Mars Announces USD 20 Million Commitment to Scale Climate-Smart Rice Farming by 2030
Mars has announced a USD 20 million investment through 2030 to accelerate climate-smart rice farming, aiming to cut emissions, reduce water use, and strengthen resilience for growers across key sourcing regions including the United States, Europe, India, Pakistan and Thailand.
The initiative, delivered through Mars’ Raising Rice Right platform, expands ongoing programs supporting farmers who face mounting climate pressures—from volatile rainfall to rising temperatures and increasing production risks.
Rice feeds 3.5 billion people and provides livelihoods for nearly one-fifth of the world’s population. Yet, it remains one of the most climate-sensitive—and emissions-intensive—staples. Traditional rice farming consumes around 40% of global irrigation water and contributes up to 10% of methane emissions. Without new approaches, scientific bodies warn rice yields could drop 10–15% by 2050.
A core focus of the program is Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD)—a regenerative irrigation technique that replaces continuous flooding with controlled drainage. AWD has shown strong early results across Mars’ network. In Arkansas, the Whitaker family recorded up to 60% lower emissions and 60% water savings compared to regional averages.
Mars plans to expand AWD adoption and other regenerative methods across both commercial suppliers and smallholders. Funding will support field training, irrigation equipment, and digital tools that help growers adjust watering schedules based on rainfall and soil moisture.
In Asia, where many smallholders face high climate vulnerability, Mars is scaling targeted adaptation programs. In Thailand, the Sustainable Aromatic Rice Initiative has already trained 1,400 farmers—two-thirds of them women—helping stabilize yields while reducing environmental impact.
Rice-farming communities sit at the intersection of food security, rural development and climate risk. With half of the world’s population expected to live in water-stressed regions by mid-century, competition for irrigation is intensifying. Mars aims to ensure that all farmers in poverty-risk segments of its supply chain are covered by support programs, linking climate adaptation directly to income stability.
Growing global demand underscores the urgency: UK consumers alone eat 2.3 billion bowls of rice annually, and 63% report weekly consumption. Any supply volatility translates quickly into pricing pressures and food-system instability.
