Food industry giant Kellanova, formerly operational as Kellogg, has entered into a partnership with Asia’s leading carbon removal developer Varaha, joining forces on a sustainable corn farming and carbon dioxide removal (CDR) project.
As part of this partnership, the two companies will roll out a five-year insetting regenerative corn program in the Indian state of Maharashtra, covering 12,500 acres of corn farmland and introducing sustainable farming practices to a network of 5,000 smallholder farmers.
Specifically, the project will encourage the adoption of practices like in-situ residue management, raised-bed planting, cover cropping, and improved nitrogen-use efficiency to build up climate resilience and support local food safety.
By introducing environmentally friendly farming approaches to this region, the joint project is expected to result in boosted yields and soil health conditions in this area, improving the livelihoods of the participating farmers and reducing the reliance on artificial fertilizers.
Additionally, through these activities, the project is expected to result in the removal of 100,000 tons of CO2e emissions that will be counted towards Kellanova’s goal of lowering its Scope 3 carbon footprint.
To ensure transparency and accountability in the achieved carbon removal results, Varaha will employ its scientifically robust digital monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) systems to track the progress on every acre of project territory.
Varaha and Kellanova also intend to partner with scientific organizations and explore improved farm management further in an aim to address aflatoxin contamination, known as one of the major challenges in corn production.
Relevant: Varaha Locks In A $30M Investment From Mirova For Its Regenerative Agriculture Project In India
Shaughan Kennedy, Vice President, AMEA Supply Chain at Kellanova, stated, “Our program with Varaha proves that climate action and farmer prosperity can go hand in hand. Consumers today expect the food they eat to be responsibly sourced, and this program sets a model that others in the industry can follow.”
On behalf of Varaha, co-founder and CEO Madhur Jain commented, “With this project, we’re combining strong science, cutting-edge digital tools, and deep farmer engagement to deliver measurable climate and livelihood impact.”
Read more: Varaha Issues The First Registry-Backed ERW Carbon Credits In Asia
