MCLEAN, VA — Following the completion of its big-ticket acquisition of Kellanova, Mars, Inc. announced a five-year collaboration with Sucden, a soft commodity broker.

The partnership is designed to advance low-carbon, climate-resilient cocoa production in farms across the Dominican Republic and Ecuador. It will bring together innovation, science-based reductions and farmer-centered approaches to drive impactful greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions across the cocoa supply chain.

“The world we want tomorrow starts with how we do business today, and we can only achieve our sustainability ambitions by working with like-minded value-chain partners,” said Pedro Amaral, associate director, head of cocoa climate sustainability at Mars. “That’s why Mars is working with suppliers to help build a deforestation- and conversion-free cocoa supply chain.”

The shared commitment will help the companies minimize the environmental footprint of cocoa production. The program will encourage participating farmers to adopt climate-smart agricultural practices — such as the use of improved planting materials, low-carbon fertilizers, aerobic composting and other agroforestry practices — and help them improve yields.