US — Ardent Mills, one of the leading flour suppliers in North America, has upped its renewable energy use to 30% and expanded its regenerative agriculture initiatives as part of efforts to contribute to a greener, more sustainable planet.
According to its most recent corporate responsibility report, the 2022 renewable energy use of an increase of seven percentage points from 2021, according to its most recent corporate responsibility report.
The calculation includes direct sourcing of renewable energy and retaining of renewable energy credits (RECs), participating in community solar projects and purchase of replacement RECs.
In the report, the company also highlighted other initiatiatives it has undertaken this past year to achieve United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
The report specifically examines the company’s progress across three pillars: sustainability, people and nutrition.
Along with its renewable energy usage, Ardent enrolled 250,913 acres in regenerative agriculture initiatives intended to help ensure productive and profitable farmland by improving soil health and conserving water.
This year, the company expanded on its 2025 goal to work toward 750,000 acres enrolled. It also measured 145,129 program acres utilizing no-till farming practices.
Additionally, Ardent added eight facilities to the organic material waste diversion program and saved 4.8 million gallons of water through wash cycle maximization.
Despite another year of challenges for our industry, we remained resolute in our commitments to our people, customers, suppliers, consumers, communities, and the planet. By continuing to invest in our shared future, we are living out our mission to nourish what’s next — each and every day.
15 locations are now part of the program, one-third of the way toward the company’s goal to have all 45 facilities participating.
Within the people pillar of the program, Ardent created the People Plant Promise initiative, which enhances the work experience for front-line team members.
The miller also expanded employee resource groups (ERGs) participation and bolstered representation and visibility of underrepresented groups, including ERGs celebrating Black excellence, LGBTQ+ employees, women in ag, women in tech and military veterans.
Ardent exceeded access to nutrition goals set for 2025, including 171,000 pounds of food donated and more than $300,000 raised for food banks.
The company also relaunched the Ardent Mills Cultivate initiative and embedded 40 university students across the business to gain technical and leadership skills.
In the nutrition pillar, Ardent launched Emerging Nutrition, a center of expertise dedicated to innovation in alternative grains, and developed new products in the areas of keto-friendly, gluten-free, chickpea and Certified Organic Ultragrain flours.
The company further partnered with Partners in Food Solutions where Ardent Mills employees remotely shared their expertise with entrepreneurial agri-biz companies in 11 African countries, contributing more than 4,200 hours to 100+ businesses.
“Despite another year of challenges for our industry, we remained resolute in our commitments to our people, customers, suppliers, consumers, communities, and the planet,” said Dan Dye, chief executive officer of Ardent Mills.
“By continuing to invest in our shared future, we are living out our mission to nourish what’s next — each and every day.”
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