Riceland Foods distributed more than $4 million to its farmers enrolled in the 2024 Riceland Carbon Ready Program. Since it launched in 2022, the program has paid out close to $8.5 million to cooperative farmer members enrolled.
Arva Intelligence tracked key data points, such as tillage method, irrigation, and nutrient management, to showcase how sustainable production practices impact sustainable metrics.
Riceland President and Chief Executive Officer Kevin McGilton said he’s pleased with support for the program.
“As input costs and other expenses continue to rise, I am grateful the Riceland Carbon Ready Program can provide additional financial support for our farmer-members,” said McGilton. “Through this program, cooperative members have received close to $8.5 million since the program began in 2022. As a cooperative, it is our duty to create and maintain programs that support our farmer-members, and Carbon Ready has become a member benefit, driving value from our farmers’ fields to our customers’ supply chain.”
Data tracking indicated that over 136,000 tons of CO2 emissions were reduced and 39.3 billion gallons of water were saved through irrigation management practices such as Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD), Multi-inlet Rice Irrigation (MIRI), furrow irrigated rice and zero grade precision leveling.
Riceland Vice President of Government Affairs and Sustainability Adam Shea said the program continues to evolve to serve the needs of cooperative members.
“When we set out to create this program, we always wanted it to grow to support our members’ sustainable production practices and lean into our customers’ sustainability goals to support their supply chains,” Shea said. “As we look forward, we are striving to continue our current successes and find ways to grow the program to create more avenues for our farmer-members to be rewarded for sustainable agriculture practices, not just in rice, but other commodities, too.”
Funding for the 2024 Riceland Carbon Ready Program was provided from six companies in the consumer-packaged goods space that purchase rice from the cooperative. The investment in the program allows Riceland partners to make Scope 3 GHG emission reductions claims as part of their overall sustainability goals.
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