Food manufacturer The Kellogg Company recently completed a three-year collaboration with environmental organisation The Nature Conservancy to help farmers adopt conservation practices and offset half of its electricity needs from a Texas wind farm.
Through its collaboration with The Nature Conservancy, Kellogg engaged with over 245 farmers, representing over 109,000 acres of farmland in Michigan, Illinois, Nebraska and Arkansas.
Efforts included the installation of 180 irrigation pump timers on Arkansas rice farms, helping save more than 8 billion gallons of water. Higher water savings are expected in the coming years as the timers continue to operate. Application of regenerative agriculture practices, like interseeding cover crops and conservation tillage, has resulted in reducing 2,800 metric tons of CO2. The benefits of these regenerative agriculture practices will be compounded in the coming years.
In Illinois, Kellogg’s funding is being used to provide mini grants to S.T.A.R. (Saving Tomorrow's Agriculture Resources) program representatives who provide consultations to farmers interested in the program. In Michigan, the Pay for Performance program has been expanded, providing incentives to farmers for the implementation of soil health conservation practices, including the use of cover crops, reduced tillage, and pollinator strips.
In Nebraska too, the firm is offering technical assistance and incentives to farmers for the adoption of soil health conservation practices.
Additionally, The Kellogg Company partnered with Enel Green Power to cover 50% of its electricity requirements in North America with wind power from a Texas wind farm. Kellogg signed a virtual power purchase agreement with Enel Green Power for 100 MW of renewable energy from the Azure Sky wind farm. The firm will continue to purchase electricity from Enel Green Power as it is committed to power its facilities with 100% renewable electricity by 2050.
The Azure Sky wind + storage project has 79 turbines, capable of generating 1.3 TWh of renewable energy each year. It will produce sufficient energy to power more than 118,000 US households annually.
“We aim to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across our value chain, and sustainably source and protect the ingredients we use for our foods, while supporting 1 million farmers and workers who help to nurture the planet,” Janelle Myers, Kellogg Co.’s Chief Sustainability Officer, said in a statement. “Kellogg has committed to reduce Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 45%, and lessen Scope 3 emissions by 15% by the end of 2030 (against a 2015 baseline). We've also committed to 100% renewable electricity in our facilities by 2050. We'll also continue respecting the natural limits of our planet by conserving natural resources all along our value chain by meeting our science-based climate targets, responsibly sourcing our ingredients, reducing organic waste and providing sustainable packaging that is reusable, recyclable or compostable.”
As of 2021, The Kellogg Company has reduced Scope 1 & 2 GHG emissions by 30% and Scope 3 emissions by 5%. It has sourced 28% renewable electricity for its facilities worldwide. It has reduced waste – 26% water wastage reduction, 12% organic waste reduction and 36% food waste reduction.
