a closer look at biodiversity - unilever€¦ · part of the value of unilever branded products is...

UNILEVER SUPPLIERS A CLOSER LOOK AT BIODIVERSITY

UNILEVER SUPPLIERS - A CLOSER LOOK AT BIODIVERSITY

whaT IS BIODIVERSITY? Farmed land worldwide is home to many ‘wild’ species, both rare and common. Farming depends on the ‘ecosystem services’ provided by pollinators, predators, the organisms that build soil fertility and the forests and riparian strips of native vegetation that help maintain rainfall and water flow in rivers, and reduce flooding. As such, farmers have a vital role to play in both conservation and in maintaining the health of the environment.

The biodiversity priorities for farmland are very different in different parts of the world, and the actions that you and your farmers are able to take can also vary enormously. This is why it is important to create a biodiversity action plan that is appropriate and relevant to your specific environment.

BIODIVERSITY AN OVERVIEW

whY IS GOOD BIODIVERSITY MaNaGEMENT IMPORTaNT TO UNILEVER? Part of the value of Unilever branded products is the assurance we give our customers and consumers of intrinsic high quality and safety. Our brand reputation is built on care for people and the environment at every stage of the supply chain, starting with the farms and farmers that grow and produce the ingredients for our products.

Soil management, pollution reduction measures and eco-efficiency all show that farms and other businesses along our supply chains are behaving in an environmentally responsible way. But good biodiversity practices have the potential to create stories that actually enhance brand value. Conversely, of course, poor biodiversity practices can severely damage the reputation of a brand or even a particular ingredient.

UNILEVER SUSTaINaBLE LIVING PLaN

The Unilever Sustainable Living Plan is our response to the growing challenges in nutrition, hygiene, climate change and the need for sustainable farming. Challenging our suppliers to become more aware of biodiversity is part of this plan. Find out more on: www.unilever.com/sustainable-living.

www.unilever.com/sustainable-living


whY DO faRMERS PLaY SUch aN IMPORTaNT ROLE? Farmers are the custodians of the land.

Twenty years ago, many commercial farmers around the world saw themselves as producers; the farm was their “factory”. Wildlife or biodiversity was often only considered if fishing, shooting or hunting on and around the farm was a traditional activity or provided an income in itself. Farmers argued that “We are not a nature reserve - we are a business!”

It is now understood by most farmers, even in areas where these views were most entrenched, that land is multifunctional. More and more, they are recognising that, even where no land is specifically allocated to biodiversity conservation, farmland provides resources for migrating species of birds and insects, and that some aspects of biodiversity provide useful services to farmers or other parts of society, including:

• Bees as pollinators

• Raptors as pest-controllers (e.g. eating rats in tomato fields)

• Wetlands and riparian strips as pollution-filters preventing toxic or polluting substances arising from farm practices entering rivers and water supplies

• The underlying genetic diversity that plant and animal breeders take advantage of to improve yield and quality, enhance pest and disease resistance, and extend the growing season

However, there can be no single action plan that is appropriate everywhere. The opportunities that farm businesses and farmers have to support biodiversity initiatives vary enormously with the:

• Type of farm

• Farming system and its history

• Landscape mosaic and location of farms within the landscape

• Financial support available for biodiversity support work

• Legal requirements

• Specific environment

• Level of interest of local farmers

The opportunities to become involved in biodiversity work with Unilever also differ with the crop involved and how it links into the farming system. For example, is it always present on the farm, either as a perennial crop or as part of a rotation?

whaT aRE wE aSkING YOU TO DO? We are asking you and your farmers to think about what biodiversity means for you and do something positive. By that we mean consult locally on the most appropriate actions to take and engage in programmes that link your farming activities to the benefits of biodiversity.

fIND OUT aBOUT LOcaL cONSERVaTION PRIORITIES

If there is a local nature reserve, then the reserve manager should be able to help you. Many states or countries also have their own Biodiversity Action Plan, which you can usually find on the CBD website. Some have specific programmes linked into farmland management. The local government administration or branch of the World Wildlife Fund, birding or hunting clubs may also be a good source of advice. If you have serious problems fact-finding, let your Unilever contact know. Our SSDT team may be able to help.

