Mars has unveiled a major long-term initiative to reshape how rice is grown across its global supply chain, committing twenty million dollars from 2020 through 2030 to support climate smart rice production. The program, known as Raising Rice Right, aims to help farmers reduce greenhouse gas emissions, lower water consumption and strengthen resilience as climate pressures intensify. Rice is central to many Mars brands, but it is also one of the world’s most resource intensive crops, raising an important question about how quickly global supply chains can shift toward more sustainable production without undermining the livelihoods of farmers who depend on it.

Addressing the Climate and Resource Challenges of a Global Staple Crop

Rice supports the diets of billions of people and provides income for nearly one fifth of the global population. Despite its importance, conventional production methods place immense strain on freshwater systems and release significant methane emissions. Globally, rice accounts for roughly forty percent of irrigation water use and as much as ten percent of methane output. With changing climate patterns already affecting yields and increasing the uncertainty faced by growers, Mars positions its new platform as a necessary evolution in how rice can be produced at scale while reducing its environmental footprint.

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Scaling Proven Practices That Cut Emissions and Conserve Water

At the core of the Raising Rice Right platform is a suite of climate smart agriculture practices that have demonstrated strong results in reducing environmental impacts while maintaining crop performance. One technique highlighted by Mars is alternate wetting and drying, a method involving periodic drainage of rice fields instead of continuous flooding. Research shows that this approach can cut water use by up to thirty percent and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than forty percent without compromising productivity. By working directly with farmers and suppliers, Mars intends to embed these methods across its priority sourcing regions, ensuring that sustainable practices move from pilot projects into widespread adoption.

Empowering Farmers Across Asia Through Training and Support

A significant share of the program’s funding will be dedicated to farmer training, technology access and capacity building. Mars plans to work closely with smallholder farmers in countries such as Thailand, Pakistan and India, where rice production is both a cornerstone of rural economies and highly vulnerable to climate shifts. The company’s investment will support resilience programs for growers at risk of falling into poverty and provide tools that enable communities to adapt to uncertain rainfall patterns, water scarcity and rising temperatures. Mars also intends to deepen its work with industry partners to encourage broader sector wide collaboration on sustainable rice production.

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Aligning Climate Action With Mars’ Long-Term Sustainability Strategy

Dale Creaser, Global Vice President of Supply Chain for Mars’ Food and Nutrition division, emphasized that the company views the initiative as a direct response to climate pressures threatening the future of rice cultivation. He noted that billions rely on rice every day and that millions of farmers face mounting challenges as weather patterns shift. Creaser described the twenty million dollar commitment as a way to equip growers with practical tools, training and technology to adapt and continue producing essential food crops. The initiative aligns with Mars’ Sustainable in a Generation strategy, which targets a fifty percent reduction in value chain emissions by 2030 and net zero emissions by mid century.

A Decade of Investment to Secure the Future of Sustainable Rice

Mars’ new platform represents one of the food industry’s more ambitious long horizon investments dedicated to transforming a single commodity supply chain. By combining farmer centered support with scientifically validated practices, the company is attempting to drive measurable environmental improvements while safeguarding crop yields and farmer livelihoods. With rice production facing increasing stress, the next decade will determine whether large scale commitments like this can deliver both climate resilience and economic security for producers worldwide.

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