General Mills - Revision history

TH: /* Greenwashing */

2023-03-03T22:33:14Z

Greenwashing

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:33, 3 March 2023
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	== Greenwashing ==		== Greenwashing ==

			=== The Nature Conservancy ===

			There is a close and longstanding relationship between General Mills and [[The Nature Conservancy]], which is funded and governed by the biggest corporate polluters in the U.S.

			<blockquote>General Mills' Nature Valley granola bars have displayed the Conservancy logo since 1998. "There is nothing more environmentally friendly" about the product, Rangan said. "We have a big problem with that."

			There is also no disclosure on the snacks that, until last fall, a General Mills Inc. corporate director sat on the Conservancy's board.</blockquote>
			<ref>https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-2003-05-18-0305170044-story.html</ref>

	=== Agroecology ===		=== Agroecology ===

TH: /* White Oak Pastures */

2023-02-19T01:29:08Z

White Oak Pastures

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:29, 19 February 2023
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	Despite General Mills' second study refuting the "carbon-negative" assertions of its previous study, both the ranch and the [[Savory Institute]] have continued to cite the erroneous findings of Quantis' report, claiming the beef is "carbon-negative."<ref>https://medium.com/@unpopularscience/the-regenerative-ranching-racket-fe6cce917a42</ref><ref>https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/climatecollaborative/mailings/1633/attachments/original/PPT-FINAL-Regenerative_Mapping-min_compressed.pdf?1579205603; p. 41</ref>		Despite General Mills' second study refuting the "carbon-negative" assertions of its previous study, both the ranch and the [[Savory Institute]] have continued to cite the erroneous findings of Quantis' report, claiming the beef is "carbon-negative."<ref>https://medium.com/@unpopularscience/the-regenerative-ranching-racket-fe6cce917a42</ref><ref>https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/climatecollaborative/mailings/1633/attachments/original/PPT-FINAL-Regenerative_Mapping-min_compressed.pdf?1579205603; p. 41</ref>

	Yet even General Mills' new study was found to have "significant lapses that grossly exaggerate or misrepresent the true SOC sequestration capacity of their farming techniques." <ref>https://plantbaseddata.medium.com/the-failed-attempt-to-greenwash-beef-7dfca9d74333</ref>		Yet even General Mills' new study was found to have "significant lapses that grossly exaggerate or misrepresent the true SOC sequestration capacity of their farming techniques" '''despite''' finding that "“Beef cattle account for about 95% of animal and 52% of land emissions on the ranch.<ref>https://plantbaseddata.medium.com/the-failed-attempt-to-greenwash-beef-7dfca9d74333</ref>

			The study also only used a 100-year timescale to evaluate the heating impact of [[Methane]], minimizing its impact by at least 2.5x over the next 20 years. This short-term timeframe is key for analyzing the non-linear dynamics of [[climate collapse]] and stopping [[feedback loops]] from triggering runaway global heating.

	Jason Rowntree, the principal investigator in the new study, had erroneously declared he had no conflicts of interest, despite sitting on the board of the [[American Grassfed Association]] and having received research grants from corporations such as [[McDonald's]] also seeking to rebrand their beef as 'regenerative.'<ref>https://medium.com/@unpopularscience/the-regenerative-ranching-racket-fe6cce917a42</ref> Other contributors to this new study include individuals associated with [[EPIC provisions]], a "frontier founder" of the [[Savory Institute]], an employee of General Mills, and a contributor to the previous Quantis study in 2019.<ref>https://plantbaseddata.medium.com/the-failed-attempt-to-greenwash-beef-7dfca9d74333</ref>		Jason Rowntree, the principal investigator in the new study, had erroneously declared he had no conflicts of interest, despite sitting on the board of the [[American Grassfed Association]] and having received research grants from corporations such as [[McDonald's]] also seeking to rebrand their beef as 'regenerative.'<ref>https://medium.com/@unpopularscience/the-regenerative-ranching-racket-fe6cce917a42</ref> Other contributors to this new study include individuals associated with [[EPIC provisions]], a "frontier founder" of the [[Savory Institute]], an employee of General Mills, and a contributor to the previous Quantis study in 2019.<ref>https://plantbaseddata.medium.com/the-failed-attempt-to-greenwash-beef-7dfca9d74333</ref>

