If we don’t take bold steps to address poverty in agricultural supply chains, the continuity, quality and availability of raw materials that are essential for agri-food businesses like Mars – including rice, cocoa and vanilla – will be at significant risk. As will the future of our global food system.

That’s why Mars founded the Farmer Income Lab with one distinct focus: enable farmers to earn a decent standard of living. The Lab brings together academic, public, private and civil society partners to identify and activate innovative solutions for improving smallholder farmer incomes.

We started with farmers working in Mars’ supply chains in developing countries, but this is certainly not a one company agenda. It’s a challenge that every business who relies on farmers in developing countries faces – and it’s one that needs all of us to play a role in solving.