Mars has pledged $27 million to support dairy farmers and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

Mars, Inc. has announced a new partnership with Fonterra, one of the world’s largest dairy suppliers. Backed by a $27 million, five-year investment, the Farmer Forward Program aims to empower dairy farmers to embrace climate-smart agriculture practices as Mars hopes to slash greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 50% by 2030 against a 2015 baseline.

Approximately half of the investment will be allocated to providing funding for on-farm tools and technology to around 2,000 Fonterra dairy farmers. The remaining funds will go into the pockets of 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.

The Farmer Forward Program stretches across 26,000 hectares of farmland — equivalent to approximately 50,000 NFL football fields. Through the program with Fonterra, Mars aims to cut a projected 150,000 metric tons of its scope 3 emissions from dairy by 2030 against a 2015 baseline. 

This strategic program is a cornerstone of the multinational conglomerate’s Moo’ving Dairy Forward initiative — a multimillion-dollar platform launched last year to drive investment in new technologies and partnerships to slash GHG emissions across the Mars global dairy supply chain. Dairy is the company’s fourth-largest carbon footprint contributor — that means Mars can only achieve its ambitious sustainability goals with the help and partnership of dairy farmers.

“Dairy farmers are on the front line of advancing climate-smart agriculture, which is why we’re putting them first through the launch of our Farmer Forward program,” said Amanda Davies, Chief R&D, Procurement and Sustainability Officer, Mars Snacking. “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. It’s a true win-win, because we know making dairy more sustainable takes real effort and real investment.”

“Fonterra and Mars have been working together for decades, with sustainability really taking a front seat in recent years. 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,” said Charlotte Rutherford, Director of Sustainability, Fonterra. “We are grateful for Mars and its shared commitment to protecting the environment. It’s a true testament to the power of partnership and innovation.” 

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