategy focused on improving community well-being in priority watersheds, including water-stressed areas, by the end of 2025.
As of December 31, 2023, the Company reduced absolute Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 14.7% and reduced Scope 3 GHG emissions by 7.7%. The Company reduced absolute water withdrawal by 4.2%. The Company realized no increase in low carbon energy usage and achieved 86.1% of its waste diverted from landfill.
The Company anticipates spending between $400 million and $500 million on capital projects to achieve the Strive 35 targets. Through December 31, 2024, ADM has spent $297 million on projects in support of these goals since inception, of which $139 million was spent in 2024.
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The Company believes that protection of natural resources, habitats, and biodiversity are important to life and to the Company’s business. ADM is committed to eliminating deforestation from all of the Company’s supply chains in 2025. In 2023, after a strategic investigation of the impact of conversion of native habitats in its key supply chains, the Company announced its commitment to eliminate conversion of native habitats in high risk areas in South America for direct suppliers of all commodities in 2025 and indirect suppliers by 2027, with a 2025 cutoff date (a date after which conversion of primary native vegetation renders a given area or production unit non-compliant) for both direct and indirect suppliers.
During the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company spent $64 million specifically to improve equipment, facilities, and programs for pollution control and in light of requirements of various environmental agencies.
There have been no material effects upon the earnings and competitive position of the Company resulting from compliance with applicable laws or regulations enacted or adopted relating to the protection of the environment.
ADM’s corporate social investment program, ADM Cares, aligns the Company’s corporate giving with its business strategies and sustainability objectives. Through the program, ADM works to sustain and strengthen its commitment to communities where ADM colleagues work, live, and operate by directing funding to initiatives and organizations driving meaningful social, economic, and environmental progress. The ADM Cares team evaluates potential projects submitted for funding to ensure they meet eligibility criteria, such as initiatives that support food security, health and well-being, and sustainability around the world.
Additional Sustainability Disclosures
Program updates, scenario analysis, and metrics and targets are available in ADM’s Corporate Sustainability Report which can be accessed through its website at http://www.adm.com.
References to the Company’s website address in this report are provided as a convenience, and information contained on, or available through, the website is not incorporated by reference. See Available Information section below for more information.
Income Taxes
The Company has a responsibility to oversee that all ADM businesses within the Company follow responsible tax practices. ADM manages its tax affairs based upon the following key principles:
– a commitment to paying tax in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations in the jurisdictions in which the Company operates;
– a commitment to the effective, sustainable, and active management of the Company’s tax affairs; and
– developing and sustaining open and honest relationships with the governments and jurisdictions in which the Company operates regarding the formulation of tax laws.
Human Capital and Culture
ADM’s purpose of unlocking the power of nature to enrich the quality of life highlights the significant role ADM plays within an essential industry and the critical job each employee has within the Company.
ADM has long maintained its Code of Conduct to help the Company achieve the right results, the right way. The code establishes high standards of honesty and integrity for all ADM colleagues and business partners, and sets forth specific policies to further the Company’s commitment to conducting business fairly and ethically everywhere it operates.
The Company’s culture is grounded in its values of integrity, respect, excellence, resourcefulness, teamwork, and responsibility. ADM is a truly global company of approximately 44,000 employees working together to achieve extraordinary results. Talented colleagues can be found in a wide variety of roles – including front-line employees who enable the production of ADM’s products, supply chain experts who deliver to customers all over the world, engineering teams who continuously improve the Company’s operations, sales and commercial teams who work closely with customers, information technology professionals who implement the technologies to enable the Company’s processes, and so many more. ADM continues to develop its workforce to remain relevant and deliver on the Company’s growth aspirations.
