Raising Rice Right
How Mars is helping rice, and rice farmers, thrive for generations to come. A world of rice, raised right.
Small grains with mighty gains
Rice might be small, but its impact is mighty. Every day, 3.5 billion people around the world lift chopsticks, a spoon or a fork to enjoy a bowl of rice, including the delicious rice found in our brands Ben’s Original, Tasty Bite and Seeds of Change. But behind every serving of rice is a story bigger than the bowl – a world of dedicated farmers, and entire communities, that depend on those tiny grains for their livelihoods.
At Mars, we believe it’s time to think big about the future of rice crops – that’s why we’re Raising Rice Right. By championing climate-smart agriculture practices, we’re supporting our farmers and helping them squeeze more goodness from every field by looking to reduce irrigation water, emit fewer greenhouse gas emissions, develop healthier soils and build stronger communities.
We’re planting grains of change, nurturing the land, and turning every drop and every grain into a force for good, so bowls stay full for generations to come.
Rice is facing unprecedented challenges
Climate change is making the weather less predictable, water more precious and farming more demanding. That’s why Mars is investing a total of $20 million between 2020 and 2030 in the sustainable sourcing of rice1.
Our investment is about partnering directly with our rice farmers and suppliers to help them adopt climate-smart agriculture practices that help us achieve the climate commitments outlined in our Sustainable in a Generation Plan, while also protecting farmers' yields.
It's also about driving industry collaboration. We are a proud founding member of the Sustainable Rice Platform (SRP), a global alliance working to promote sustainable rice farming.
Stories from the field
Meet our pioneering farmers
Real change happens in the field, not just on paper. That’s why through our Raising Rice Right platform, we’re sharing the stories of our farmers who are leading the way: those who are growing resilient crops, using less irrigation water and emitting fewer greenhouse gas emissions, while building strong communities.
Meet some of the farmers whose dedication helps to fill bowls around the world, helping bring you our Ben’s Original, Tasty Bite and Seeds of Change products.
U.S.
The Whitakers
We're working with the Whitakers in Arkansas who have grown rice for Mars for over ten years. They have adopted a climate-smart agriculture practice known as alternate wetting and drying (AWD), which they do on zero grade fields (fields with no slope).
Traditionally, rice farming involves continuously flooding the fields. This is very water intensive, and also produces a lot of methane. The AWD technique alternates between flooding and drying down the fields during the rice growing stage. Using sensors, the Whitakers irrigate and top up water periodically in the right amounts.
The result? The Whitakers have reduced water usage by 60% and seen up to 60% lower GHG emissions at a farm level compared to average farms in the region, while keeping their yields high and their farm thriving for the next generation.
Thailand
Sustainable Aromatic Rice Initiative (SARI)
Back in 2018, Mars launched the Sustainable Aromatic Rice Initiative (SARI) with the German development organization GIZ, and Herba.
Across two provinces – Roi Et and Central Plain – the initiative trained over 1,400 farmers, 66% of whom were women, in practices aligned with the Sustainable Rice Platform (SRP) standard. This included the use of digital farming solutions, record keeping, water management practices and efficient use of farming inputs such as fertilizers.
The result? 43% higher yields in Roi Et and 10% higher yields in Central Plain, and 56% less water used in Roi Et and 41% less water used in Central Plain, helping farmers and their families earn more while caring for their land.
Thailand
Jularak’s rural farming revival – SARI
At the age of 17, Jularak left her village in the pursuit of a better life in Bangkok. Some years later, inspired by the lifestyle of her mother, a rice farmer, Jularak returned to her village. She decided to rediscover the art of rice farming and learn innovative new practices.
In 2019, Jularak was introduced to SARI which provided her with training focused on the efficient use of farming inputs, how to manage water usage, discouraging straw burning, and record keeping.
The result? Prior to joining the program, Jularak’s land yielded approximately 1,500 kilograms of rice per hectare. Following SARI, it achieved an impressive 3,600 kilograms per hectare. Jularak has become an advocate for empowering fellow female farmers to follow in her footsteps and pursue careers in agriculture.
India & Pakistan
Sustainable Rice and Water Stewardship Program (WAPRO)
In 2018, Mars launched the Sustainable Rice and Water Stewardship Program (WAPRO), alongside Swiss NGO Helvetas, to help thousands of farmers in India and Pakistan enhance water management practices.
It provided education and training focused on the Sustainable Rice Platform (SRP) standard and water stewardship. It also subsidized the adoption of water-saving techniques such as alternate wetting and drying (AWD), drip irrigation and laser leveling.
The result? Rice production increased 6% in India and 12% in Pakistan. Water efficiency also improved; in India, those using SRP and drip irrigation saw an average water usage efficiency of 38%. In Pakistan, those using laser leveling coupled with AWD saw an average water usage efficiency of 21%.
Every grain counts, so let's raise rice right
The future of rice is the future of farming families, communities and cultures worldwide. As climate change brings new challenges, we’re determined to make every grain and every drop count by supporting our farmers to grow rice as sustainably as possible. With Raising Rice Right, Mars is planting the grains of change, nurturing the land and helping rice farming thrive for today and tomorrow.
1. Investment applies to the Mars Food & Nutrition supply chain: Mars Food & Nutrition is a segment of Mars, Incorporated, with 2,000 Associates across the globe. It has some of the world's leading food brands: Ben's Original™, Kevin's Natural Foods, MasterFoods®, SEEDS OF CHANGE®, Tasty Bite®, and DOLMIO® enjoyed in more than 30 markets around the world.
