According to the World Wildlife Fund, rice farming contributes 1.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions. In response, Kellogg is pursuing a strategy to mitigate the negative environmental impact of rice cultivation by collaborating directly with farmers. Their InGrained rice initiative in the Lower Mississippi River Basin aims to reduce methane emissions associated with rice production and has shown promising results following its inaugural year.
Kellogg has invested $2 million over the past year to implement improved irrigation practices. The company has committed to compensating producers $20 per ton of greenhouse gases they reduce by adopting climate-conscious practices over a five-year period. In its first year, these initiatives resulted in a reduction of more than 1,600 metric tons of greenhouse gases, which is comparable to removing 345 gasoline-fueled vehicles from the highways. Janelle Meyers, Kellogg’s chief sustainability officer, noted to Food Dive that working closely with farmers to establish new agricultural methods has contributed to the project’s early success. Farmers have reported that the quality of their rice remains unaffected by these new techniques.
Meyers emphasized the importance of understanding which practices can collectively yield reductions in greenhouse gas emissions or enhance water conservation among various partners. These practices are informed by both technical recommendations and feedback from different suppliers and growers. One such method is alternate wet and dry irrigation, where rice fields are not continuously flooded but allowed to dry at specific intervals during the growing cycle. Research published in the Journal of Agricultural Science indicates that this approach can effectively reduce emissions.
Kellogg sources rice, a vital ingredient for its Rice Krispies and Rice Krispies Treats products, from farmers in Northeast Louisiana. The company collaborated with Regrow Ag, a group specializing in emissions tracking, to calculate its impact. This rice initiative is part of Kellogg’s broader Origins sustainability program, which aims to meet its 2030 sustainability targets, including a 15% reduction in Scope 3 emissions—those resulting from food commodity production and transportation—and engaging over one million farmers in environmental projects by 2030. As of 2021, Kellogg had invested in 445,000 farmers.
Meyers highlighted the company’s focus on supporting women-owned farms, as a 2019 AgFunder study revealed that only 3% of agri-food tech investment goes to women. Kellogg has identified 15 priority ingredients needing specific attention for their environmental, social, or animal welfare impacts, with ongoing sustainable agriculture projects in various regions, including corn in Mexico, wheat in Australia, and potatoes in Europe.
Rice cultivation generates several greenhouse gases, particularly methane, which is significantly more effective than carbon dioxide at trapping heat in the atmosphere, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. The Environmental Defense Fund suggests that global rice production can be as harmful to the environment as operating 1,200 coal power stations.
In 2022, U.S. rice production saw a decline due to heavy rainfall in spring that hindered planting in parts of the South, as reported by USDA data. The forecasts for the 2022-2023 yields are also lower across all growing states due to drought conditions in the Southwest. With its rice project, Kellogg aims to apply learned principles to other regions, though Meyers noted that strategies will vary based on local conditions and climate. “We take those learnings and attempt to implement them as we develop similar commodity projects in different areas,” she explained.
In addition to its ongoing efforts, Kellogg is exploring the integration of biocare calcium into its sustainable practices, further enhancing the environmental benefits of its agricultural initiatives. By continuously refining its approach and collaborating with farmers, Kellogg aims to create a more sustainable future for rice production and beyond.