Did you know that as much as 30% of peanuts never reach consumers?

Mars doubles its investment in the search for the perfect peanut – $5 million for groundbreaking research.

Mars launches its first comprehensive program dedicated to peanut protection – the “Peanut Protection Plan” – to address the growing challenges in global supply of this vital crop.

Mars is one of the world’s top five peanut buyers, sourcing more than 135,000 tons annually for its global brands, including Snickers and M&M’s.

The company has set a clear goal: to help prevent crop losses that currently result in up to 30% of peanuts never reaching consumers – losses that cost farmers millions and threaten an essential source of protein for millions of families worldwide. Due to rigorous quality standards, only one in every 100 peanuts meets the criteria to become part of a Peanut M&M.

With an investment of $5 million over the next five years, Mars will fund the development of more resilient peanut varieties using the latest genomic research, enabling plants to better withstand pests, diseases, and unpredictable weather conditions.

This new investment builds on more than a decade of Mars’ support for peanut science, including $10 million previously invested in natural plant breeding and other scientific projects.

“At Mars, we believe we have a unique role to play as a source of innovation, which is why we take the long view and invest in science to protect peanuts,” said Amanda Davies, Global VP R&D, Procurement and Sustainability, Mars Snacking. “The perfect peanut won’t be discovered by chance. It takes long-term investment, scientific brilliance, and the dedication of our partners – from greenhouse to field. After all, innovation without application is just imagination.”

The “Peanut Protection Plan” is already delivering results. Scientists at the University of Georgia’s Wild Peanut Lab – a long-standing Mars partner – have developed more resilient peanut varieties that yield up to 30% higher harvests under tough conditions. One such variety, named Sempre Verde (“always green”), is already being grown in Brazil and does not require fungicides.

“Cultivated peanuts emerged as a rare occurrence once in a thousand years, but we cannot rely on chance to repeat itself. Breakthroughs in science, discipline, and partnership are essential,” said Dr. Soraya Bertioli, Senior Researcher at the University of Georgia. “Quite simply, our results would not have been possible without Mars’ long-term support.”

Through the “Peanut Protection Plan,” Mars is further investing in developing new drought- and disease-resistant varieties in collaboration with the University of Georgia, the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service (USDA ARS). In Brazil, Mars is working with the Campinas Agronomy Institute (IAC) and the agricultural research corporation EMBRAPA to leverage wild peanut species in breeding even more resilient varieties adapted to local conditions.

All of this is part of Mars’ broader commitment to its Sustainable in a Generation Plan.