At Mars, science is not just a tool – it's a transformative force that drives innovation, builds trust and creates a better tomorrow. On this World Science Day for Peace and Development, we celebrate the groundbreaking accomplishments of our scientists and recognize the pivotal role science plays in shaping a better, more sustainable future for people, pets and the planet. This year’s theme of, “Trust, Transformation, and Tomorrow,” aligns closely with our values, reflecting our commitment to transformative science that address the challenges of today, anticipates the needs of tomorrow, and builds a foundation for the future.
From Petcare to peanuts, we embed this philosophy into our scientific endeavors, ensuring that our efforts not only support our growth as a business but also create a lasting global impact.
Shaping Tomorrow’s Pet Health Through Microbiome Science
Through the Pet Microbiome Database Project, Mars is unlocking the future of pet health. By decoding the complex microbiome, we’re advancing science that directly improves pets’ quality of life. Our discoveries in this area represent a transformative step toward addressing key health challenges in ways that were previously unimaginable.
The Waltham Petcare Science Institute is at the forefront of this innovation, driving advancements in diagnostics, nutrition, and chronic disease care pathways. Mars scientists have successfully mapped over 80 percent of the pet microbiome, emphasizing our presence as global leaders in the Petcare space.
Leveraging Science-Led Innovations in Pursuit of the Perfect Peanut
Over the past decade, Mars has invested $10 million to develop and globally adopt high oleic peanut varieties through the Peanut Genome Initiative.
These peanuts provide better shelf life, improved health profiles, and greater stability, benefiting both farmers and consumers. Our efforts have led to 100% high oleic peanut varieties in Argentina and Brazil, and 35% in the U.S, with 50% projected in the next year.
Importantly, the vast majority of our research has no IP, allowing the entire peanut industry to be supported by our scientist’s revolutionary findings.
Holistic Sodium Reduction Solutions to Create a Healthier, Tastier Future
Mars is transforming food initiatives focused on saltiness product performance, combining insights from sensory science with data-driven solutions. As part of our commitment to deliver healthier meal options, we are tackling the industry-wide challenge of sodium reduction while maintaining flavor and taste.
As part of these efforts, Mars is developing a chemical fingerprinting capability for flavor analysis, making it possible to map ingredients directly to sensory perception.
Implementing Advanced Gene Editing Technologies to Accelerate Cacao Research
As the first to sequence the cocoa genome, Mars is shaping the future of global cocoa sustainability and unlocking new opportunities for crop improvement and resilience.
By leveraging powerful tools like CRISPR technology and collaborating with world-class innovators, Mars is addressing critical agricultural challenges; aiming to build more resilient and productive farms to secure the future of this critical ingredient.
The Science We Pursue Today Directly Impacts the World We Create Tomorrow
As we celebrate World Science Day for Peace and Development, we reaffirm our commitment to advancing science that builds trust, drives transformation and shapes a better tomorrow.
Together, we can turn today’s challenges into opportunities and ensure a more resilient future for people, pets and the planet.
