Dailycsr.com – 30 November 2017 – In a continuous venture, General Mills invests on “soil health practices on U.S. agricultural farmland”, whereby making its latest contribution of “$735,000 to the National Wheat Foundation” in partnership with “Soil Health Partnership” for advancing “widespread adoption and implementation”.
During the course of the coming three years, the funds will be distributed equally for use on “soil health research on wheat farms and education outreach” programme to over “125,000 wheat farmers across the Northern and Southern Plains”. Following the “latest contribution” General Mill has made a recent commitment so far of “nearly $3 million”, all in the effort to promote “the expanded adoption of soil health practices”.
General Mills’ chief supply chain officer, John Church, said:
“We know that providing farmers with the research and tools to increase their yields while improving the quality of their soil is a vital step in ensuring agricultural lands are sustainable for generations to come. If we intend to see widespread adoption of these practices, we have to demonstrate both environmental and economic benefits over the long term.”
The National Wheat Foundation will use the enrolled farms network of Soil Health Partnership for increasing “grower participation in the partnership” as well as sharing “data and sustainability metrics for wheat production”. Furthermore, General Mills added:
“The Soil Health Partnership (SHP) is a data-driven program working to quantify the benefits of practices that support soil health, from an economic as well as environmental standpoint. Those practices include reduced tillage, growing cover crops in winter, and advanced nutrient management. Benefits include improved crop yield, enhanced water quality, increased drought resilience, better flood resistance, and decreased greenhouse gas emissions”.
While, the Soil Health Partnership’s director, Nick Goeser, said:
“Our project started in the corn belt, but soil is a national resource that we need to protect and enhance everywhere farmers grow crops. Soil health is the next frontier in American agriculture, and we’re eager to invite more wheat farmers in more states to join us, expanding our efforts and generating results that will help other farmers to see the benefits.”
Moreover, as mentioned in the agreement, General Mills has joined hands with the “SHP and the National Wheat Foundation” for carrying out “on-farm mentorship for the farm operators. Experts from SHP like Field Managers, agronomists, and farmers will conduct the training sessions in “advanced nutrient management and tillage methods. In the words of “National Wheat Foundation Chairman and North Carolina wheat grower”, Phil McLain:
“Wheat growers recognize the importance of being good stewards of the land because healthy land and soil means better crops. Through this grant, we will highlight how wheat farmers integrate good conservation and sustainability practices into their farms and the benefits to their operations and the value chain. The Foundation is excited to work with two like-minded organizations in such a unique project that can lead to scientifically sound data on farming practices for growers while ensuring a quality product for consumers.”
References:
3blmedia.com
During the course of the coming three years, the funds will be distributed equally for use on “soil health research on wheat farms and education outreach” programme to over “125,000 wheat farmers across the Northern and Southern Plains”. Following the “latest contribution” General Mill has made a recent commitment so far of “nearly $3 million”, all in the effort to promote “the expanded adoption of soil health practices”.
General Mills’ chief supply chain officer, John Church, said:
“We know that providing farmers with the research and tools to increase their yields while improving the quality of their soil is a vital step in ensuring agricultural lands are sustainable for generations to come. If we intend to see widespread adoption of these practices, we have to demonstrate both environmental and economic benefits over the long term.”
The National Wheat Foundation will use the enrolled farms network of Soil Health Partnership for increasing “grower participation in the partnership” as well as sharing “data and sustainability metrics for wheat production”. Furthermore, General Mills added:
“The Soil Health Partnership (SHP) is a data-driven program working to quantify the benefits of practices that support soil health, from an economic as well as environmental standpoint. Those practices include reduced tillage, growing cover crops in winter, and advanced nutrient management. Benefits include improved crop yield, enhanced water quality, increased drought resilience, better flood resistance, and decreased greenhouse gas emissions”.
While, the Soil Health Partnership’s director, Nick Goeser, said:
“Our project started in the corn belt, but soil is a national resource that we need to protect and enhance everywhere farmers grow crops. Soil health is the next frontier in American agriculture, and we’re eager to invite more wheat farmers in more states to join us, expanding our efforts and generating results that will help other farmers to see the benefits.”
Moreover, as mentioned in the agreement, General Mills has joined hands with the “SHP and the National Wheat Foundation” for carrying out “on-farm mentorship for the farm operators. Experts from SHP like Field Managers, agronomists, and farmers will conduct the training sessions in “advanced nutrient management and tillage methods. In the words of “National Wheat Foundation Chairman and North Carolina wheat grower”, Phil McLain:
“Wheat growers recognize the importance of being good stewards of the land because healthy land and soil means better crops. Through this grant, we will highlight how wheat farmers integrate good conservation and sustainability practices into their farms and the benefits to their operations and the value chain. The Foundation is excited to work with two like-minded organizations in such a unique project that can lead to scientifically sound data on farming practices for growers while ensuring a quality product for consumers.”
References:
3blmedia.com