Ramping up regenerative agriculture at General Mills
Published: June 6, 2022
Category: Regenerative Agriculture
Education on and implementation of regenerative practices on 1 million acres and continuing to link results to its food brands reflect General Mills’ commitment to sustainability.
Monitored greenhouse gases actually increased 2%—due to supply chain disruptions leading to transportation inefficiency. Since over 90% of GHG emissions are not related to company activities but are upstream, the company seeks to reduce them by advancing regenerative agriculture on 1 million acres by 2030.
General Mills will focus on educating about regenerative ag and adapting the principles to the farmer’s local conditions. Outreach will include multi-day soil health academies and individualized coaching by partners from Understanding Ag LLC. Since farmers often feel isolated in exploring regenerative trends, efforts will connect them to local peers and farmer-led organizations for knowledge and support.
A group of Kansas farmers recently shifted to using roller crimpers (a bladed drum attached to the front of a tractor) to improve soil health; it rolls over cover crops instead of dousing with chemicals. They are sharing this technology with other farmers.
General Mills is also addressing the challenge of measuring results, a time-consuming, expensive process, through use of satellite imagery to detect cover crops and soil tillage.
By linking regenerative ag to actual brands—such as citing the Montana growers on Annie’s Mac-and-Cheese packages—the consumer is educated on regenerative practices. Another project is regenerative almond production, to reduce water usage.
Source: Bakingbusiness.com
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Organic & Non-GMO Insights June 2022
