FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MEDIA CONTACT: Isaac Montes, imontes@asyousow.org, (917) 674-3510

BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA—SEPTEMBER 24, 2024—General Mills released shareholder voting results today from its 2024 annual general meeting. Shareholders strongly supported a proposal filed by shareholder representative As You Sow, calling on the company to disclose success in reducing pesticide use through regenerative agriculture practices which brings a range of benefits including soil carbon sequestration. 

General Mills has acknowledged the risks and costs of rising global temperatures to their operations and has adopted a Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions reduction target in response. The company’s plan to achieve this target identifies regenerative agriculture as a powerful lever in reducing carbon emissions associated with conventional farming. 

A primary goal of regenerative agriculture is regenerating healthy soils that sequester greenhouse gases, retain and filter water, and improve crop production. Since pesticides kill the very organisms necessary for healthy soil generation, pesticide reduction is a key metric of a successful regenerative agriculture program. Shareholders seek greater reporting on the success of General Mills’ program in reducing pesticide use. 

“General Mills is falling behind its peers in reporting on pesticide reduction which may negatively impact long-term shareholder value,” said Danielle Fugere, president and chief counsel at As You Sow. “The company should view this feedback from investors as an opportunity to alter its practices and become a leader in successful regenerative agriculture.” 

“As a major food company on the cutting edge of implementing healthier and more environmentally sound agricultural practices, shareholders look to the company to demonstrate success on the key issue of pesticide reduction,” said Cailin Dendas, senior environmental health coordinator at As You Sow.

Competitors are already reporting quantitative outcomes of their pesticide reduction practices:

• Conagra reports that its farm management practices, including regenerative agriculture, avoided 112,500 gallons of soil fumigants and 5,340 gallons of post-emergence herbicides 

• Lamb Weston uses 3.4 lbs. of active ingredient pesticides per ton of crops harvested, disclosing progress toward its 2030 pesticide reduction goal

• Campbell’s discloses the percentage of pesticides avoided in its tomato and potato supply chains 

# # #

As You Sow is the nation’s leading shareholder representative, with a 30-year track record promoting environmental and social corporate responsibility and advancing values-aligned investing. Its issue areas include climate change, ocean plastics, toxins in the food system, biodiversity, racial justice, and workplace diversity. Click here to view As You Sow’s shareholder resolution tracker.