Archer-Daniels-Midland (ADM) — Ethics Grade D+

Archer-Daniels-Midland (ADM) receives an overall ethics grade of D+ (35/100) on CancelCo's corporate accountability database. Sector: Agriculture. Market cap: Large Cap.

Category scores

• labor: 40
• privacy: 60
• consumer: 45
• environment: 25
• humanRights: 30

Documented incidents (3)

• Lysine Price-Fixing Conspiracy (high, 1996) — ADM was fined $100 million for its role in a global price-fixing cartel for lysine, a livestock feed additive. This remains one of the most famous antitrust cases in history.
• Amazon Deforestation (high, 2020) — Reports by Mighty Earth linked ADM to the destruction of the Amazon rainforest and the Cerrado savanna through direct and indirect soy sourcing in Brazil.
• Accounting Practices Investigation (medium, 2024) — ADM suspended its CFO amid an investigation into accounting practices within its nutrition segment, leading to a massive drop in stock value and shareholder lawsuits.

Documented good deeds

• Regenerative Agriculture Goal — ADM enrolled 2 million acres in regenerative agriculture programs, aiming to reach 4 million by 2025 to sequester carbon.

Ethical alternatives

• Organic Valley — Cooperative owned by family farmers with high environmental standards.