Mars, one of the world’s top five peanut buyers, has announced a major $5 million investment over the next five years to safeguard peanuts from pests, diseases, and climate challenges. The initiative, called the Mars Protect the Peanut Plan, aims to ensure the long-term supply of this vital crop, which faces losses of up to 30% before reaching consumers.
Mars purchases over 300 million pounds of peanuts annually for its global brands, including Peanut M&M’s — yet only 1 in 100 peanuts meet the quality needed for them. The company has already invested $10 million in peanut research, including co-founding the Peanut Genome Initiative, which successfully mapped the crop’s 2.5 billion DNA base pairs and made the findings publicly available.
Through partnerships with the University of Georgia, HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, USDA Agricultural Research Service, and international research bodies, Mars is helping develop new peanut varieties that can withstand drought, disease, and pests. One standout achievement is Sempre Verde, a variety grown in Brazil that requires no fungicides and delivers yields up to 30% higher.
Amanda Davies, Chief R&D, Procurement and Sustainability Officer at Mars Snacking, said the plan is about long-term commitment:
“The perfect peanut won’t be discovered by accident. It will take scientific ingenuity and dedication from our partners to keep turning potential into progress.”
The Protect the Peanut Plan is part of Mars’ broader Sustainable in a Generation strategy, reflecting the company’s belief in using science and innovation to address global food security challenges.
📢 Be Aware, We never charge any consultancy fee for jobs.
📲 Foodtech Network WhatsApp Jobs Group
Click to join WhatsApp group
👥Free Membership (For Jobs, Internship and Training)
Membership registration
⚙️ Food Entrepreneurs & Startups (For business owners)
Our services (Free and Paid)
📱 Food safety training and certification.
Download our App, Foodtech Network