TH: /* White Oak Pastures */

2023-02-19T01:21:22Z

White Oak Pastures

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:21, 19 February 2023
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	According to this Quantis report, White Oak Pastures application of [[Allan Savory]]'s brand of [[Holistic Management]] was so effective that the ranch was producing "carbon-negative beef!" Yet this bold claim was refuted only a year later by a second study also funded by General Mills, which reported that while White Oak Pastures may reduce carbon emissions relative to other cattle operations, it was still a net emitter of carbon.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20210710172431/https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2020.544984/full</ref>		According to this Quantis report, White Oak Pastures application of [[Allan Savory]]'s brand of [[Holistic Management]] was so effective that the ranch was producing "carbon-negative beef!" Yet this bold claim was refuted only a year later by a second study also funded by General Mills, which reported that while White Oak Pastures may reduce carbon emissions relative to other cattle operations, it was still a net emitter of carbon.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20210710172431/https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2020.544984/full</ref>

	Despite General Mills' second study refuting the "carbon-negative" assertions of its previous study, both the ranch and the [[Savory Institute]] have continued to cite the erroneous findings of Quantis' report.<ref>https://medium.com/@unpopularscience/the-regenerative-ranching-racket-fe6cce917a42</ref><ref>https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/climatecollaborative/mailings/1633/attachments/original/PPT-FINAL-Regenerative_Mapping-min_compressed.pdf?1579205603; p. 41</ref>		Despite General Mills' second study refuting the "carbon-negative" assertions of its previous study, both the ranch and the [[Savory Institute]] have continued to cite the erroneous findings of Quantis' report, claiming the beef is "carbon-negative."<ref>https://medium.com/@unpopularscience/the-regenerative-ranching-racket-fe6cce917a42</ref><ref>https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/climatecollaborative/mailings/1633/attachments/original/PPT-FINAL-Regenerative_Mapping-min_compressed.pdf?1579205603; p. 41</ref>

	Yet even General Mills' new study was found to have "significant lapses that grossly exaggerate or misrepresent the true SOC sequestration capacity of their farming techniques." <ref>https://plantbaseddata.medium.com/the-failed-attempt-to-greenwash-beef-7dfca9d74333</ref>		Yet even General Mills' new study was found to have "significant lapses that grossly exaggerate or misrepresent the true SOC sequestration capacity of their farming techniques." <ref>https://plantbaseddata.medium.com/the-failed-attempt-to-greenwash-beef-7dfca9d74333</ref>

TH: /* White Oak Pastures */

2023-02-19T01:21:01Z

White Oak Pastures

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:21, 19 February 2023
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	According to this Quantis report, White Oak Pastures application of [[Allan Savory]]'s brand of [[Holistic Management]] was so effective that the ranch was producing "carbon-negative beef!" Yet this bold claim was refuted only a year later by a second study also funded by General Mills, which reported that while White Oak Pastures may reduce carbon emissions relative to other cattle operations, it was still a net emitter of carbon.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20210710172431/https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2020.544984/full</ref>		According to this Quantis report, White Oak Pastures application of [[Allan Savory]]'s brand of [[Holistic Management]] was so effective that the ranch was producing "carbon-negative beef!" Yet this bold claim was refuted only a year later by a second study also funded by General Mills, which reported that while White Oak Pastures may reduce carbon emissions relative to other cattle operations, it was still a net emitter of carbon.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20210710172431/https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2020.544984/full</ref>

	Despite General Mills' second study refuting the "carbon-negative" assertions of ~~White Oak Pastures~~, both the ranch and the [[Savory Institute]] have continued to cite the erroneous findings of Quantis' report.<ref>https://medium.com/@unpopularscience/the-regenerative-ranching-racket-fe6cce917a42</ref><ref>https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/climatecollaborative/mailings/1633/attachments/original/PPT-FINAL-Regenerative_Mapping-min_compressed.pdf?1579205603; p. 41</ref>		Despite General Mills' second study refuting the "carbon-negative" assertions of its previous study, both the ranch and the [[Savory Institute]] have continued to cite the erroneous findings of Quantis' report.<ref>https://medium.com/@unpopularscience/the-regenerative-ranching-racket-fe6cce917a42</ref><ref>https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/climatecollaborative/mailings/1633/attachments/original/PPT-FINAL-Regenerative_Mapping-min_compressed.pdf?1579205603; p. 41</ref>

