CHICAGO — International snack and food manufacturer Mars, Incorporated, partnered with its longtime dairy supplier Fonterra to launch a sustainability-focused program designed to help dairy farmers reduce emissions.
Mars announced it pledged $27 million for its Farmer Forward Program, a five-year investment the company said it will utilize to cut greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through climate-smart agriculture practices.
The program calls for roughly half of the investment going toward on-farm tools and technology for approximately 2,000 Fonterra dairy farmers. Mars also shared that the rest of the funds will be used as cash incentives, going directly to “about 165 farmers each year who make the most progress against sustainability goals, in amounts of up to [$15,000], on average, per farmer annually.”
Mars identified dairy as its fourth-largest carbon footprint contributor and said it can only reach its sustainability objectives with the help of dairy farmers. It called the program a crucial component of its goals to cut GHG emissions by 50% by 2030 (against a 2015 baseline) and achieve Net Zero by 2050.
Data shared by Mars detailed how the Farmer Forward Program covers 26,000 hectares of farmland, and the dairy production involved could theoretically produce enough milk to make 20 billion Snickers bars every year.
The partnership with Fonterra aims to cut a projected 150,000 metric tons of Mars’ scope 3 emissions from dairy by 2030, compared to a 2015 baseline.
Mars Snacking chief R&D, procurement and sustainability officer Amanda Davies said dairy farmers are on the front line of advancing climate-smart agriculture.
“Through this initiative, we’re investing roughly $27 million in Fonterra farming families over the next five years to deliver critical financial support and significant emissions reductions,” Davies said. “It’s a true win-win, because we know making dairy more sustainable takes real effort and real investment.”
Per Mars, 200,000-plus dairy cows produce the milk used in the company’s confectionery brands, such as M&M’s and Snickers. The company said raw ingredients account for 65% of total GHG emissions from its snacking portfolio.
Fonterra director of sustainability Charlotte Rutherford said the dairy manufacturer shares with Mars a commitment to protecting the environment.
“Fonterra and Mars have been working together for decades, with sustainability really taking a front seat in recent years,” Rutherford said. “Fonterra has clear ambitions when it comes to climate, and it’s through partnerships like this with Mars that we can support our farmer owners with achieving our targets.”