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: 45
• privacy: 70
• consumer: 50
• environment: 20
• humanRights: 30

Documented incidents (3)

• Accounting Practices Investigation (high, 2024) — ADM placed its CFO on leave and initiated an internal probe into accounting practices within its Nutrition segment. The investigation sparked a significant stock price drop and SEC scrutiny.
• Amazon Deforestation Ties (high, 2022) — Satellite mapping linked ADM's supply chain to deforestation in the Brazilian Cerrado. The company was accused of sourcing soy from farms operating on illegally cleared land.
• Peanut Market Price Manipulation (medium, 2023) — The company settled a lawsuit alleging it conspired to depress the prices paid to peanut farmers. This mirrors historical issues with lysine price-fixing for which the company became infamous.

Documented good deeds

• Regenerative Agriculture Program — ADM expanded its program to cover 2 million acres of farmland, providing financial incentives for farmers to adopt cover cropping and carbon sequestering techniques.

Ethical alternatives

• Ingredion Inc. — Consistently higher scores in ethical sourcing and supplier conduct audits.