Sustainability is a driving force for both our companies and we are working closely together to help achieve each other's goals.
Mars' Sustainable in a Generation plan has set clear sustainability ambitions including a 2050 net zero emissions commitment and a 50% reduction in absolute emissions by 2030, and its making headway. The company has reduced its greenhouse gas emissions of its full value chain by 8% against a 2015 baseline, all while growing their business by 60%.
Part of the Sustainable in a Generation plan involves transforming Mars' agricultural supply chain. To this end, Fonterra has become one of Mars' leading partners, providing high quality milk products that are sustainability produced.
In March, the Co-op hosted several members of the Mars team including Global Category Director for Mars Snacking, Srikanth Ramachandran. It was a chance for Mars to better understand the challenges and opportunities facing Fonterra's farmer owners on farm and to learn how Mars can best support them to drive greater efficiencies and emissions reductions.
In an interview with the New Zealand Herald during the visit, Srikanth outlined the company's position on sustainability. "Keeping our planet healthy is non-negotiable for Mars. There's nothing like visiting farms in person to get a deeper understanding of the current challenges and opportunities that farmers face. Our farm visits were an important part of our trip as we want to continue to support farmers throughout their journey to reduce on farm emissions."
Sustainability in action on farm
During the trip, the Mars team visited Fonterra's offices, Farm Source stores and farms across the North and South Island, including Dennley Farms in Tirau.
Dennley Farms has held Te Tihi status for four consecutive years under The Co-operative Difference. It provided an ideal location for the team to see how our farmers are walking the talk when it comes to making sound environmental decisions.
The 196ha dairy and beef farm has been owned and operated by Adrian and Pauline Ball for the past 30 years. Originally a high intensive dairy farm with an environment footprint that "wasn't great" according to Adrian, the couple have made consistent and concerted changes over the years to become more sustainable. This has included the creation of wetlands and fencing of waterways, planting on retired land, changes in fertiliser use and lowering stock rates. Soil testing has become a mainstay of the business. Over the past decade the farm has reduced nitrogen leaching from 65kg to to 25kg per hectare and lowered its greenhouse gas emissions from 18 tonnes to 7 tonnes CO2e per hectare.
For the Balls, hosting Srikanth and the team on farm was a great opportunity to showcase how their business is based on science, logic, and innovation, and the positive impact this has on the milk provided to the Co-op and in turn, Mars.
"The team is very scientifically minded and Mars' staff are out in the field a lot on cocoa plantations to drive change and have a firm understanding of farming systems. During the visit to Dennley Farm they very quickly realised that what we are doing here aligns with Mars' values. We live and breathe sustainability and integrated farming here," Adrian says.
Mars has invested heavily in scientific research and development including working on specialty soil products.
Best in class
The Mars team was impressed by the Co-op's mindset towards sustainability and said its biggest strength was its farmers and the amount of work being done on farm to be more sustainable.
Mars deemed the Co-op's commitment to recording information on farm "best in class" - high praise from a company that works in more than 180 countries.
Mars team visiting Farm Source store in Te Awamutu.