FFTC Agricultural Policy Platform (FFTC-AP)

The food processing giant’s new Climate Transition Plan, published on Thursday (18 April), outlines several “climate levers” that can be addressed to tackle emissions by 2030 across a range of subjects.

These levers showcase the contribution that identified solutions can have in building toward a target to reduce value chain emissions by 30% by 2030 and reach net-zero by 2050. Agriculture and ingredients account for 33% of identified solutions, followed by transportation and a “solutions team” that analyses new and emerging technologies (both 23%). Other levers include dairy innovation, supplier engagement, packaging and energy and manufacturing.

“The health of our planet and our ability to make food the world loves are inherently intertwined,” General Mills’ chief sustainability and global impact officer, Mary Jane Melendez, said.

“Our Climate Transition Action Plan and continued progress demonstrate how we are working from the ground up, with partners across our value chain and industry, to help solve today’s food and agriculture challenges and build a resilient future.”

General Mills was one of the first companies to publish a full value chain goal approved by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) in 2015. Five years later, it launched its new climate goals, aligned with the 1.5^oC guidance from the SBTi.

The new plan confirms that General Mills has conducted its first climate risk assessment and that it is in the process of revising science-based targets to incorporate the recent Forest, Land and Agriculture Guidance (FLAG) guidance.

In 2023, General Mills reduced total value chain emissions by 7% and further reduced Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 12% compared to the previous year. Since 2020, Scope 1 and 2 emissions have been reduced by 51%. General Mills notes that almost half of the company’s emissions occur upstream of its direct operations, in agriculture, ingredients and packaging.

Read more here.