	Yet even General Mills' new study was found to have "significant lapses that grossly exaggerate or misrepresent the true SOC sequestration capacity of their farming techniques." <ref>https://plantbaseddata.medium.com/the-failed-attempt-to-greenwash-beef-7dfca9d74333</ref>		Yet even General Mills' new study was found to have "significant lapses that grossly exaggerate or misrepresent the true SOC sequestration capacity of their farming techniques." <ref>https://plantbaseddata.medium.com/the-failed-attempt-to-greenwash-beef-7dfca9d74333</ref>

TH: /* Greenwashing */

2023-02-19T01:20:26Z

Greenwashing

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 ==== White Oak Pastures ====
-As a major supplier for General Mills, [[White Oak Pastures]] is "not just a small local farm, but actually part of a powerful and massive multinational company, and an important arm of its branding and marketing." Its claim to produce "carbon-negative beef" through [[regenerative grazing]]<ref>https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/climatecollaborative/mailings/1633/attachments/original/PPT-FINAL-Regenerative_Mapping-min_compressed.pdf?1579205603; p. 41</ref> has been conclusively disproven, after General Mills-funded research was found to have "significant lapses that grossly exaggerate or misrepresent the true SOC sequestration capacity of their farming techniques." <ref>https://plantbaseddata.medium.com/the-failed-attempt-to-greenwash-beef-7dfca9d74333</ref> This research was cited by the [[Savory Institute]] as part of the [[Climate Collaborative]]'s 2020 report on Regenerative Standards, which was financed in part by General Mills.
+As a major supplier for General Mills, [[White Oak Pastures]] is "not just a small local farm, but actually part of a powerful and massive multinational company, and an important arm of its branding and marketing." <ref>https://plantbaseddata.medium.com/the-failed-attempt-to-greenwash-beef-7dfca9d74333</ref>
 = Grain Cartel =

TH: /* White Oak Pastures */

2023-02-02T22:52:02Z

White Oak Pastures

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:52, 2 February 2023
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	==== White Oak Pastures ====		==== White Oak Pastures ====

	As a major supplier for General Mills, [[White Oak Pastures]] is "not just a small local farm, but actually part of a powerful and massive multinational company, and an important arm of its branding and marketing." Its claim to produce "carbon-negative beef" through [[regenerative grazing]] ~~has been conclusively disproven~~<ref>https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/climatecollaborative/mailings/1633/attachments/original/PPT-FINAL-Regenerative_Mapping-min_compressed.pdf?1579205603; p. 41</ref>, after General Mills-funded research was found to have "significant lapses that grossly exaggerate or misrepresent the true SOC sequestration capacity of their farming techniques." <ref>https://plantbaseddata.medium.com/the-failed-attempt-to-greenwash-beef-7dfca9d74333</ref> This research was cited by the [[Savory Institute]] as part of the [[Climate Collaborative]]'s 2020 report on Regenerative Standards, which was financed in part by General Mills.		As a major supplier for General Mills, [[White Oak Pastures]] is "not just a small local farm, but actually part of a powerful and massive multinational company, and an important arm of its branding and marketing." Its claim to produce "carbon-negative beef" through [[regenerative grazing]]<ref>https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/climatecollaborative/mailings/1633/attachments/original/PPT-FINAL-Regenerative_Mapping-min_compressed.pdf?1579205603; p. 41</ref> has been conclusively disproven, after General Mills-funded research was found to have "significant lapses that grossly exaggerate or misrepresent the true SOC sequestration capacity of their farming techniques." <ref>https://plantbaseddata.medium.com/the-failed-attempt-to-greenwash-beef-7dfca9d74333</ref> This research was cited by the [[Savory Institute]] as part of the [[Climate Collaborative]]'s 2020 report on Regenerative Standards, which was financed in part by General Mills.