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The Company believes that cultivating an inclusive culture of care and continuous learning for our colleagues is a critical priority that assists ADM in its efforts to continue innovating, driving growth through customer focus, and delivering outstanding performance for shareholders. Part of ADM’s vision is to foster an inclusive culture with opportunities for all employees so that all members of its diverse, global workforce belong and make meaningful contributions to the success of each other and the Company. ADM holds an annual Global Week of Understanding, a signature week-long investment focused on continuous learning and strengthening ADM’s culture of belonging. The week features keynote presentations, training programs, roundtable sessions, and onsite activities that foster an environment where all can thrive, and diversity of perspectives are harnessed to fuel innovation and growth.
In support of ADM’s commitment to a productive, diverse, and inclusive workforce, ADM supports Employee Resource Groups (ERGs). These ERGs are voluntary, employee-led groups where colleagues with shared experiences or interests can come together to build a sense of community and engage in personal and professional development. ADM’s ERGs are open to all employees and offer forums for fostering collaboration, connection and belonging.
The following tables set forth information about the Company’s employees as of December 31, 2024.
Number of Employees by Contract and Region
Salaried Hourly Part-Time
Total
North America 10,034 11,171 215 21,420
EMEA 5,985 4,658 540 11,183
South America 2,904 4,511 873 8,288
Asia Pacific 1,817 805 26 2,648
Central America/Caribbean 238 260 6 504
Total 20,978 21,405 1,660 44,043
Number of Employees by Type and Gender
Male % Female % Total %
Full-time 31,799 75 % 10,584 25 % 42,383 100 %
Part-time 672 40 % 988 60 % 1,660 100 %
Total 32,471 74 % 11,572 26 % 44,043 100 %
Percentage of Executive Council and Senior Leadership by Gender
Percentage
2024 2023
Male Female Total Male Female Total
Executive Council 69 % 31 % 100 % 67 % 33 % 100 %
Senior Leadership 69 % 31 % 100 % 69 % 31 % 100 %
Compensation and Benefits
ADM offers market-competitive pay, benefits, and services that help meet the needs of its employees. The Company’s global rewards package includes base pay, short-term incentive plans, long-term equity grants, paid time-off, employee assistance programs, and benefits that meet the country-specific competitive markets in which ADM operates. ADM’s global bonus plan has clearly defined enterprise metrics and objectives which are the same for all eligible employees – creating a strong team spirit and fostering collaboration among colleagues.
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Employee Development
All ADM employees participate annually in training and development that further increases knowledge, skills, and awareness on important topics. In addition, ADM offers many voluntary training opportunities, including in-person, virtual and on-demand training. Among the offerings are an Ability to Connect Program that cultivates business language skills to foster collaboration and LinkedIn Learning Platform which offers access to over 16,000 courses in 7 languages to support career development. ADM’s leadership development program, Ability to Lead, focuses on enabling innovation, driving productivity, developing talent, change leadership, building trust, and coaching teams for engagement and performance. Additionally, first time and front line leaders are offered a Leadership Essentials program that cultivates effective communication, coaching, and the engagement and retention of talent.
ADM’s early career programs are focused on attracting and cultivating a strong pipeline of early career talent to become future leaders in the organization. Recruitment partnerships with a variety of organizations help ADM to engage with, support, recruit, and hire inclusively, from front line production associates, to interns, to college graduates that begin their career across ADM’s business units, functions and regions.
ADM prides itself in offering an array of career opportunities that include global assignments for its high potential talent, internal career growth for those who wish to learn more, and experiential learning through projects, mentorships, and on-the-job development.
Workplace Safety
ADM is committed to driving a safe and reliable culture that protects its people, its processes and the planet. By fostering a highly engaged workforce that is proactive and relentlessly focused on risk reduction, the Company aims to ensure every colleague returns home safely to their families and the things that matter most.
In 2024, approximately 76% of ADM’s sites completed the year with zero injuries and approximately 89% with no lost workday injuries. The Company’s Total Recordable Incident Rate and Lost Workday Incident Rate, based upon the number of incidents per 100 employees (or per 200,000 work hours), as defined by OSHA, for ADM colleagues (excluding unsupervised contractors) in 2024 were 0.68 and 0.23, respectively. Notably, the Decatur, Illinois complex achieved significant safety improvements in 2024, with zero fatalities or serious injuries.
