Mars, a leading provider of snacking, food, and pet care products, has announced the launch of the Mars Protect the Peanut Plan, a multi-million-pound agri-science initiative designed to shield peanut crops from the adverse effects of climate change. This initiative addresses the increasing pressures on peanut crops, such as extreme weather conditions, pests, and diseases, which contribute to significant crop losses. Currently, 30% of peanuts are unable to progress from “pod to plate” due to these challenges.
As one of the world’s largest buyers of peanuts, Mars purchases over 300 million pounds annually for its key brands, including M&M’s and Snickers. The company has already invested $10 million in peanut research, notably co-founding the Peanut Genome Initiative, which successfully mapped over 2.5 billion DNA base pairs. This data has been made available as open-source science for industry use.
Mars will invest an additional $5 million under the new initiative to develop genomic science-based techniques aimed at cultivating more resilient peanut varieties. These efforts will help peanuts withstand increasing threats from pests, diseases, and unpredictable weather conditions.
The programs supported by the plan include collaborations with the University of Georgia Tifton Campus, HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, and the USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) to develop drought and disease-resistant peanut varieties. Further partnerships with USDA ARS and the National Institute of Agricultural Technology (INTA) focus on developing and utilising disease-resistant peanut varieties.
Amanda Davies, Chief R&D, Procurement and Sustainability Officer at Mars Snacking, stated: “We have long believed that Mars can play a unique role as an engine of innovation, which is why we’re thinking in generations and betting big on science to protect the peanut. We know that the perfect peanut won’t be discovered by accident. It will take long-term investment, scientific ingenuity, and the dedication of our incredible partners to keep turning potential into progress — from the greenhouse to the farmer’s field.”
