Mars Commits €18.5m To Sustainable Rice Sourcing

This initiative aims to help rice farmers, particularly in regions like the US, Europe, India, Pakistan, and Thailand, adopt climate-smart agriculture practices, ESM Magazine reports.

The investment comes in response to increasing climate variability and projections of declining global rice yields.

Rice is a vital crop, a daily staple for 3.5 billion people and a source of income for nearly a fifth of the global population, but traditional farming methods account for roughly 40% of the world’s irrigation water and contribute up to 10% of global methane emissions.

Recent reports from the IPCC and FAO paint a stark picture, projecting a 10–15% decline in global rice yields by 2050 if current trends persist.

Environmental Impact

In response to this global challenge, Mars is committed to transforming rice farming to reduce its environmental impact while also protecting farmers’ livelihoods and yields.

Through its new ‘Raising Rice Right’ platform, Mars aims to equip rice farmers with the tools, technology, and training necessary to adopt climate-smart agriculture practices, enhance income security, and safeguard their livelihoods.

The investment will enable Mars to scale climate-smart agriculture practices, such as ‘Alternate Wetting and Drying’ (AWD), which can significantly reduce water usage and greenhouse gas emissions without compromising yields.

They will also provide training and support to farming communities, helping them adopt these new methods.

Examples include working with farmers like the Whitakers in Arkansas, who have dramatically reduced their water usage and emissions through AWD, and supporting smallholder farmers in Thailand, Pakistan, and India through initiatives like the Sustainable Aromatic Rice Initiative (SARI).

Help For Farmers

Furthermore, Mars is committed to building farmer resilience, aiming to reach all farmers in their supply chain at risk of poverty with programs designed to help them thrive.

The company also plays a leadership role in industry collaboration as a founding member of the Sustainable Rice Platform (SRP).

This investment is part of Mars’ broader “Sustainable in a Generation” plan, which includes goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve the lives of one million people across its value chain.