In 2024, the Company had one ADM colleague fatality and nine serious injuries. The Company continues to take steps to further enhance the safety of its workplaces through occupational safety and process safety improvements and maintains a goal of zero fatalities. Through the guidance of the Environmental, Health, and Safety Technology Center, the Company is advancing impactful occupational and process safety initiatives, including:
– Driving excellence in Life-Critical Standards
– Encouraging proactive use of Stop Work Authority
– Expanding Total Process Safety training at all organizational levels
– Providing focused support to our highest-risk sites
Looking ahead to 2025, ADM is focused on efforts to continue to reduce serious injuries and its total recordable injury rate while strengthening its culture of safety and reliability.
Board Diversity
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee strives to recommend nominees who reflect a diversity of background and experience with the necessary skills to effectively perform the functions of the Board and its committees, including the Board's role in overseeing ADM’s strategy and operations. As of December 31, 2024, 58% of ADM’s 12 board members identified as members of underrepresented groups – five are African-American, Hispanic or Asian, and four are women.
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Available Information
The Company’s website is http://www.adm.com. ADM’s annual reports on Form 10-K; quarterly reports on Form 10-Q; current reports on Form 8-K; directors’ and officers’ Forms 3, 4, and 5; and amendments to those reports, if any, are available, free of charge, through its website, as soon as reasonably practicable after electronically filing such materials with, or furnishing them to, the SEC.
The Company’s Code of Conduct, Corporate Governance Guidelines, and the written charters of the Audit, Compensation and Succession, Nominating and Corporate Governance, and Sustainability and Technology Committees are also available through its website.
References to the Company’s website address in this report are provided as a convenience and do not constitute, and should not be viewed as, an incorporation by reference of the information contained on, or available through, the website. Therefore, such information should not be considered part of this report.
The SEC maintains a website which contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file information electronically with the SEC. The SEC’s website is http://www.sec.gov.
Information about Our Executive Officers
Certain information with respect to executive officers of the Company as of the date of this filing is set forth below. Except as otherwise indicated, all positions are with the Company.
Name Titles Age
Juan R. Luciano Chair of the Board of Directors since January 2016. Chief Executive Officer and President since January 2015. 63
Monish Patolawala Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since August 2024. President and Chief Financial Officer of 3M Company from September 2023 to July 2024. Executive Vice President, Chief Financial and Transformation Officer of 3M from October 2021 to September 2023 and Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of 3M from July 2020 to October 2021. 55
Christopher M. Cuddy Senior Vice President of the Company since May 2015. President, Carbohydrate Solutions business unit since March 2015. 51
Regina B. Jones
Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary since September 2023. Chief Legal Officer at Baker Hughes from April 2020 to September 2023. EVP, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary at Delek US Holdings, Inc. from May 2018 to April 2020. 54
Gregory A. Morris Senior Vice President of the Company since November 2014. President, Ag Services & Oilseeds business unit since July 2019. President, Global Oilseeds Processing business unit from May 2015 to June 2019. 53
Ian Pinner Senior Vice President of the Company since January 2020. President, Nutrition business unit and Chief Sales and Marketing Officer since November 2023. Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer from January 2020 to November 2023. President, Health and Wellness from January 2020 to March 2021. Vice President, Growth and Strategy from August 2018 to January 2020. Chief Growth Officer from July 2017 to August 2018. 52
Jennifer L. Weber Senior Vice President, Chief People and Diversity Officer since August 2020. Executive Vice President - Human Resources at Lowe’s Companies, Inc. from March 2016 to April 2020. 58
Molly Strader Fruit
Vice President, Corporate Controller since March 2021. Vice President, Global Financial Services from May 2019 to March 2021. Controller, Carbohydrate Solutions from August 2018 to May 2019. Vice President, Global Credit from April 2016 to June 2019. Controller, Americas for Agricultural Services from June 2015 to August 2018.
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