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ALBERTA CROPS SUSTAINABILITYCERTIFICATION PILOT PROJECTAAEA & REESSA JOINT CONFERENCEECONOMIC IMPACTS: PERSPECTIVES ON TRENDS INAG R I CU L TU R E, TH E E NV I R O NME NT AND S O CI E TYM AY 1, 2015 RED DEER, ALBERTA
PROJECT PARTNERS
WHAT IS SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE?Source: SAI
WHAT IS SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE?“Sustainable agriculture means growing food inways which sustain the soil, minimise water andfertilizer use, protect biodiversity and enhancefarmers livelihood.”Unilever’s Sustainable Agriculture Code
WHAT IS SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE?'Sustainable sourcing results in a value for moneysolution that will endure over time, which won' tnegatively impact the environment, society orcompromise your ethical stance, that solves thebusiness problem, is fit for purpose, can be scaled up ordown, creates levers of control, and can be adaptedto new conditions or changed with minimal risk or costas business demand changes over time.' Tom Lawrence, Chief Performance OfficerProxima
FARMERS’ PERSPECTIVEWhy? Our farmer members haveexpressed a desire to gainsocial license withconsumers Consumers, and in-turnretailers are using theword “sustainability” asthe indicator by whichthey will measure thequality or suitability of theingredients that go intotheir products
ALBERTA CROPS SUSTAINABILITYCERTIFICATION PROJECTRationale: Prepare farmers to contribute to the conversation Assess the readiness of Alberta growers Identify strengths Identify gaps
ON FARM ASSESSMENTSAuditors: Control Union is a global company offeringcommodity inspections, quality control services,logistical support services and sustainabilitycertification Control Union Certifications (CUC) has expertise in awide range of certification programs many of whichare specific to agricultural production
ALBERTA CROPS SUSTAINABILITYCERTIFICATION PROJECTFarmer representatives from allfour project partners underwentassessments, similar in nature tothose seeking certification inthree major internationalsustainability certificationplatforms, including: Sustainable Agriculture InitiativeFarm Self-Assessment 2.0 International Sustainability CarbonCertification (ISCC Plus) Unilever Sustainable AgricultureCode (ULSAC)
SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE INITIATIVEFARM SELF ASSESSMENT 2.0 The Sustainable Agriculture Initiative is the main food andbeverage industry initiative supporting the developmentof sustainable agriculture initiatives worldwide Relevant members include: Anheuser-Busch, Heineken,Kelloggs, General Mills, and McDonalds–among manyothers
SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE INITIATIVESAI FARM SELF ASSESSMENT 2.0 Strives to develop sustainableagriculture through acontinuous improvementprocess that allows for aneasier and more flexibleadoption by farmers,worldwide 127 questions included inthree chapters: People, Planetand Profit
UNILEVER SUSTAINABLEAGRICULTURE CODE Developed in 2010 as partof Unilever’s ‘ContinuousImprovement’ efforts Created and tested by anetwork of practicalagronomists, farmers,consultants andsustainability advisors Applied to agricultural rawmaterials sourced byUnilever Unilever expects suppliers(farmers) to demonstratethat they agree to minimumstandards of performance
UNILEVER SUSTAINABLEAGRICULTURE CODEThe code outlines guidelines for the following areas: Agrochemicals and fuelsWaterSoilBiodiversityEnergy WasteSocial and human capitalAnimal welfareValue chain and localeconomy
INTERNATIONAL SUSTAINABILITY AND CARBONCERTIFICATION (ISCC PLUS) ISCC is one of the leading certification systems for sustainabilityand greenhouse gas emissions ISCC Plus was developed for food, feed, technical/chemical andother bioenergy applications Recognized by the global market and utilized by farm groupsacross North America The European Commission recognizes ISCC as one of the firstcertification schemes to demonstrate compliance with the EURenewable Energy Directive’s (RED) requirements
INTERNATIONAL SUSTAINABILITY AND CARBONCERTIFICATION (ISCC PLUS) 112 questions for farmers covered under six principlesplus greenhouse gas emissions To achieve compliance farmers must meet 100% ofall “Major Must Requirements” and 60% of all “MinorMust Requirements”
RESULTS Participants will receiveconfidential,individualized reports Commissions will receiveaggregated results fromall on-farm assessmentsoutlining highlights andgaps Results are expected inJune 2015
PHASE TWO: BENCHMARKING ALBERTA’S EFP Phase 1 farmer feedback included a desire to exploreestablished platforms for a “one-stop,” made-inCanada solution. The Agricultural Research and Extension Council ofAlberta (ARECA) is poised to undertake an exercise toensure that Alberta’s Environmental Farm Plan isresponsive to both farmers and industry Benchmarking Project will see the EFP assessed inrelation to the requirements outlined in ISCC Plus, theSAI Platform 2.0 and Unilever’s SustainabilityAgriculture Code.
THANK YOUErin K. GowrilukManager, Government Relations & PolicyAlberta Barley & Alberta Wheat CommissionE: egowriluk@albertawheatbarley.comP: 403.219.7901
“Sustainable agriculture means growing food in ways which sustain the soil, minimise water and fertilizer use, protect biodiversity and enhance farmers livelihood.” Unilever