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faRMS IN PaRTS Of ThE wORLD wITh LOw cONSERVaTION STaTUS In some parts of the world, conservationists consider farmland to be almost a “green desert”. Although farming is carried out, the land no longer supports significant populations of wild species of conservation value. However, even in such areas, farmers can have a positive impact by:

• Taking advantage of the potential for biocontrol of pests

• Getting together with other farmers and processors to create a small nature reserve in the local community/ landscape which may be used to support educational programmes in local schools

• Supporting visits by local schoolchildren to nature reserves

• Setting up nest-boxes for birds or bats around production sites

• Identifying areas on the farm where crop production is often uneconomic such as steep slopes, shallow soils or areas that often become waterlogged, and allowing these to revert to natural vegetation or planting them with trees

• Creating a small reserve – such as a pond – in the farm or factory grounds that can be used for education, or using native species to make a picnic area where workers can enjoy meal-breaks

faRMS wIThIN OR aDJacENT TO aREaS Of hIGh BIODIVERSITY VaLUE You should be able to get advice from local, national or international conservation organisations. In some parts of the world there is government and/or NGO support for biodiversity work on farms, which may take the form of financial incentives or advice. In parts of Europe where funds are being

1 Conservation of Biological Diversity http://www.cbd.int/nbsap/

withdrawn from direct crop subsidies, there are often schemes to support the provision of “ecosystem services” on farms.

hOw caN I GET INVOLVED? Many farmers are already running successful biodiversity projects. It’s possible to do so without reducing profitability. First you need to assess what your farmers are currently doing. Ensure that good practices are maintained and existing areas of biodiversity value are conserved. Then see what further steps can be taken to improve local biodiversity. It’s important to remember that lots of small actions by many farmers can add up to make a BIG difference.

SUPPLIERS YOU caN hELP YOUR faRMERS BY:

• Owning biodiversity programmes on behalf of the local farming community e.g. enhancing water storage ponds for biodiversity

• Co-ordinating farmer programmes. In many parts of the world, a supplier will be in a position to produce a single “Biodiversity Action Plan” on behalf of and in consultation with the farmers. Farmers can then decide which of several options are most appropriate for them to take

• Evaluating where farmers are now and what they can do without compromising profitability

• Helping with information such as finding out the priorities for national action plans or making contact with local experts

• Helping with finance including accessing grants

• Linking to Unilever offers of support in expertise and funding

http://www.cbd.int/nbsap


whaT ISSUES MIGhT STOP ME RUNNING a BIODIVERSITY PROJEcT? I don’t run a nature reserve. farming is about growing and producing raw materials. Biodiversity is a sideline or ‘nice to have’, not a core business issue. Farmland is important not only for production, but also for keeping the world’s rivers and air clean, as well as for reducing flooding and soil erosion [these are called “ecosystem services”]. Wild animals and plants don’t understand farm boundaries. Some spend their lives on farmland and others hunt on farms or pass through while migrating. Farmers need to understand the important role they play in managing and maintaining the ‘health’ of the land.

I find the whole biodiversity topic complex. I don’t have the necessary expertise. We are able to put you in touch with biodiversity experts who can help. There may also be government programmes in place in your part of the world that can provide you with advice and support. If you need help to get in touch with local expertise to design a suitable programme, please contact us.

Biodiversity is costly. Projects need funding and often they can reduce land on which we farm. This is not always the case. We know of projects where putting up perching-posts for birds was the most important activity. Also most farms have areas where current fields and margins can be made more wildlife-friendly simply by mowing later in the year. Where projects do need funding, it may be possible for Unilever and suppliers to work together with funding agencies to help.

why would I want to encourage wild animals on my farm land? They often turn into pests and damage my crops. This is sometimes the case. We want to see what CAN be done without creating problems for farmers.

why is it my responsibility to look after the land, the plants and animals that naturally feed off it? This comes back to farmers being the custodians of the land. This carries rights… and responsibilities.


INNOcENT MANAGING IRRIGATION FOR STRAWBERRY GROWING

The Parque Nacional de Doñana is one of Europe’s most important wetland nature reserves, known for its huge variety of permanent and migrating bird species including geese, flamingoes and one of the world’s largest colonies of Spanish imperial eagles.

The area is also home to the largest concentration of strawberry production in Europe and the second largest in the world. With cultivation dependent on irrigation, farmers and the Doñana compete for the same water. This places stress on the region, so the aim is to find a long-term solution that protects the wetlands and supports agriculture.

We are now in the second season of measuring and tracking water usage for strawberry growing. Farmers record each time they irrigate, from when the soil is prepared in October through to the end of the June harvest. Project partner, the University of Cordoba, then takes this large volume of data and calculates water usage. The results are being used for the first time as a key input for strategic decision making for the region.

We are also starting to compile Best Practice Guidelines for farmers on optimising the efficiency of water usage, using the data to compare irrigation systems and management techniques in order to identify the best model.

The initiative has raised awareness of the need to save water and while there has been negativity in the region around water due to complicated politics and the lack of regional governance, the project is turning this around. Other farmers want to know how they can be involved and we are sharing key learnings and best practice.

hOMER wORTh CONTROLLING A PEST PROBLEM WITH OWLS

In the southern tomato-growing region of California, the terrain is typically dry desert and flat, with low rainfall. The only plant life natural to the habitat includes small amounts of brush and occasional dry creeks with a few trees. In general, this terrain is used as intensive row crop growing.

