Mars, Incorporated has pledged $27 million (£21m) of financial support to help farmers slash greenhouse gas emissions.
It has announced a new programme through its partnership with dairy supplier Fonterra for the five-year investment for climate-smart agriculture practices.
The initiative will provide funding for on-farm sustainability-focused tools and technology for around 2,000 farmers.
The remaining funds will be used to pay 165 farmers who meet ambitious sustainability targets, with a cash incentive of around $15,000 (£11,902) per farmer annually.
The Farmer Forward Programme stretches across 26,000 hectares of farmland – equivalent to around 50,000 NFL football fields.
Mars aims to reduce around 150,000 metric tons of its Scope 3 emissions from dairy by 2030 under the initiative.
Amanda Davies, Chief R&D, Procurement and Sustainability Officer, Mars Snacking said: “Dairy farmers are on the front line of advancing climate-smart agriculture, which is why we’re putting them first through the launch of our Farmer Forward programme.
“Through this initiative, we’re investing roughly $27 million in Fonterra farming families over the next five years to deliver critical financial support and significant emissions reductions. It’s a true win-win because we know making dairy more sustainable takes real effort and real investment.”
