Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE: CMG) is donating $2 million across four universities to support agricultural and environmental science programs at The Ohio State University, Cal State Monterey Bay, Colorado State University and the University of Florida.
The four $500,000 contributions are part of a 2021 pledge by the Newport Beach-based restaurant chain to donate $5 million by 2025 to support the farming industry funded by 5% of profits from sales of Tractor Beverages in Chipotle restaurants.
“How we grow our food is how we grow our future,” Chief Brand Officer Chris Brandt said in a statement. “These impactful projects, headed by some of the brightest minds in ag innovation, create optimism for widespread adoption of sustainable agriculture and the future of real food.”
The funding will be used in establishing pilot programs, constructing research labs and greenhouses and creating funds and grants focused on agriculture projects at the four schools.
Chipotle also released an animated short TV ad on the Roblox platform showcasing the chain’s initiative to support the farming community.
Chipotle, with a current market cap of $72 billion, is Orange County’s most valuable publicly traded company and the second largest restaurant chain headquartered in the region.
