Mars Inc. has announced collaborations to provide financial incentives to farmers as they implement regenerative agriculture practices in North America.
These partnerships aim to encourage wheat, corn and rice farmers in select regions to implement regenerative agriculture practices, contributing to Scope 3 carbon reductions as part of the Mars Net Zero Roadmap. Multi-year partnerships have begun with partners and suppliers including ADM, The Andersons Inc., Riceland Foods, and Soil and Water Outcomes Fund, led by Royal Canin USA and Mars Petcare US Inc. Key agricultural regions covered are in Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, Michigan and Ontario.
"These partnerships reflect our dedication to reducing our environmental impact, supporting farmer livelihoods, and helping to ensure a resilient supply chain for the long term,” said Jon Peattie, senior vice president, commercial at Mars Petcare US.
Through these partnerships, farmers are supported in implementing regenerative agriculture practices, including cover crops, reduced tillage and extended crop rotations, with an aim to deliver benefits such as increased yields, lower greenhouse gas emissions through reduction and carbon sequestration, improved water quality, enhanced soil health, and greater biodiversity in the implementation regions.
The results of the programs will be tracked using measurement, monitoring, reporting and verification systems.
Recently, Mars released its 2023 Mars Sustainable in a Generation Report, announcing record 8% GHG emissions reduction, doubling its total GHG reduction to 16% reduction across its full value chain and delivering its largest single year reduction in GHG emissions against its 2015 baseline. With almost 60% of the company's value chain GHG footprint coming from agricultural ingredients, Mars is scaling up new climate-smart agriculture initiatives to drive continued decarbonization.
