An agreement between Mars Australia and James Cook University will see the two organisations collaborating on a variety of tropical research projects. These include coral reef restoration, cocoa pollination and next-generation productivity techniques to assist small farming communities in the Tropics.
Family Board Director of Mars, Incorporated and Vice President – Sustainable Solutions, Frank Mars, said: “As part of our Sustainable in a Generation Plan, Mars is focused on minimising our impact on the planet and making a difference to people throughout our total value chain. One of the ways we are doing this is by working with the communities where we operate to develop innovative ways to ensure community farming is a sustainable and respected livelihood around the world.
“In JCU, Mars will be partnering with the world’s leading University based in the Tropics. I am excited about what this collaboration could mean for many of the communities that we work with around the world, in particular Australia’s iconic Great Barrier Reef.”
JCU Vice Chancellor, Professor Sandra Harding, said: “JCU’s mission is to build a brighter future for the Tropics worldwide, through graduates and research that make a difference. This agreement signals the beginning of a partnership that we hope will grow to encompass our many areas of common interest, including sustainable tropical agriculture and coral reef restoration.”
“The Tropical zone is home to more than half of the world’s children and by 2050 more than half the world’s total population will live here. We’re excited to work with Mars on projects that will benefit the people and environments of the Tropics.”
The agreement, formalised in Cairns this week, is the first of its kind for Mars in Australia. It builds on Mars’ network of higher education partners around the world, including University of California Davis and the University of Reading in the UK.