MUMBAI, INDIA – Mars, Inc. and Tata Trusts plan to work together to advance agriculture development, address malnutrition and improve food safety in India after entering into a memorandum of understanding, Mars said Jan. 6. Mars and Tata Trusts, a coalition of philanthropic trusts based in India, plan to develop methods and tools to incorporate crop productivity, farm income and the sustainability of select agriculture commodities.

They also will collaborate on the availability of safe, affordable and sustainable raw materials from India and on reducing aflatoxin in India’s supply chain. Mars, Inc. in 2015 opened a new Global Food Safety Center outside of Beijing, China. Mars Food, a segment of Mars, Inc., will conduct joint research with the Tata Trusts on nutritional guidelines to help address anemia and other forms of malnutrition.

“Given Mars’ global leadership in nutritive foods and sustainable agriculture, the Tata Trusts believes this collaboration will have lasting, meaningful benefits for Indian communities,” said Ratan Tata, chairman of the Tata Trusts, which include Sir Dorabji Tata Trust, Sir Ratan Tata Trust and Navajbhai Ratan Tata Trust. “We are particularly inspired by Mars Food’s commitment to addressing malnutrition in India, a challenge of growing concern in this country, particularly among children.”

While Mars, Inc. is based in McLean, Virginia, U.S., Mars Food is a manufacturer of food products based in Brussels, Belgium.

“Today’s memorandum of understanding with the Tata Trusts is an important step in Mars’ journey to improve nutrition, food safety and sustainability in India,” said Fiona Dawson, president of Mars Food.