Over the past ten years, Unilever and its largest tomato grower, Homer Worth, have recognised the value of biodiversity on the farms and together installed 15 owl houses in areas of limited tree density. As soon as these boxes were installed owls moved in and significant evidence of their feeding activity has been found around the nesting sites.

Although it is unclear whether the owls have reduced the amount of crops damaged by mice and rats, the birds have no doubt helped control the rodent population on site.

The owl houses consist of a large box with a hole in the side facing east and mounted at the top of a 10-foot long pipe. Each box costs just $100 to install.


The Daregal biodiversity project aims to find new sustainable varieties of basil whilst preventing old ones from disappearing.

The project team will research wild and cultivated basil, testing for their aroma, disease tolerance and commercial qualities. Cultivating more resistant varieties will minimise the use of pesticide. Maintaining old varieties will preserve the existing environment.

The project is being led by Daregal in cooperation with the Conservatoire National de Plantes à parfum, médicinales et aromatiques (CNPMAI).

DaREGaL FINDING SUSTAINABLE VARIETIES OF BASIL

Many medicinal plants are still picked in the wild. This can be a problem for endangered species. So a key role of the CNPMAI is to promote good harvesting practices.

Another focus of the project is peppermint. A local variety called Mitcham Milly was widely cultivated in the 1950s but, as mint growing declined, it almost disappeared. It is being reintroduced by the CNPMAI and distributed to interested growers.

Around 15,000 people visit the Daregal growing areas each year, offering an important opportunity to raise public awareness of wild flora conservation.


MUfINDI HELPING PROTECT A GLOBAL BIODIVERSITY HOT SPOT

The Lipton Tea Estate in south west Tanzania is formed of over 300 small tea gardens in a mosaic with 12,000 hectares of natural forest. The Mufindi forest has been identified as part of one of the world’s most valuable hot spots for biodiversity and is home to many rare species of birds, chameleon, frog, butterflies, orchids and mistletoe.

The forest is important for the profitability of the estate because the trees minimise erosion on steep slopes. They also help maintain the microclimate and water supply needed by the crop, which is irrigated during the dry season using harvested rainwater.

The farm and forest are surrounded by 15 villages with a population of about 150,000 people. The forest trees have been severely depleted for firewood and building material.

Tea farmers know how to propagate trees, so it made sense for the Lipton farm to partner with the Tanzanian Forest Conservation Group to help villages establish tree nurseries and plant trees on their own farms. These trees, when mature, will provide supplies of firewood for cooking and heating, and offer opportunities for agroforestry.

At the heart of the programme are Village Natural Resource Committees (VNRCs). These train villagers in skills such as assessing forest disturbance and understanding ecology. VNCRs also act as a focus for village experimentation with new stoves and improved cooking methods developed to reduce the amount of wood fuel used.


fRIGEMO ESTABLISHING BREEDING GROUNDS FOR BIRDS AND BEES

Frigemo is the biggest processor for frozen and dried potatoes in Switzerland. All farmers that supply Unilever are located close to the processing unit in Cressier, an area known as the “big vegetable garden” of Switzerland.

By maintaining fallow land, hedges, flower stripes, fruit trees and bird houses, farmers have been successfully establishing habitats suitable for storks, swallows, wild bees and predator birds. They also leave “bird windows” for larks and mow meadows to

take into account the breeding times of birds. There has been a marked increase in the prevalence of rabbits, dear, fox, larks, castor, common pheasant, common quail, fire salamander, slow worms and earth worms. People living in cities are also encouraged to visit the farms to learn about biodiversity and agriculture in general.


STEINIckE ENCOURAGING THE MIGRATION OF MAMMALS

Steinicke is one of Germany’s leading producers of herbs and dried vegetables, as well as a main supplier and strategic partner to major brands in Europe and across the world.

Steinicke farmers provide Unilever with chives, parsley, carrots, celeriac and leeks. The company has been working hard to help Unilever on its path to sustainability.

As one of the least populated regions in Germany, the area of Wendland where Steinicke and its farmers are located offers ideal migration routes and habitats for endangered species such as otter, beaver, common crane and the common wolf which has started to appear ,as a result of the fallen border fences versus the East in 1989.

The farms include many forest areas which are extensively used for forestry and farmers are being encouraged to build nesting boxes and bird hides in their fields. What’s more, Steinicke organises local school groups to monitor flower stripes on unproductive areas

to research the fauna and flora.

