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Our Approach to Business

Science

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At Mars, we believe that evidence-based science is crucial to our ongoing success as a business and plays a key role in tackling a wide range of social, economic and environmental challenges faced by society. It is at the heart of our approach to business, informing and guiding our strategies on a range of key areas, from climate change to health and nutrition.

In addition to our investments in product innovation, we fund and conduct fundamental and applied scientific research. Our aim is to leverage science to advance the way we operate and help secure future supplies of important raw materials and, where possible, to share our learning with others to create wider societal and environmental benefits.

Our research covers topics as diverse as defining the origins of the cocoa tree in the Amazonian rainforest, mapping the history of the canine species, exploring the role of chewing gum in oral and systemic health and investigating the role of naturally occurring food compounds in the human vascular system.

Much of our research takes place at our own facilities, which include the Mars Center for Cocoa Science in Bahia, Brazil, and the Waltham Centre for Pet Nutrition in the U.K. We employ internationally recognized scientists, work with experts from a broad range of scientific and academic disciplines and, when appropriate, share what we learn for the benefit of the global community.

Scientific research and innovation play a key role in all of our business segments, and there are references to this work throughout this website. Notable examples include:

In the development of our snackfood and human food and drink products, as well as our products for dogs, cats, birds and horses, we do not undertake, support or sponsor research that harms animals. See our Animal Welfare policy for more details.

The Mars Scientific Advisory Council

The Mars Scientific Advisory Council (MSAC) provides us with objective external scientific advice on advances, opportunities and challenges in several important areas for our business, including include human and animal health and nutrition research, plant sciences and sustainability. Established in 2007, the MSAC is composed of highly recognized researchers from all over the world. Its current members are:

MSAC advisory role
Name
Position

Co-Chair

Frank Akers

President, Oak Ridge Strategy Group

Biomedical science

David Dinges

Professor and Director, Unit for Experimental Psychiatry; Chief, Division of Sleep and Chronobiology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine

Food safety

Bob Buchanan

Professor and Director of Center for Food Safety, University of Maryland

Human health and nutrition

Selection in progress

Oral health science

John Erdman

Professor of Food Science and Human Nutrition, University of Illinois

Marketing science

Byron Sharp

Director, Ehremberg-Bass Institute

Pet health and nutrition

Selection in progress

Plant science

Alan Bennett

Executive Director, PIPRA; Professor of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis

R&D strategy

Selection in progress

Science policy

Joanne Lupton

Distinguished Professor, University Faculty Fellow, Texas A&M University

Sustainability

Janet Raganathan

Vice President, Science and Research, World Resources Institute

Mars partners with, and participates in, key international events to foster scientific dialogue and cross-disciplinary collaboration.

Case Study

Engaging with the brightest scientific minds

Click here to read the full case study

Today, sugar-free gum is one of the few food categories able to make health claims under the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) claims regulation.

Case Study

Wrigley’s Long-Standing Commitment to Research

Click here to read the full case study

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