The pilot is part of the company’s commitment to advance regenerative practices on one million acres of farmland by 2030
General Mills has launched a multi-year regenerative agriculture pilot with wheat growers (Credit: Hans Braxmeier from Pixabay)
General Mills has launched a multi-year regenerative agriculture pilot with wheat growers in central Kansas, US.
The three-year regenerative agriculture pilot has been carrying out at Kansas’ Cheney Reservoir watershed, which delivers water to over 400,000 Wichita residents.
General Mills selected Cheney Reservoir watershed in partnership with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment to enhance water quality under the state-wide Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategy.
The pilot includes wheat growers in and around the 650,000-acre Cheney Reservoir watershed
The pilot includes 24 wheat growers in and around the 650,000-acre watershed, where over 99% of the land is used for agricultural purposes.
Regenerative agriculture is an integrated method of farming, implementing practices designed to protect and improve natural resources and farming communities.
The practices will help capture carbon from the air and store it in the soil to help soil become more resilient to extreme weather events.
The latest move is based on the company’s commitment to improve soil health, as well as minimise absolute GHG emissions by 28% across its full value chain by 2025.
General Mills has collaborated with major suppliers such as Paterson Grain and Archer Daniels Midland across crucial ingredient categories and regions.
In March 2019, the firm launched a Regenerative Oat Pilot, which includes 45 farmers across North Dakota, Saskatchewan and Manitoba with over 50,000 acres of farmland. They will measure the environmental and economic outcomes throughout the three-year programme.
General Mills chief sustainability and social impact officer Mary Jane Melendez said: “This pilot is an important step in our commitment to advance regenerative practices on 1 million acres of farmland by 2030, but more so supports our belief that these practices can have long-term positive impact on farmer profitability, soil health, water quality and biodiversity.
“We’re energized to be working alongside committed organisations like the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and Understanding Ag to help us embark on this important work.”
In August 2019, Wolfe’s Neck Center for Agriculture & the Environment, along with founding collaborators, has launched OpenTEAM or Open Technology Ecosystem for Agricultural Management.