General Mills has entered a multi-year partnership with ALUS to support its farming and agriculture regeneration efforts in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, Canada, a press release reported.
“We were drawn to ALUS’ grassroots approach with farmers at the center,” chief sustainability and global impact officer, General Mills, Mary Jane Melendez, said. “Now, interested farmers in these communities can gain a greater understanding of regenerative agriculture and how best to apply those principles to their farm’s unique environmental, social and financial context, along with the power of peer knowledge-sharing and community support.”
The company generates oats for popular brands, such as Cascadian Farm, Cheerios and Nature Valley. Through the investment, the company hopes to strengthen ALUS’ new Growing Roots pilot program. The project also aims to increase profits and benefits for producers, communities and the environment in the area.
General Mills hopes to plant its regenerative agriculture efforts on 1 million acres of farmland by 2030 to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, 60% of which are produced by agriculture. If it carries out the initiatives correctly, it hopes to reach net zero emissions by 2050.
The initiative will also help fund additional farmer mentorship programs and in-field projects that promote regenerative agriculture techniques. It will also help improve data and research efforts, and the distribution of that data.
“ALUS has been interested in developing a comprehensive on-field program focused on soil health for years and we’re delighted that General Mills, a leader in this area, has become our foundational partner,” Bryan Gilvesy, CEO, ALUS, said. “We believe the creation of this program is a catalyst for engagement from other corporate, government and philanthropic partners interested in ALUS programming and its outcomes and impact across Canada.”