	= Grain Cartel =		= Grain Cartel =

TH: /* Cereal Cartel */

2023-02-02T22:45:24Z

Cereal Cartel

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:45, 2 February 2023
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	Since 1990, General Mills has developed and distributed more than 50 breakfast cereal and bar products in its joint venture with [[Nestle]], [[Cereal Partners Worldwide]] (CPW).<ref>https://www.nutraingredients-latam.com/Article/2019/05/17/General-Mills-breakfast-cereals-nutrition-Cereal-Partners-Worldwide-venture-with-Nestle</ref> CPW operates in more than 140 countries outside the US and Canada.<ref>http://www.tradearabia.com/news/HEAL_223829.html</ref> At least 60% of CPW's top products were high in sugar, and nearly all marketed towards children.		Since 1990, General Mills has developed and distributed more than 50 breakfast cereal and bar products in its joint venture with [[Nestle]], [[Cereal Partners Worldwide]] (CPW).<ref>https://www.nutraingredients-latam.com/Article/2019/05/17/General-Mills-breakfast-cereals-nutrition-Cereal-Partners-Worldwide-venture-with-Nestle</ref> CPW operates in more than 140 countries outside the US and Canada.<ref>http://www.tradearabia.com/news/HEAL_223829.html</ref> At least 60% of CPW's top products were high in sugar, and nearly all marketed towards children.

	By 2000, the Canadian National Farmers Union reported that the big three cereal companies – [[Kellogg’s]], [[Quaker Oats]], and General Mills – were 500 times more profitable than cereal grain farmers. These companies made an average return on equity of 147% compared to 0.3% for farmers.<ref>https://grain.org/article/entries/293-lords-of-poison-the-pesticide-cartel</ref> Together, these three companies control over half of the world cereal distribution.<ref>https://www.quora.com/Why-is-Nestle-being-allowed-to-sell-Cheerios-owned-by-General-Mills/answer/Manish-Kumar-1016?ch=10&oid=39682213&share=bb41c6be&target_type=answer</ref> This illustrates the [[distribution bottleneck]] through which companies such as Nestle and General Mills exploit farmers, "dictate the terms of supply to (their) growers, millers, exporters and importers" and control the corporate food system.<ref>"Stuffed and Starved" by Raj Patel, p. 12-15</ref> The systematic impoverishment of small farmers is a fundamental barrier to establishing [[food sovereignty]] and leading cause of [[world hunger]].		By 2000, the Canadian National Farmers Union reported that the big three cereal companies – [[Kellogg’s]], [[Quaker Oats]], and General Mills – were 500 times more profitable than cereal grain farmers. These companies made an average return on equity of 147% compared to 0.3% for farmers.<ref>https://grain.org/article/entries/293-lords-of-poison-the-pesticide-cartel</ref> Together, these three companies control over half of the world cereal distribution.<ref>https://www.quora.com/Why-is-Nestle-being-allowed-to-sell-Cheerios-owned-by-General-Mills/answer/Manish-Kumar-1016?ch=10&oid=39682213&share=bb41c6be&target_type=answer</ref> This illustrates the [[distribution bottleneck]] through which companies such as Nestle and General Mills exploit farmers, "dictate the terms of supply to (their) growers, millers, exporters and importers" and control the corporate food system.<ref>"Stuffed and Starved" by Raj Patel, p. 12-15</ref> The systematic impoverishment of small farmers is a fundamental barrier to establishing [[Food Sovereignty\|food sovereignty]] and leading cause of [[world hunger]].

	<blockquote>It's about time the cereal cartel got its comeuppance</blockquote>		<blockquote>It's about time the cereal cartel got its comeuppance</blockquote>

TH: /* White Oak Pastures */

2023-02-02T22:44:28Z

White Oak Pastures

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:44, 2 February 2023
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	==== White Oak Pastures ====		==== White Oak Pastures ====

