Project period: 11/2023 – 03/2026
RECARP
Regenerative Corn and Rice Agriculture Project in Thailand
Rice and corn are among the most important crops in Thailand; however, their farming practices pose significant sustainability challenges for both rural and urban communities, largely contributing to greenhouse gas emissions. Rice farming generates methane from flooded paddy fields, while both crops exacerbate air pollution, soil degradation, and emissions through agricultural burning. The excessive use of chemical fertilizers, especially nitrogen, further escalates environmental pollution and emissions. Addressing these issues is central to RECARP, which supports Mars in its commitment to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions across its value chains by 2050. RECARP not only works to cut emissions in corn and rice farming by promoting regenerative farming practices but also strengthens farmer livelihoods, builds climate resilience, and contributes to sustainable, low-carbon supply chains.
Our Goals
Areas of Implementation
Approaches
The project leverages a farmer-centric approach building a multi-stakeholder and year-round solution to accelerate adaptation and mitigation efforts. In doing so, RECARP contributes to a more sustainable and resilient agricultural sector in Thailand.
- Corn and rice network establishment among key stakeholders in supply chain: RECARP aims to enhance the livelihoods and climate resilience of corn and rice farmers in Thailand. Through value-chain mapping and baseline assessment, the project identifies key stakeholders, challenges, and opportunities to improve sustainability and crop productivity. These insights inform the design of targeted interventions that deliver measurable environmental, economic, and social benefits.
- Regenerative agriculture practices assessment and gap analysis: RECARP identifies and promotes regenerative agricultural practices that improve soil health, lower carbon emissions, and enhance the quality of corn and rice production. By assessing current farming methods, the project pinpoints areas for improvement and provides practical guidance for farmers. RECARP also collaborates with national agricultural extension workers to align goals, build synergies, and scale up climate-smart farming across Thailand.
- Farmers training development and pilot implementation: Insights from early analyses guide the design of comprehensive training programs for corn and rice farmers, focusing on regenerative agriculture techniques and effective data collection methods. The project develops tailored training manuals, recruits farmers through collaboration with local agencies, and implements pilot projects to test and refine these approaches. Evaluation of training outcomes ensures continuous improvement and readiness for scaling across regions.
- Impact monitoring and evaluation of GHG emission reduction. The project continuously monitors and reports on its impact, including GHG emission reductions from corn and rice farming. Using farm-level data, RECARP calculates carbon mitigation impacts and tracks key performance indicators such as cost reductions, yield improvements, farmer profitability and GHG mitigation, contributing to Mars 2050 Net zero goals.
Last update: February 2026
Financed by
Mars
Project Partners
Suppliers associated with Mars and Thai Department of Agricultural Extension
