Mars Inc. has announced a new initiative in collaboration with Fonterra, one of the world’s leading dairy suppliers, to advance sustainability in dairy farming.
The five-year, $27 million Farmer Forward Program aims to support dairy farmers in adopting climate-smart agricultural practices as part of Mars’ broader goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030 compared to 2015 levels. Around half of the investment will fund on-farm tools and technology for approximately 2,000 Fonterra dairy farmers, while the remaining portion will provide financial incentives—averaging up to $15,000 per year—to about 165 farmers who make the most progress toward sustainability targets.
The program spans 26,000 hectares of farmland, with dairy production under this initiative estimated to generate enough milk for 20 billion Snickers bars annually. Mars expects the program to help reduce 150,000 metric tons of scope 3 emissions from dairy by 2030.
This initiative is a key component of Mars’ Moo’ving Dairy Forward platform, a multimillion-dollar effort launched last year to drive investment in sustainable technologies and partnerships across its global dairy supply chain.
“Dairy farmers play a crucial role in advancing climate-smart agriculture, which is why we are prioritizing their needs through the Farmer Forward Program,” said Amanda Davies, Chief R&D, Procurement, and Sustainability Officer at Mars Snacking. “This investment in Fonterra farming families provides financial support while delivering significant emissions reductions—creating a positive impact for both farmers and the planet.”
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