As the maker of UNCLE BEN’S®, the world’s only global rice brand, a reliable long-term rice supply is very important to Mars. Rice is a staple food for about half the global population and has important nutritional benefits. We also source a lot of rice for use in pet foods such as NUTRO®.
We invest significantly in scientific research to help us better understand the impacts of growing rice and how to address them. We work with farmers to develop innovative farming practices that boost output while reducing greenhouse-gas emissions and water consumption.
In 2010, we recruited David Mackill, Ph.D., one of the world’s leading experts in rice-plant breeding genetics and biotechnology, into our research and development team. He will establish a global network of rice researchers, institutions and government agencies to generate research into rice production and breeding.
Rice and Climate Change
Rice cultivation contributes to greenhouse-gas emissions, primarily methane but also nitrous oxides. Our carbon-footprint calculations indicate that UNCLE BEN’S® rice produces significantly lower methane emissions per kilogram grain yield of rice than the global average because of the high-yielding varieties we use. Most of the rice we source comes from temperate climates in developed countries such as the U.S., Spain and Italy, close to our major markets, and doesn’t have far to travel to our factories or consumers. We source a small quantity of rice from India and Thailand.
We have funded research at the University of California, Davis, and the University of Arkansas on the global warming potential of methane and nitrous oxide in flooded rice fields. This work will be replicated over three years and for different growing areas, providing the basis for developing a best practice for growing rice.
Rice and Water Use
Growing rice is water intensive, and efficient water management is vital, especially in water-stressed areas. We are funding groundbreaking collaborative research into the use of intermittent irrigation in rice fields to reduce water use while maintaining quality and high yields.
In 2009, we funded a study on the performance of five varieties of Italian rice grown using less water. The study found that the timing of watering during the growing cycle is critical. Further research was carried out in 2010 and will be extended. While field productivity was reduced and the length of the growing cycle increased, our trials show that reduced irrigation does not affect the quality of cooked parboiled rice for consumers.
Engaging with Rice-Growing Communities
We positively engage with rice farming communities to strengthen our relationships with them and improve rice-growing practices. For example, we recently carried out a study on the social, environmental and economic impacts of rice production in the Mississippi Delta. Through the Mars Ambassador Program (MAP), Associates have used their expertise to make a difference in rice-growing communities from which we do not currently source, such as Ghana. Associates partnered with ACDI/VOCA, a nonprofit organization that promotes development, to implement a USAID-funded program working with local farmers and the Ghanaian government to increase local rice farming. We hope to use what they learned to make positive impacts in those areas where we do source rice.
We are involved in longer-term, collaborative research projects to develop rice varieties with improved resistance to drought, salinity, flood, pests and disease, lower methane emissions, higher yields and improved water and nutrient-use efficiency. The results will help to shape our rice-sourcing strategy.