Crossing Steinicke`s farm lands are a big-bird habitat, wild forest and a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. In order to protect these, farmers have adapted their cultivation accordingly by mowing meadows only once a year, not cropping on the wetlands of rivers and planting hedges. Steinicke is also supporting a local bat conservation project.


NahRENGEL IMPROVING THE HABITATS OF BEES

Five family-run farms are located in an area very close to the Dutch border. These supply potatoes to Unilever.

While there is no formal biodiversity plan in place for the region, all farmers are active in supporting wildlife areas both within and outside their farms. The farmhouses are surrounded by old orchards and vegetable gardens, but the focus is on maintaining hedges and planting flower stripes on areas that are not suitable for cropping due to steep slopes or low fertility. The flower stripes are used to improve the habitats for bees and

what NährEngel refer to as “the aesthetic of agriculture”. As an added incentive, the local beetroot association offers free flower stripe seeds. NährEngel is also now looking into the possibility of supporting Brown Owls and Greylag Geese.

aGRaZ CREATING ENVIRONMENTS FOR BIRDS AND BATS

Based in Spain’s Extremadura region, Agraz works with 180 farmers to supply Knorr with fully traceable products such as tomato paste and powder, and diced tomatoes.

Agraz is running a number of biodiversity initiatives, one of which is in conjunction with SEO BirdLife who will advise on how to create environments in which birds – such as the white stork and black-shouldered kite – and bats can thrive.

The project aims to increase certain species of birds that have been in decline over recent years and maintain those already present as well as introduce insectivorous species

and bats, both of which may help to control insects that attack the tomato plants.

To date seven nesting houses have been installed for the Lesser Kestrel and the European Roller, along with a bat refuge and a further 15 boxes for other insectivorous birds. A small lagoon has also been created to increase the presence of amphibians and dragonfly.

The project began in 2011 and will run until 2015. Two farmers have agreed to take part in the trial and SEO BirdLife will monitor the results.


SO whaT DO I DO NOw? REDUcE POLLUTION Of LaND aND waTER BY: • Using inputs efficiently

• Reducing spray –drift

• Conserving soil

• Protecting water

LaND aND waTER USE chaNGES: • Assess impacts of land use changes

before you do them, such as combining fields by removing trees.

• STOP before it is too late if there are negative impacts on biodiversity.

aSk qUESTIONS • What is the local Biodiversity Action Plan

in your growing area? Start by looking at the Convention for Biological Diversity Website .

• Are there grants available for farmers to do biodiversity work?

• Is there a local expert to talk to? A manager of a local nature reserve, officer with responsibility for BAP in local government, national or local NGO or charity interested in biodiversity?

• Talk with your farmers and see if there is biodiversity that they value on and around their farms. What ideas do they have to improve conservation?

fURThER GUIDaNcE

www.unilever.com/ www.unileversuppliers.com/ http://www.growingforthefuture.com/unileverimpguid/content/5-0


ENSURE ThaT YOUR faRMERS UNDERSTaND ThEY MUST DO SOMEThING POSITIVE, NOw • Address locally relevant issues that

make sense to your farmers and can make a difference without becoming a financial burden.

• Identify unproductive land on farms, take it out of cultivation and create mini-nature reserves:

• Near trees where shade prevents good cultivation plant low-growing bushes

• On steep slopes or where soil is shallow

• On riverbanks where cultivation is not permitted

• Grow wild flowers on the edges of fields

• Put up poles for birds of prey to help reduce rat population on farms

• Put up nest boxes for birds or bats to increase their numbers

faRMS NEaR NaTURE RESERVES: whaT caN YOU DO TO IMPROVE ThE haBITaT wIThIN ThE RESERVE? • Consider whether mowing meadows or

harvesting could be delayed a little until ground nesting birds have hatched and left the nest

• Or until wild flowers have set their seed

• Could harvest residues be left in the field for longer to enable migratory birds to use the area for feeding and resting as they pass through?

NEED hELP? If you need any help, support or advice please contact your Unilever representative who can put you in touch with a biodiversity expert.

Unilever N.V. Weena 455, PO Box 760 3000 DK Rotterdam The Netherlands T +31 (0)10 217 4000 F +31 (0)10 217 4798

Commercial Register Rotterdam Number: 24051830

Unilever PLc Unilever House 100 Victoria Embankment London EC4Y 0DY United Kingdom T +44 (0)20 7822 5252 F +44 (0)20 7822 5951

Unilever PLc registered office Unilever PLC Port Sunlight Wirral Merseyside CH62 4ZD United Kingdom

Registered in England and Wales Company Number: 41424

For further information on our social, economic and environmental performance, please visit:

www.unilever.com/sustainable-living

a closer look at biodiversity - unilever€¦ · part of the value of unilever branded products is...

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