Big Food Goes Green: Kellanova & Varaha Target India's Farms
December 5, 2025, 3:31 pm
Kellanova partners with Varaha to cut emissions in India. They'll help farmers adopt eco-friendly methods. It's a move towards sustainable sourcing.
Kellanova, formerly Kellogg's, is making a big push for sustainability. They're teaming up with Varaha. Varaha is a major carbon project developer in Asia. The goal? To reduce emissions in Kellanova's supply chain.
The partnership focuses on regenerative agriculture. It will impact 12,500 acres of corn farms in India. The project aims to cut nearly 100,000 tons of CO2.
This deal is unique. It prioritizes "insetting." Insetting means reducing emissions within the supply chain itself. It's not just about offsetting emissions elsewhere.
Kellanova has a net-zero goal. They want to reach it by 2050. A key target is to improve the lives of 250,000 people in their food chain by 2030.
The five-year project will aid 5,000 smallholder farmers. These farmers are in Maharashtra, India. They'll learn regenerative techniques. These include better residue management and efficient nitrogen use. Raised-bed planting and cover cropping are also part of the plan.
These methods boost soil health. They also reduce fertilizer use. This, in turn, improves crop yields. It's a win-win for farmers and the environment.
A Kellanova VP emphasized the dual benefit. Climate action and farmer prosperity can go together. Consumers want responsibly sourced food. This project sets a good example.
This isn't Kellanova's only green move. They recently joined a partnership with Indigo Ag and Walmart. This initiative supports rice farmers in Arkansas. These farmers supply Walmart's Great Value brand. They're transitioning to regenerative practices.
Varaha is also gaining momentum. Mirova, a sustainable investing firm, recently invested $30 million in Varaha. This will help Varaha expand its regenerative agriculture efforts.
Varaha's CEO sees India as a carbon removal hub. This project positions India as crucial to Kellanova's global sustainability strategy.
Mirova's investment is significant. It's their largest carbon deal to date. It's also their first in India. It will support Varaha's Kheti soil carbon project.
The Kheti project aims to help 337,000 smallholder farmers. These farmers are located in Haryana and Punjab. The project covers 675,000 hectares. Techniques include direct seeding of rice. Crop residue management and reduced tillage are also used. These improve soil health and cut emissions.
The carbon credits generated are in high demand. Varaha uses technology for monitoring, reporting, and verification. This ensures accuracy and transparency.
Varaha's MD highlights the company's mission. They want to make regenerative agriculture central to India’s climate strategy.
The Kheti project follows Verra's VM0042 methodology. This is a global standard for measuring soil carbon gains. It also tracks emission reductions from improved farming practices.
Kellanova's partnership with Varaha is a significant step. It shows a commitment to sustainable sourcing. It also demonstrates the potential of regenerative agriculture. Big food companies can drive real change. This change benefits farmers, the environment, and consumers. The focus on insetting is particularly important. It addresses emissions directly within the supply chain. Other companies should take note. This model could be a key to a more sustainable future for the food industry.
Kellanova, formerly Kellogg's, is making a big push for sustainability. They're teaming up with Varaha. Varaha is a major carbon project developer in Asia. The goal? To reduce emissions in Kellanova's supply chain.
The partnership focuses on regenerative agriculture. It will impact 12,500 acres of corn farms in India. The project aims to cut nearly 100,000 tons of CO2.
This deal is unique. It prioritizes "insetting." Insetting means reducing emissions within the supply chain itself. It's not just about offsetting emissions elsewhere.
Kellanova has a net-zero goal. They want to reach it by 2050. A key target is to improve the lives of 250,000 people in their food chain by 2030.
The five-year project will aid 5,000 smallholder farmers. These farmers are in Maharashtra, India. They'll learn regenerative techniques. These include better residue management and efficient nitrogen use. Raised-bed planting and cover cropping are also part of the plan.
These methods boost soil health. They also reduce fertilizer use. This, in turn, improves crop yields. It's a win-win for farmers and the environment.
A Kellanova VP emphasized the dual benefit. Climate action and farmer prosperity can go together. Consumers want responsibly sourced food. This project sets a good example.
This isn't Kellanova's only green move. They recently joined a partnership with Indigo Ag and Walmart. This initiative supports rice farmers in Arkansas. These farmers supply Walmart's Great Value brand. They're transitioning to regenerative practices.
Varaha is also gaining momentum. Mirova, a sustainable investing firm, recently invested $30 million in Varaha. This will help Varaha expand its regenerative agriculture efforts.
Varaha's CEO sees India as a carbon removal hub. This project positions India as crucial to Kellanova's global sustainability strategy.
Mirova's investment is significant. It's their largest carbon deal to date. It's also their first in India. It will support Varaha's Kheti soil carbon project.
The Kheti project aims to help 337,000 smallholder farmers. These farmers are located in Haryana and Punjab. The project covers 675,000 hectares. Techniques include direct seeding of rice. Crop residue management and reduced tillage are also used. These improve soil health and cut emissions.
The carbon credits generated are in high demand. Varaha uses technology for monitoring, reporting, and verification. This ensures accuracy and transparency.
Varaha's MD highlights the company's mission. They want to make regenerative agriculture central to India’s climate strategy.
The Kheti project follows Verra's VM0042 methodology. This is a global standard for measuring soil carbon gains. It also tracks emission reductions from improved farming practices.
Kellanova's partnership with Varaha is a significant step. It shows a commitment to sustainable sourcing. It also demonstrates the potential of regenerative agriculture. Big food companies can drive real change. This change benefits farmers, the environment, and consumers. The focus on insetting is particularly important. It addresses emissions directly within the supply chain. Other companies should take note. This model could be a key to a more sustainable future for the food industry.