ARDEN HILLS, Minn. – Land O’Lakes, Inc. and Mars Wrigley today announced a new pitch event to accelerate on-farm dairy sustainability, calling for submissions of ideas, products and services to help farmers reduce on-farm greenhouse gas emissions. Entrepreneurs and companies are invited to submit their solution for review in the 'Empower Possibilities' event by June 24, 2019 at this link.
“Across the dairy sector, entrepreneurs are developing new tools every day to help dairy farmers in all aspects of stewardship, including achieving reductions in greenhouse gas emissions,” said Pete Kappelman, Senior Vice President of Member and Government Relations for Land O’Lakes, Inc. “Dairy farmers are innovative and forward-thinking, and Land O’Lakes is well-positioned to deploy on-farm solutions that can help our dairy-farmer members focus on business results, while also safeguarding natural resources. This pitch event is one more way to amplify emerging tools in our industry.”
“Mars understands we have a responsibility and an opportunity to improve our impact on people and the planet, and hosting this event alongside Land O’Lakes is an exciting way to help amplify innovative new solutions that could positively impact our dairy supply chain,” said Ashley Walton, Global Category Director for Dairy, Mars Wrigley. “Mars has prioritized sustainability throughout our supply chain network, including through our Sustainable in a Generation Plan. We believe the world we want tomorrow starts with how we do business today. To reach our ambitious science-based climate goals, we are working collaboratively to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions from dairy farms.”
Those interested in participating will find more information about this event and may submit proposals online at this link no later than June 24, 2019. This August, select participants will be invited to present to an audience of Land O’Lakes members and industry experts.
Participants invited to the pitch event will receive input, coaching and advice from dairy and ag tech leaders to help bring their products and services to scale on the farm. With support from Mars Wrigley, up to $200,000 in funding will support the implementation of one of the selected solutions on a Land O’Lakes member dairy farm, elevating efforts to apply the promising new product or service at greater scale. 
The pitch event builds on other efforts Land O’Lakes has led to help dairy farmers reduce emissions, including a collaboration with California BioEnergy, LLC to help California dairy-farmer members of the cooperative construct and manage on-farm digesters to produce Renewable Compressed Natural Gas.
This event is subject to at the guidelines and Participation Agreement available here. Up to $200,000 will be available to the Land O’Lakes member farm where the selected solution will be implemented. The participant that submits the solution will not receive any funds directly, but will have the opportunity to work with the Land O’Lakes member farm in the implementation process, and the participant will be compensated for any provided products or services.