	As a major supplier for General Mills, White Oak Pastures is "not just a small local farm, but actually part of a powerful and massive multinational company, and an important arm of its branding and marketing." Its claim to produce "carbon-negative beef" through [[regenerative grazing]] has been conclusively disproven<ref>https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/climatecollaborative/mailings/1633/attachments/original/PPT-FINAL-Regenerative_Mapping-min_compressed.pdf?1579205603; p. 41</ref>, after General Mills-funded research was found to have "significant lapses that grossly exaggerate or misrepresent the true SOC sequestration capacity of their farming techniques." <ref>https://plantbaseddata.medium.com/the-failed-attempt-to-greenwash-beef-7dfca9d74333</ref> This research was cited by the [[Savory Institute]] as part of the [[Climate Collaborative]]'s 2020 report on Regenerative Standards, which was financed in part by General Mills.		As a major supplier for General Mills, [[White Oak Pastures]] is "not just a small local farm, but actually part of a powerful and massive multinational company, and an important arm of its branding and marketing." Its claim to produce "carbon-negative beef" through [[regenerative grazing]] has been conclusively disproven<ref>https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/climatecollaborative/mailings/1633/attachments/original/PPT-FINAL-Regenerative_Mapping-min_compressed.pdf?1579205603; p. 41</ref>, after General Mills-funded research was found to have "significant lapses that grossly exaggerate or misrepresent the true SOC sequestration capacity of their farming techniques." <ref>https://plantbaseddata.medium.com/the-failed-attempt-to-greenwash-beef-7dfca9d74333</ref> This research was cited by the [[Savory Institute]] as part of the [[Climate Collaborative]]'s 2020 report on Regenerative Standards, which was financed in part by General Mills.

	= Grain Cartel =		= Grain Cartel =

TH: /* Investors */

2023-02-02T22:44:06Z

Investors

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:44, 2 February 2023
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	== Investors ==		== Investors ==

	General Mills was primarily owned ~~as of 2009~~ by [[Alcoa Aluminium]], [[Chevron]], [[Disney]], [[Dow Chemical]], [[DuPont]], [[Exxon Mobil]], [[General Electric]], [[Mc-Donald’s]], [[Monsanto]], [[Nike]], [[Pepsico]], [[Philip Morris]], [[Starbucks]], [[Target Stores]], and [[Texas Instruments]] (producer of weapons and [[George W. Bush]]). <ref>The Vegetarian Myth: Food, Justice, and Sustainability, Lierre Kieth, 2009, p. 115 </ref>		According to '''the Vegetarian Myth''' in 2009, General Mills was primarily owned by [[Alcoa Aluminium]], [[Chevron]], [[Disney]], [[Dow Chemical]], [[DuPont]], [[Exxon Mobil]], [[General Electric]], [[Mc-Donald’s]], [[Monsanto]], [[Nike]], [[Pepsico]], [[Philip Morris]], [[Starbucks]], [[Target Stores]], and [[Texas Instruments]] (producer of weapons and [[George W. Bush]]). <ref>The Vegetarian Myth: Food, Justice, and Sustainability, Lierre Kieth, 2009, p. 115 </ref> However, our review has only been able to confirm some of these findings.

	= Sources =		= Sources =

TH at 22:42, 2 February 2023

2023-02-02T22:42:32Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:42, 2 February 2023
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	Shauna Sadowski, head of sustainability for the natural and organic operating unit at General Mills: "Our current model is an extractive one that has left our environment in a state of degradation — eroded soil, polluted water. We have to change the entire paradigm to use natural ecological processes to gather nutrients and build the soil."		Shauna Sadowski, head of sustainability for the natural and organic operating unit at General Mills: "Our current model is an extractive one that has left our environment in a state of degradation — eroded soil, polluted water. We have to change the entire paradigm to use natural ecological processes to gather nutrients and build the soil."

			=== Regenerative Grazing ===

			==== White Oak Pastures ====

			As a major supplier for General Mills, White Oak Pastures is "not just a small local farm, but actually part of a powerful and massive multinational company, and an important arm of its branding and marketing." Its claim to produce "carbon-negative beef" through [[regenerative grazing]] has been conclusively disproven<ref>https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/climatecollaborative/mailings/1633/attachments/original/PPT-FINAL-Regenerative_Mapping-min_compressed.pdf?1579205603; p. 41</ref>, after General Mills-funded research was found to have "significant lapses that grossly exaggerate or misrepresent the true SOC sequestration capacity of their farming techniques." <ref>https://plantbaseddata.medium.com/the-failed-attempt-to-greenwash-beef-7dfca9d74333</ref> This research was cited by the [[Savory Institute]] as part of the [[Climate Collaborative]]'s 2020 report on Regenerative Standards, which was financed in part by General Mills.

	= Grain Cartel =		= Grain Cartel =