Mars pledges to commit US$27M to reduce on-farm emissions from dairy

USA – Mars, Incorporated, a multinational manufacturer of confectionery, pet food, and animal care service provider, recently partnered with global dairy producer Fonterra to launch ‘The Farmer Forward Program, ’stretching 26,000 hectares of farmland. 

Backed by a US$27M investment, this is a five-year program that aims to empower dairy farmers to embrace climate-smart agriculture practices. 

It aligns with Mars’s goal to slash greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 50%, cutting a projected 150,000 metric tons of its scope three emissions from dairy by 2030 against a 2015 baseline.

Mars announced that approximately half of the investment will be allocated to funding 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 US$15K, on average, per farmer annually.

According to the announcement, this strategic program is a cornerstone of the multinational conglomerate’s Moo’ving Dairy Forward initiative – a multimillion-dollar platform launched in 2024 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, which means Mars can only achieve its ambitious sustainability goals with the help and partnership of dairy farmers.

As a family-run business, Mars explains it understands dairy farmers’ desire to ensure the future of their farm for generations to come. 

Funding from Mars will incentivise farmers to accelerate emissions reductions and empower them to build resilient businesses for the future. 

“Fonterra and Mars have been working together for decades, with sustainability really taking a front seat in recent years. Fonterra has clear ambitions regarding climate, and it’s through partnerships like this with Mars that we can support our farmer owners with achieving our targets,” pointed out Charlotte Rutherford, Director of Sustainability, Fonterra. 

Mars explains that more than 200,000 cows supply dairy for its confectionery brands, including M&M’S and SNICKERS. Yet, raw ingredients account for 65% of the total GHG emissions from Mars’ snacking portfolio. 

Reducing these dairy-related emissions plays a significant part in meeting the greater sustainability ambitions outlined in the Mars Net Zero Roadmap to achieve net-zero GHG emissions across the company’s entire value chain by 2050.

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