BUSINESS CASE -
Extreme weather events cost the global economy a record $320 billion in 2017. Food systems are experiencing more shocks than ever before, yet they also cause about one quarter of global greenhouse gas emissions.
PRODUCT, SERVICE & DESIGN INNOVATION -
For the second year, Fast Company is celebrating businesses, policies, and nonprofits that are poised help shift society to a more sustainable and more equitable future with its World Changing Ideas Awards. From melted down guns to nitrogen-producing microbes, there’s quite a bit of variety among 2018’s twelve winners.
SUPPLY CHAIN -
Shortages of raw materials, lower crop quality, and less secure supply are just some of the challenges companies may face due to an emerging pollination deficit – and businesses are largely unaware of the risks, according to a new report by the Cambridge Conservation Initiative.
Around three quarters of food crops depend on pollination, making pollinators worth up to $577 billion annually, of which half comes from wild pollinators. However, pollinator populations are declining rapidly, with more than a third of wild bee and butterfly species facing local extinction.
SUPPLY CHAIN -
Climate change is predicted to reduce the amount of arable land suitable for growing coffee by 50% by 2050. Climatic changes are already impacting coffee production around the world, threatening the global supply, and the endangering the livelihoods of the 25 million families who depend on its production.
SUPPLY CHAIN -
Imagine that your local market stall or supermarket aisle is devoid of staple foodstuffs such as maize, apples and bananas, let alone more ‘exotic’ and luxury products such as chili peppers or hazelnuts (the key ingredient of Nutella, which recently caused havoc in Intermarché supermarkets in France when consumers clambered to buy jars of the cocoa hazelnut spread, which were being offered at a 70 percent discount).
PRESS RELEASE -
Lenexa, Kan. (April 4, 2018)—Farm Journal Media’s Trust In Food™ platform (www.TrustInFood.com) has been named a media partner of SB’18 Vancouver. The global flagship conference of Sustainable Brands will take place June 4–7 at the Vancouver Convention Centre in Vancouver, British Columbia. Along with other media partners of the conference, including Scientific American and Innovation & Tech Today, Trust In Food™ will provide its growing audience of food-system leaders with news and insights from the experts and businesses putting sustainability first in food, agriculture, technology and other industries.
WALKING THE TALK -
The Hershey Company has announced a new comprehensive strategy for cocoa sustainability with an emphasis on addressing pressing issues facing cocoa-growing communities such as poverty, poor nutrition, at-risk youth, and vulnerable ecosystems. Cocoa For Good will involve collaborative programs, partnerships, and a half-a-billion dollars in investments by 2030.
WASTE NOT -
As much as one third of the world’s food is being wasted. The United States alone wastes roughly 63 million tons, or $218 billion, of food annually. As awareness of this issue has grown over in recent years, a variety of initiatives have taken root.
PRESS RELEASE -
Danone today announces the successful launch of a €300 million bond to finance and refinance
projects that include positive social impacts. This innovative Social Bond is the first to be issued by a
multinational aligned with the new Social Bond Principles, as set out in June 2017 by the
International Capital Market Association.
A few weeks after the integration of ESG (Environment, Social and Governance) criteria in the
payable margin of its €2bn syndicated loan, this pioneering bond issuance continues to support
Danone’s long-term ambition to leading the way to creating and sharing sustainable value. It
attracted significant appetite from investors focused on ESG and was subscribed at attractive
market conditions.
SUPPLY CHAIN -
The week surrounding Easter has the highest consumption of chocolate in the year. For environmentalists, it can be a bitter reminder that many of the world’s primary regions for growing cocoa are experiencing dramatic decline in forest cover as land is cleared for agriculture. Cocoa is the top driver of deforestation in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire; countries that also rank 1st and 3rd for the highest rates of deforestation in all of Africa.
PRODUCT, SERVICE & DESIGN INNOVATION -
With the global population predicted to reach nine billion by 2050 and the realities of climate change quickly unfolding, the pressure is on to find new solutions that allow us to meet growing demand while reducing environmental impacts. Food companies and government have an important role in initiating change, but startups are quickly emerging as the champions of tomorrow’s food system.
SUPPLY CHAIN -
For the first time ever in Ghana, cocoa farmers have obtained official ownership of non-cocoa trees on their farms. Some 150 farmers in the country’s western region will now be able to include shade trees as part of their business plans, providing additional sources of income in the form of timber while reducing deforestation and the effects of climate change.
COLLABORATION -
Amidst a flurry of corporate activity around World Water Day (March 22), the growing issues of demand, availability and quality of water have been front-and-center this week. According to UN projections, global demand for fresh water will exceed supply by 40 percent in 2030.
CHEMISTRY, MATERIALS & PACKAGING -
The potential of a circular economy continues to unfold as new technologies are help transform everything from post-consumer textiles to almond shells into high-quality raw materials.
CARBIOS, a pioneer in the field of bioplasturgy, has taken its enzymatic depolymerization process to the next level, rendering it applicable to PET polyester fibers from textile waste.
COLLABORATION -
From social media campaigns to water conservation projects and efficiency improvements across their supply chains, top brands announced all sorts of initiatives today in celebration of World Water Day — a new water management tool from Kimberly-Clark and Deltares, projects from PepsiCo and The Nature Conservancy, goals from Gap Inc. and Target, and campaign from Absolut Elyx and Water For People, just to name a few.
PRODUCT, SERVICE & DESIGN INNOVATION -
Having achieved all of its previous sustainability goals over the past decade, Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev) is hitting refresh on its sustainability goals, announcing a new set of 2025 targets for smart agriculture, water stewardship, circular packaging and climate action.
PRESS RELEASE -
To mark World Water Day this week, PepsiCo and The Nature Conservancy today announced new projects to conserve and replenish water in the Southwestern United States, marking the next stage of their multi-year national collaboration.
PepsiCo works with The Nature Conservancy as part of the Salt Verde Alliance to help to protect communities and the environment in the Salt and Verde river valleys, Arizona. Together, they enable the implementation of local solutions to improve water efficiency and replenish local watersheds.
PRODUCT, SERVICE & DESIGN INNOVATION -
With the world population projected to reach 10 billion by 2050, 70 percent more food will be needed, making sustainable food and agricultural solutions an imperative. Urban farming and alternative proteins are emerging as viable and intelligent approaches to meet growing nutritional demands with minimal environmental impacts.
SUPPLY CHAIN -
Crop diversity and water conservation are critical aspects of sustainable agriculture, but to truly future-fit our food system, ensuring soil health is imperative. To do this, DanoneWave has launched a new soil health initiative to build best-in-class programs to support sustainable agriculture in its farming communities.
PRESS RELEASE -
Campbell Soup Company (NYSE:CPB) today released its 10th Corporate Responsibility report, detailing the company’s fiscal year 2017 achievements and outlining new sustainability goals and strategies that further integrate accountability and transparency across the Campbell business.
“As a purpose-driven company committed to making real food accessible to more people, our sustainability strategy is focused on four areas – how Campbell’s food is grown, sourced, produced and shared,” said Dave Stangis, Vice President, Corporate Responsibility and Chief Sustainability Officer. “Our new areas of focus allow Campbell to leverage existing capabilities while exploring additional opportunities to accelerate our impact and drive value for Campbell’s stakeholders.”