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General Mills Partners with Ahold Delhaize to Launch Emissions-Reduction Joint Venture

General Mills

General Mills is taking significant steps in collaboration with Ahold Delhaize, a prominent name in the food and beverage industry, to drive sustainability through regenerative agriculture. This alliance aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve soil health by encouraging farmers to adopt regenerative practices.

The two companies have committed to making joint investments that will empower farmers to transition to regenerative agriculture practices. By focusing on priority supply sheds—key geographic areas where essential ingredients are sourced—they will provide much-needed support to farmers, facilitating a shift towards environmentally responsible farming techniques.

In partnership with the Ecosystem Services Market Consortium (ESMC), this initiative is poised to offer farmers both technical and financial assistance. This will enable the implementation of effective techniques such as cover cropping and nutrient management. Moreover, ESMC will employ a combination of field sampling and modeling to evaluate net greenhouse gas emissions.

Independent third-party verification will ensure that the reductions in greenhouse gases and the sequestration of soil carbon are both credible and transparent. It is noteworthy that General Mills has been collaborating with ESMC since 2020 to promote sustainable practices across its operations.

Mary Jane Melendez, General Mills’ chief sustainability and global impact officer, emphasized the commitment to regenerative agriculture, stating, “In 2019, General Mills became one of the first companies to commit to helping advance regenerative agriculture. We champion a farmer-centred approach across key regions where the ingredients we source are grown, aiming to produce positive environmental, social and economic outcomes. Ahold Delhaize USA is a natural fit for collaboration with shared goals of creating a more healthy and resilient food system.”

General Mills aims to enhance regenerative agriculture practices on one million acres of farmland by 2030, which represents approximately 30% of its total estimated land print exposure. In its 2024 Global Responsibility Report, the company revealed that over 500,000 acres were engaged in programs designed to advance regenerative agriculture by the end of its 2023 fiscal year.

This innovative approach encompasses five key principles: minimizing soil disturbance, maintaining soil cover, ensuring living roots in the ground, diversifying crops, and integrating grazing animals back into the land.

Marc Stolzman, chief sustainability officer at Ahold Delhaize USA, remarked, “This relationship emphasizes how strategic collaboration is essential for addressing climate impacts and creating positive environmental outcomes. Ahold Delhaize USA looks forward to the learnings from this supply shed collaboration and using the findings to drive progress across the supply chain.”

The collaboration aims to positively impact over 70,000 acres of farmland in Kansas and Saskatchewan, Canada, by the end of 2025. This area aligns with where General Mills sources important ingredients such as wheat and oats for its brands available at Ahold Delhaize USA’s grocery store chains like Food Lion and Giant Food.

In a significant move towards sustainable products, the Epic Provisions brand, owned by General Mills, was among the first in the U.S. to feature regenerative agriculture certification on its products. This initiative underscores a broader trend in the food and drink business towards sustainability, aligning with consumer preferences for environmentally responsible practices.

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