Collaboration Takes Center Stage at Climate Week NYC

The annual event aims to promote sustainable approaches to business as well as regenerative agriculture

Person holding CheezIt Box — PHOTO COURTESY OF: Kellanova

CheezIts on Production Line — PHOTO COURTESY OF: Kellanova

Farmer on Combine — PHOTO COURTESY OF: Kellanova

During Climate Week NYC, a group of leading industry partners—Ahold Delhaize USA, Bartlett, Arva Intelligence, and Kellanova—came together to highlight their efforts in advancing regenerative agriculture practices. At an interactive event, attendees sampled food and listened to firsthand insights from wheat farmers and stakeholders involved in a new regenerative agriculture pilot program. This initiative, which is a first for the food and beverage company Kellanova, focuses on collaboration, education, and measurable outcomes aimed at reducing Scope 3 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and improving the resilience of farming and supply chains.

LEARN MORE ABOUT CORPORATE SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGIES

From Farm to Shelf

The pilot program, which began earlier this year, brings together financial support from Kellanova, Ahold Delhaize USA, and Bartlett to aid wheat farmers in North Carolina who are adopting regenerative agricultural methods. The wheat from these farms will be combined with conventionally grown wheat to produce a well-known consumer product: Cheez-It® crackers. These crackers, made with a mix of regenerative and conventional wheat, are set to appear on the shelves of Ahold Delhaize USA’s local stores in 2025.

Regenerative agriculture, a holistic farming approach that emphasizes soil health and conservation, is tailored to the specific needs of crops, climates, and landscapes. Key elements of the initiative include:

- Wheat farmers in Eastern North Carolina adopting regenerative practices with the guidance of Bartlett’s certified crop advisors.
- Bartlett integrating the regenerative wheat with conventional wheat and milling it into flour at its expanded facility in Wilson's Mills, N.C.
- Kellanova using this wheat to produce Cheez-It® crackers at its Cary, N.C., facility.
- Ahold Delhaize USA selling the crackers in over 2,000 stores nationwide beginning in 2025.

Measurement and Education for Long-Term Impact

In addition to producing regenerative wheat, the program also aims to generate valuable insights on agricultural and supply chain resilience. Arva Intelligence, known for its focus on empowering farmers while advancing environmental sustainability, will utilize its CropForce™ platform to measure and verify the initiative’s impact on emissions reduction. This data will help the partners assess progress and potentially apply the lessons learned to future Scope 3 emission reduction projects.

A Broader Commitment to Sustainability

This partnership brings together diverse stakeholders from across the agricultural and food supply chain, demonstrating the importance of collaboration in addressing the environmental challenges of today. By working together, the partners aim to reduce GHG emissions while enhancing the livelihoods of US farmers.

For Kellanova, this initiative aligns with their larger commitment to sustainability under their "Better Days™ Promise," which seeks to reduce emissions and improve the well-being of people, including those in farming communities. Programs like this one reflect an increasing trend within the industry to combine innovation and cooperation to create a more sustainable future for both people and the planet.

Switching from plastic to paper-based packaging often comes with new challenges. This webinar will explore how an ovenable, fiber-based packaging solution can deliver the benefits of plastic with 90% less plastic usage.