Operationalising climatesmart agriculture at scale Beyond geographic diversification, Mars Food’ s procurement transformation centres on direct farmer partnerships designed to implement climate-smart agriculture practices. The company recognises that sustainable sourcing cannot be achieved through purchasing specifications alone – it requires investment in farmer capabilities and economic models that make sustainability viable at farm level.
The Sustainable Aromatic Rice Initiative( SARI) in Thailand exemplifies this approach. Launched in 2018 in partnership with German development agency GIZ, the six-year programme trained 1,445 farmers – around 70 % women – on the Sustainable Rice Platform standard. Training covered digital farming solutions, record keeping, water management practices and efficient use of farming inputs.
Results from the programme demonstrate the business case for such investments. All participating farmers reduced water usage while increasing rice production.
“ The key is ensuring economic viability for farmers at scale,” says Dale.“ When sustainability makes business sense for everyone in the supply chain, adoption accelerates – but we need
28 December 2025