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Sustainable Agriculture
Overview
General Mills has a long-standing commitment to minimize its impact on the environment by
working closely with the agricultural community. Through its Green Giant brand, General Mills has
practiced sustainable agriculture for more than a century, and research continues in earnest as the
company develops and improves crop breeding and agronomic practices that benefit farmers and
the environment. Higher yielding crops, reduced pesticide use and disease resistance are among
the best practices that General Mills has shared with farmers around the world.
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General Mills: Agriculture
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General Mills: Agriculture
Case studies
Ensuring a sustainable
supply of vanilla
The vanilla plant is a labor-intensive crop that is grown only in a
few, select corners of the world, by an increasingly smaller number
of growers. At present, many of those growers are abandoning
vanilla farming in favor of other crops that are less vulnerable
to disease, severe weather and price fluctuations. General Mills
is funding a $200,000 research project at the University of
California-Davis to help steward the environmental and social
sustainability of this fragile crop, and build a stable future for
those who grow it. An international research team is mapping the
genetic structure of the vanilla plant and laying the foundation
for natural improvements – like disease-resistance and enhanced
flavor – that will enable vanilla farmers to generate more income
from a larger, more consistent and higher-quality crop.
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General Mills: Agriculture
Case studies
Reducing water usage Sustaining economic growth for
General Mills’ agricultural team has been working with local
farmers in China
broccoli and cauliflower growers in Irapuato, Mexico, to
encourage them to adopt a technology called drip irrigation that Small farmers in the northeastern Chinese village of Yongqing
significantly reduces water usage. By directing water to drip have increased their household income two to four times since
slowly to the roots of the plants, drip irrigation uses 50 percent 2003 by growing corn for General Mills’ Bugles corn snacks.
less water than the more conventional furrow irrigation. Drip By contracting directly with General Mills, more than
irrigation is now being used in about 43 percent of the acreage. 750 farmer households receive seeds, other inputs, agronomic
General Mills estimates that 1.1 billion gallons of water are guidance, and two unique guarantees: a price that’s higher
saved annually. Drip irrigation also reduces the use of pesticides than the market price and a promise to buy their entire crop.
and improves yields, making it an effective, efficient and more Signs of the farmers’ higher standard of living are prominent,
environmentally friendly way to nourish crops. To encourage ranging from new housing to farm equipment to improved
farmers to adopt drip irrigation, General Mills has provided diets. During the past seven growing seasons, the amount of
farmers with interest-free loans to purchase equipment. cultivated acreage has increased, and farmers speak of plans
to cultivate more to sustain their income growth.
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