Kellogg, Walmart collaborate to improve rice crop sustainability

Kellogg, a US-based cereal company, has partnered with Walmart to improve rice crop sustainability and help smallholder growers across the world.

The announcement was made by Kellogg president and CEO John Bryant during the recent Walmart Sustainable Product Expo, a three-day meeting with eight of the largest US-based food companies.

The scope of the initiative includes further supporting rice growers and rice growing communities to help smallholder rice growers advance their practices, while also reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 2020.

Kellogg plans to promote and support initiatives with producers in every country in which it sources rice globally, which will, by 2020, lead to a 25% increase in the adoption of Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) practices.

This is expected to improve smallholder livelihoods, enhance producer resilience and lower greenhouse gas emissions.

The company also seeks to monitor progress through a number of metrics, while aligning this initiative with the Global Alliance on Climate Smart Agriculture.

This alliance will be launched later this year at the United Nations Secretary General’s Climate Summit in New York.

John Bryant said that as a grains-based company, Kellogg has a commitment both to the environment and to the people who grow those crops.

"Because rice is one of our largest ingredient purchases – used for Rice Krispies® and Special K® worldwide – it’s appropriate that our new partnership with Walmart focuses on supporting smallholder rice growers as they work to improve their methods – and with that their yields and livelihoods as well," Bryant added.

Kellogg also has collaborative initiatives with growers, suppliers and external partners such as the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and the Sustainable Rice Platform (SRP).

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Image: Kellogg Company president and CEO John Bryant with Walmart CEO Doug McMillon. Photo courtesy of Kellogg Co.