• USD 20 million over 2020–2030 to scale climate smart rice sourcing, reduce emissions and strengthen farmer livelihoods
• Focus regions include the US, Europe, India, Pakistan and Thailand where rice yields face climate-driven decline
• AWD irrigation and training programs aim to cut water use up to 30% and reduce methane by more than 40% while protecting yield
Mars will invest USD 20 million between 2020 and 2030 to transform rice sourcing and support farmers facing growing climate pressure, the company said through its Raising Rice Right platform. The initiative expands work already underway across the United States, Europe, India, Pakistan and Thailand, where rice growers are experiencing volatility in rainfall, temperature swings and increased production risk.
Rice feeds 3.5 billion people and supports livelihoods for nearly one fifth of the world’s population. Yet the crop depends on irrigation intensity and produces methane at scale, making it vulnerable in a warming climate and responsible for significant emissions. Traditional rice production uses roughly 40 percent of global irrigation water and contributes up to 10 percent of methane output, according to industry estimates. Scientific bodies warn that rice yields could fall 10 to 15 percent by 2050 without new practices.
Dale Creaser, Global Vice President of Supply Chain at Mars Food & Nutrition, put the stakes plainly. “Rice is a daily staple for billions of people and provides an income to millions of farmers around the world, but climate change is placing extraordinary pressure on this vital crop,” he said. “As the owners of Ben’s Original, one of the world’s largest rice brands, we have a responsibility to act. This USD 20 million investment is about backing our farmers with the tools, technology and training support they need to adapt and thrive in a changing environment. It’s also about future-proofing our business to ensure we’re building a resilient food supply chain. We’re committed to making rice farming more sustainable and protecting yields and livelihoods for our farmers today and for generations to come.”
Climate-smart agriculture becomes core to sourcing strategy
A central feature of the program is alternate wetting and drying, a method that replaces permanent flooding with periodic drainage to reduce methane emissions and water intensity without sacrificing yield. Trials within Mars’ supply network show strong results. The Whitaker family in Arkansas recorded up to 60 percent lower emissions and 60 percent water savings compared to regional averages.
The initiative will expand adoption of AWD and other regenerative methods across commercial and smallholder suppliers. Targeted investment will pay for field training, equipment access and data tools that help farmers choose irrigation schedules responsive to rainfall and soil moisture. Mars also operates programs in Thailand, Pakistan and India where many smallholders face climate exposure but lack finance for adaptation. Through the Sustainable Aromatic Rice Initiative in Thailand, 1,400 farmers have received training, two thirds of them women, improving yield stability while lowering environmentalEnvironmental criteria consider how a company performs as a steward of nature. More impact.
The social dimension: livelihoods at risk if adaptation stalls
Rice communities stand at the intersection of food security, rural development and climate vulnerability. With half the world’s population expected to be living in water-stressed regions by mid-century, competition for irrigation creates economic strain. Mars has set a target to ensure that all farmers in poverty-risk categories within its supply chain are reached by support programs, linking adaptation to income stability.
Rice consumption patterns reinforce the urgency for long-term resilience planning. UK consumers alone eat 2.3 billion bowls of rice annually, and 63 percent of respondents in a recent Mars survey reported weekly consumption. With this scale of demand, supply volatility has direct consequences for pricing, trade balances and national food strategies.
RELATED ARTICLE: Mars, Golden Peaks Capital Launch 100+ Solar Projects in Poland
Industry alignment and global ESG direction
Mars is a founding member of the Sustainable Rice Platform, which coordinates standards, financing and measurement frameworks for climate-aligned rice systems. Collaboration across brands and governments remains central, particularly as methane-cutting innovation and water management approaches require collective investment.
For ESG-focused capital, the implications land on multiple fronts. Agriculture-linked emissions account for a major share of global methane, a gas with high warming potential. Water scarcity threatens both yield and revenue predictability for brands dependent on staple crops. The sector therefore sits at a critical intersection for climate transition financing, nature-positive strategies and food system resilience.
Global significance
Mars’ USD 20 million commitment forms part of its Sustainable in a Generation plan, which sets science-based goals including 50 percent value-chain emissions reduction by 2030 and net zero by 2050. If results scale beyond early pilots, rice could move from climate vulnerability toward climate resilience, shaping food-system strategy for governments and corporates alike.
Rice is one of the world’s most essential commodities. Its future hinges on the speed at which producers, brands, policymakers and financiers transform today’s practices into models that conserve water, cut emissions and protect rural income. Mars’ decision contributes capital and momentum into that transition, and the race ahead will determine whether global supply can withstand the climate decade to come.
Follow ESG News on LinkedIn
The post Mars Commits $20 Million to Climate Smart Rice Farming Through 2030 appeared first on ESG News.
