Land O’Lakes and Mars partner for dairy sustainability pitch

Land O’Lakes and Mars Wrigley have announced a new pitch event to accelerate on-farm dairy sustainability, calling for submissions of ideas, products and services to help farmers reduce on-farm greenhouse gas emissions.

Entrepreneurs and companies are invited to submit their solution for review in the ‘Empower Possibilities’ event by June 24, 2019.

“Across the dairy sector, entrepreneurs are developing new tools every day to help dairy farmers in all aspects of stewardship, including achieving reductions in greenhouse gas emissions,” said Pete Kappelman, senior vice president of member and government relations for Land O’Lakes.

“Dairy farmers are innovative and forward-thinking, and Land O’Lakes is well-positioned to deploy on-farm solutions that can help our dairy-farmer members focus on business results, while also safeguarding natural resources. This pitch event is one more way to amplify emerging tools in our industry.”

“Mars has prioritized sustainability throughout our supply chain network, including through our Sustainable in a Generation Plan. We believe the world we want tomorrow starts with how we do business today. To reach our ambitious science-based climate goals, we are working collaboratively to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions from dairy farms.” said Ashley Walton, global category director for dairy at Mars Wrigley. 

Participants invited to the pitch event will receive input, coaching and advice from dairy and ag tech leaders to help bring their products and services to scale on the farm.

With support from Mars Wrigley, up to $200,000 in funding will support the implementation of one of the selected solutions on a Land O’Lakes member dairy farm, elevating efforts to apply the promising new product or service at greater scale.

The pitch event builds on other efforts Land O’Lakes has led to help dairy farmers, such as last year’s dairy accelerator. Also in 2018, the company partnered with Tate & Lyle to advance conservation practices on Midwest farms and source sustainable corn in the USA.