Mars, the global leader in food and pet care, has launched new partnerships to promote regenerative agriculture across its European pet food supply chain. The company aims to expand climate-smart farming on over one million acres worldwide by 2030.
Following similar efforts in North America, Mars Petcare announced five collaborations with key players like Cargill and ADM. These partnerships will help convert nearly 21,000 hectares of wheat and maize crops in the UK, Poland, and Hungary to regenerative farming by 2028.
Regenerative agriculture focuses on farming methods that improve soil health, increase biodiversity, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Practices include crop rotation, minimal tillage, and planting cover crops. Mars will provide financial incentives and expert advice to farmers to encourage adoption.
Under Cargill’s RegenConnect program, farmers managing 4,600 hectares will receive payments for carbon captured in the soil and access real-time support on farming techniques. Mars’s deal with ADM in Poland will cover 4,000 hectares and aims to boost soil health, reduce erosion, and increase carbon sequestration.
In Hungary, Mars partners with precision farming startup Horta to optimize irrigation, fertilizer use, and implement regenerative practices on over 9,000 hectares. A separate collaboration with Biospheres and Agreena offers economic incentives to farmers adopting similar methods.
Mars is also working with Soil Capital to support UK wheat farmers in transitioning 3,200 hectares to regenerative farming by 2028. These initiatives reflect Mars’s broader goal to cut its climate footprint, as agriculture accounts for nearly 60% of its greenhouse gas emissions. In 2023, Mars recorded an 8% drop in emissions compared to 2015.
Deri Watkins, regional president of Mars Pet Nutrition Europe, emphasized the importance of healthy soil for a resilient food system. Mars will monitor project outcomes through rigorous measurement and reporting to ensure transparency.
The push for regenerative agriculture gains further momentum in the U.S., with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. set to become health secretary under Donald Trump. Kennedy supports regenerative farming as a solution to the negative health impacts of industrial agriculture.
While many major food companies tout regenerative agriculture as a climate solution, some experts warn about greenwashing. They note the lack of clear standards and the declining ability of soil and plants to absorb carbon dioxide. Practices like no-till farming and crop rotation are sometimes applied superficially, missing key organic principles.
Mars also collaborates with partners to develop new proteins and fats—such as plant-based and cultivated meat alternatives—to create more sustainable pet food options in the future.
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