On Wednesday 26th March, His Majesty King Charles III visited SOIL: The World at Our Feet, a new exhibition at Somerset House which celebrates the wonder of soil and the vital role it plays in the planet’s future.
Mars is associate sponsor of the exhibition, reflecting its commitment to promote global soil health and its ambitious goal to help deliver more than one million acres of regenerative agriculture practices by 2030. This initiative forms part of Mars Incorporated’s broader 2050 net-zero commitments and emphasises the company’s efforts to advancing climate-smart, regenerative agricultural practices worldwide
As part of the tour, His Majesty met Ikdeep Singh, global president of Mars Pet Nutrition, who represented Mars and shared details on the company’s vision and efforts to accelerate the adoption of regenerative practices, acknowledging the crucial role of strategic partnerships in finding innovative solutions and supporting adoption at scale.
Speaking after the meeting took place, Ikdeep said: “We have long admired His Majesty King Charles III position to champion action for a sustainable future and welcomed the opportunity to discuss Mars, Incorporated’s sustainability goals with him during the visit.
Soil plays an essential role in climate resilience, yet experts estimate that over 90% of the earth’s topsoil will be significantly degraded by 20501, impacting food security and ecosystem health. Farmers are at the heart of building a resilient and sustainable food system, and collaboration with partners like the Soil Association – who we were delighted to have join us on the visit – is key to supporting them and driving meaningful progress. Our involvement in Somerset House’s latest exhibition aims to spotlight the importance of protecting this vital resource and advancing innovative, creative solutions to one of the most pressing challenges of our time. We were thrilled it allowed us the opportunity to share our vision and progress with His Majesty.”
Mars, Incorporated recognises that nearly 60% of its value chain greenhouse gas (GHG) footprint comes from agricultural ingredients. That’s why the company is investing in scaling up new climate smart and regenerative agriculture. From the farms where food is grown for people and pets to the veterinary clinics where pets are cared for, Mars, Incorporated is investing over $1 billion over the next three years with an aim to halve its GHG footprint by 2030 and become net zero by 2050.
In connection with the exhibition, James Wellbeloved, part of the Mars family of brands, unveiled a 15-foot giant mucky pup sculpture named “Ellie” in central London earlier this month to raise awareness about the connection between healthy soil and pet nutrition. This exciting consumer facing activation is backed by the Beloved Soil Initiative, a pilot programme we’re undertaking in collaboration with Agrii and Soil Association Exchange, focusing on improving soil health through sustainable farming practices.
