Kellogg's Introduces $2 Million Initiative to Reward Rice Farmers in Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Kellogg's five-year InGrained regenerative agriculture programme is likely to remove the equivalent of 10,000 vehicles from the road. 

According to the US Environment Protection Agency, rice production accounts for around 12% of total world methane emissions, a greenhouse gas (GHG) that is 20 times more powerful than carbon dioxide. 

InGrained is focusing on rice farmers in the Lower Mississippi River Basin, where much of the rice farmed is utilized in Kellogg's Rice Krispies and Kellogg's Special K cereals. 

Committed partner to farmers  

"Kellogg has established itself as a dedicated partner to farmers in developing climate-positive farming techniques in crucial crops such as rice," said Steve Cahillane, chairman and CEO of Kellogg Company. 

"We are pleased to announce the launch of a new initiative to assist the advancement of regenerative practices as part of our Better Days ESG commitments to support one million farmers and workers and reduce scope three greenhouse gas emissions across our value chain by 15% by the end of 2030." 

The InGrained programme will collaborate with local partners to evaluate the implementation of climate-friendly practices. This year, it will begin with a pilot in Northeast Louisiana in conjunction with agricultural GHG measuring business Regrow. Kennedy Rice Mill, a Kellogg supplier and certified Woman Owned Business (WBE), and agribusiness corporation Syngenta are rice producers. 

The pilot will provide farmers with training in irrigation management, nutrient management and soil health. According to the pilot designers, it also has the potential to reduce irrigation water, which will conserve the region's water resources and reduce farmers' operating costs. 

Farmers will be rewarded 520 per tonne of GHG abatement achieved by their new practices, as quantified by Regrow's Measurement, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) platform. Regrow currently monitors about 200 million acres of land in 45 countries and has assisted in the sequestration of over 77,000 metric tonnes of GHG from the atmosphere. 

InGrained is expected to reduce up to 51.000 tons of GHGs from the North American rice ingredient supply chain over the next five years - the equivalent of taking more than 10,000 vehicles off the road. 

The feedback of participating farmers and partners will be utilized to develop and improve the program's future operation. 

Principles of W.K. Kellogg 

InGrained is the most recent initiative under Kellogg's Origins platform to develop partnerships with farmers across the world to support their climate, social and economic resilience. 

Farmers and workers in Kellogg sourcing regions around the world receive training and technical assistance to improve farm productivity, regenerate soil health, protect species and habitats, reduce GHG emissions, and improve their livelihoods in ways that protect and respect human rights, in collaboration with ingredient suppliers, research institutions, and non-profit organizations. 

"Kellogg's Origins has partnered with almost 440,000 farmers in 29 countries, assisting in the improvement of lives and communities," Cahillane noted. 

"It is reflective of the principles our founder - W.K. Kellogg - an early philanthropist, conservationist and wellbeing pioneer." 

Origins falls under the breakfast cereal giant wider Better Days global ESG strategy to address the interconnected issues of wellbeing, food security and climate, with the ultimate aim to create better days for three billion people by the end of 2030.