UK | His Majesty King Charles III visited SOIL: The World at Our Feet, a new exhibition at Somerset House that celebrates the wonder of soil and its vital role in the planet’s future.
Mars, Incorporated is an Associate Sponsor of the exhibition, reflecting its commitment to promoting global soil health and its ambitious goal of helping 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, the Global President of Mars Pet Nutrition. Singh represented Mars and shared details on the company’s vision and efforts to accelerate the adoption of regenerative practices. He acknowledged the crucial role of strategic partnerships in finding innovative solutions and supporting adoption at scale.
“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,” said Singh.
“Soil plays an essential role in climate resilience, yet experts estimate that over 90 percent of the earth’s topsoil will be significantly degraded by 20501, impacting food security and ecosystem health.”
He added that farmers were at the heart of building a resilient and sustainable food system, and collaboration with partners like the Soil Association was 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 to share our vision and progress with His Majesty.”
Mars, Incorporated recognises that nearly 60 percent of its value chain greenhouse gas (GHG) footprint comes from agricultural ingredients. 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 GBP one billion over the next three years 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 consumer-facing activation was backed by the Beloved Soil Initiative, a pilot programme we're undertaking in collaboration with Agrii and Soil Association Exchange. The programme focuses on improving soil health through sustainable farming practices.
