Kellogg Company announces a $2 million, five-year program to reward farmers for reducing GHGs

It was predicted that Kellogg's InGrainedTM program would have the same impact as taking 10,000 cars off the road.

Rice is the primary source of nutrition for more than half of the world's population 1. Nonetheless, rice production is estimated to be responsible for 12% of total global methane emissions, a greenhouse gas 20 times more potent than carbon dioxide2. Kellogg Company today announced Kellogg's InGrainedTM, a $2 million, five-year program that will partner with Lower Mississippi River Basin rice farmers to reduce their climate impact, ensuring benefits to people and planet are "ingrained" in our foods. Much of the rice grown in this region is used in well-known rice-based foods such as Kellogg's Rice Krispies® and Kellogg's Special K® cereals.

"Kellogg has established itself as a committed partner to farmers in implementing climate-positive agricultural practices in important crops like rice,"

said Steve Cahillane, Chairman and CEO, Kellogg Company.

"We are proud to announce a new program to help advance regenerative practices as part of our Better Days ESG commitments to support 1 million farmers and workers and reduce scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions across our value chain by 15%, by the end of 2030."

The Kellogg's InGrainedTM program will collaborate with Lower Mississippi River Basin partners to compensate rice farmers for the tons of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions they reduce by implementing a playbook of climate-positive practices tailored to their farms. In 2022, Kellogg will pilot InGrainedTM in Northeast Louisiana in collaboration with Regrow, a leading agricultural GHG measurement firm, rice producers, Kennedy Rice Mill LLC, a Kellogg supplier, and agribusiness firm Syngenta.

The pilot will provide farmers with training opportunities in irrigation management, nutrient management, and soil health to help them transition to new practices. Farmers will then be rewarded with US $20 per ton of GHG abatement achieved by their new practices, as measured by Regrow's secure Measurement, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) platform. The pilot may also reduce irrigation water use, providing an opportunity to conserve the region's water resources while also lowering farmers' operating costs. Partners estimate that InGrainedTM will reduce up to 51,000 tons of GHGs from the North American rice ingredient supply chain over the next five years. This reduction is equivalent to removing over 10,000 vehicles from the road3. Farmers' feedback will shape and improve the program's implementation in future years.

InGrainedTM is Kellogg's latest initiative in the global Kellogg's OriginsTM program, which seeks to build partnerships with farmers around the world to support their climate, social, and economic resilience. Farmers and workers in Kellogg sourcing regions receive training and technical assistance to improve farm productivity, regenerate soil health, protect species and habitats, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and improve their livelihoods in ways that protect and respect human rights, thanks to collaboration with ingredient suppliers, research institutions, and non-profit organizations around the world. This and similar efforts are part of Kellogg's Better DaysTM global ESG strategy, which aims to improve the lives of 3 billion people by the end of 2030. It focuses on food security by addressing the interconnected issues of nutrition, hunger relief, and climate resilience.

"Kellogg's Origins™ has partnered with more than 440,000 farmers in 29 countries, helping to improve lives and communities,"

Cahillane added.

"It is reflective of the principles our founder – W.K. Kellogg – an early philanthropist, conservationist and wellbeing pioneer." 

Source: Kellogg newsroom