Large multinational food companies General Mills and Ahold Delhaize USA have joined forces in a regenerative farming initiative aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from shared suppliers. This strategic collaboration focuses on scaling the adoption of sustainable agricultural methods in key supply regions across North America, particularly in Kansas, USA, and Saskatchewan, Canada. The partnership aims to engage farmers managing a collective 70,000 acres of farmland by the end of 2025.
The initiative is part of a broader effort by both companies to address Scope 3 (indirect) emissions, which account for the majority of their environmental impact. The Ecosystem Services Market Consortium (ESMC), a key partner in this endeavor, will provide technical and financial support to participating farmers. ESMC will also assist in calculating greenhouse gas emissions reductions through field sampling and digital modeling, ensuring that environmental impacts are accurately measured and verified.
According to Jay Watson, Director of Regenerative Agriculture at General Mills, the "supply shed approach" aims to create positive environmental impacts at the farm level, benefiting all stakeholders involved in the agricultural landscape. This method allows multiple players in the shared value chain to co-invest in program delivery and farmer incentives, thereby promoting a unified effort toward sustainable farming practices.
A Track Record of Commitment
General Mills' journey with regenerative agriculture started in 2019 when it first committed to transitioning 1 million acres of farmland to regenerative practices by 2030. The company is actively working with a variety of partners, including the American Farmland Trust and the Rodale Institute, to support organic farmers with technical assistance and mentoring. These efforts are not just limited to wheat and oat farms but also extend to regions where the company sources other key ingredients like dairy, almonds, and tomatoes.
Meanwhile, Ahold Delhaize USA has set ambitious sustainability goals, including reducing its Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 50% by 2030 and its Scope 3 emissions by 15% within the same timeframe. This collaboration with General Mills is the second major regenerative agriculture project announced by the company this year, following a successful pilot in North Carolina that supported sustainable practices on farms producing wheat for the Cheez-It brand.
Industry Context and Importance
The collaboration between these two giants is timely, given recent findings from Ceres that highlight gaps in the climate strategies of the global food sector. While many companies have set targets for reducing direct and power-related emissions, less progress has been made in addressing supply chain emissions, which can be up to 26 times higher than operational emissions. This partnership between General Mills and Ahold Delhaize could serve as a model for other companies looking to make meaningful reductions in their agricultural supply chains.
The initiative underscores the importance of strategic collaboration in driving positive environmental outcomes and achieving long-term sustainability goals. As more companies recognize the value of regenerative agriculture, such partnerships could become crucial in the global effort to combat climate change.
This collaboration sets a precedent for how large food corporations can work together to address shared sustainability challenges, leveraging their combined resources and influence to make a lasting impact on the environment and the agricultural communities they rely on.
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