US-based Mars in partnership with the Sustainable Rice Platform (SRP) has announced the first global standard for sustainable rice and has pledged to completely source its rice from only those suppliers who meet this standard by 2020.
SRP, convened by the United Nations Environment Program and the International Rice Research Institute, is an international alliance comprising agricultural research organisations, agri-food firms, civil society organisations.
The standard has created a criteria for sustainably cultivating rice in order to cut down environmental footprint as well as benefit farmers.
The standard has mandated 46 requirements that are classified under eight topics, which include food safety, productivity, labour rights, worker health and biodiversity.
The owner of rice brand Uncle Bens has pledged that it would use SRP standard as a benchmark to completely source sustainably cultivated rice by 2020 and assess its rice supply chain.
Mars Food president Fiona Dawson was quoted by Foodmanufacture.co.uk as saying: "Caring for our environment as well as our entire supply chain from end-to-end is more than usual corporate responsibility. It's an imperative for Mars Food.
"Through the global standard, we hope to create benefits for all involved from the farmers to our consumers. The benefit for us is that is that we are ensuring premium quality rice, whilst also ensuring a higher income for farmers and a better environment for current and future generations. It is a truly mutual solution."
The food company has begun implementing the standard in India and Pakistan.
Recently, it opened its Global Food Safety Centre in China to bolster food safety.
