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SUSTAINABABLESOURCINGACTIVITIESFORAGRICULTURALPRODUCTSINCANADA KEYFEATURES,COMMONALITIESANDDIFFERENCES
FOR: AgriculturalResearchandExtensionCouncilofAlberta
BY: NathanPelletier GlobalEcologicEnvironmentalConsultingandManagement ServicesLtd.
STARTDATE: January,2016DELIVERYDATE: March31,2016
Permanentaddress: 9710ColdstreamCreekRoad Coldstream,BritishColumbia,Canada tel2505492624 [email protected] www.globalecologic.com
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LiabilityStatement
Thisreportwasdevelopedbasedoninformationandmethodsconsideredtobecredible.Usersofthedataandinformationcontainedhereinaresolelyresponsible.GlobalEcologicLtd.isnotliableforanylossordamagearisingfromuseoftheinformationcontainedinthisreport.
FundingandDisclaimer
ThereportwaspreparedasinformationfortheAgriculturalResearchandExtensionCouncilofAlberta(ARECA).TheviewsandopinionsexpressedinthisreportarenotnecessarilythoseofARECA.
SuggestedCitationFormat
Pelletier,Nathan.2016.SustainableSourcingProgramsinCanada.ProducedfortheAgriculturalResearchandExtensionCouncilofAlbertabyGlobalEcologicEnvironmentalConsultingandManagementServices,Canada.
AboutNathanPelletierandGlobalEcologic
NathanPelletier(GlobalEcologicEnvironmentalConsultingandManagementServices)workscloselywithclientstobuildanunderstandingofsupplychainenvironmentalandsocialsustainabilityperformanceandmitigationopportunities.Theseincludeapplicationofenvironmentalandsociallifecycleassessment,environmentalfootprinting,supply-chaingreenhousegasaccountingandothermodelingapproaches,aswellasthesociallicense/marketaccessdimensionsofsustainabilitymanagement.Heisdedicatedtodeliveringhigh-quality,cost-effectiveconsultingservicestomeetthedemandsofcitizens,firmsandorganizationscommittedtofurtheringsustainabilityobjectives.Formoreinformation,seeAppendixB.
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ExecutiveSummary
Themarketplaceforagriculturalproductsisincreasinglyinfluencedbyactivitiesaimedatmeasuringandcommunicatinginformationwithrespecttothesustainabilityimplicationsofbothspecificfoodproductsandproductionpractices.Theseinitiativesgenerallyconsidertheentirevaluechainbutfocus,inparticular,onthefarm-levelproductionofagriculturalcommodities,wherethemajorityofresourceuseandpotentialimpactstendtobeconcentrated.Initiativeswhichfallunderthebroadcategoryof“responsible”or“sustainable”sourcinghaveproliferatedinrecentyears.
InCanada,severalindustry-led,multi-stakeholderinitiativestodefinethecriteria,indicatorsandprotocolstosupportsustainablesourcingforparticularcommoditygroupsarecurrentlyunderdevelopment.Inadditiontothese,numerouscompanieshosttheirown,in-housesustainablesourcingprograms,andavarietyofinternationalinitiativeswhichcouldpotentiallybeappliedtosustainablesourcinginCanadaalsoexist.
ThisstudyundertooktoscreensustainablesourcinginitiativesfortheirpotentialapplicabilityforAlbertafarmers(currentorfuture)inordertoidentifyandevaluateasubsetofthemostrelevantamongtheseschemes.Thissubsetwassubjectedtomoredetailedanalysisinordertocharacterizekeyfeatures,commonalitiesanddifferencesamongtheschemes.
ThescreeningexerciseandsubsequentanalysisprovidedstrongindicationthatthescaleofactualimplementationofsustainablesourcingactivitiesthatareofrelevanceformajoragriculturalcommoditiesinAlbertaiscurrentlyverylimited.Withfewexceptions,discussionswithrepresentativesofindustryassociations,companies,andotherstakeholderssuggestedthatveryfewfarmersarepresentlybeingaskedbyvaluechainpartnerstoparticipateinanddemonstratecompliancewiththerequirementsofsustainablesourcingactivities.NotableexceptionsincludepotatogrowersparticipatinginthePotatoSustainabilityInitiative,canolagrowersparticipatinginADM’sSustainableGrowersProgram,andlivestockoperatorssubjecttoanimalwelfareauditsbyprocessors,foodserviceproviders,retailersand/orrestaurants.ThecurrentlackofimplementationofsustainablesourcingactivitiesspecifictotheenvironmentalperformanceofmostmajorAlbertaagriculturalcommoditieslikelyreflects,inpart,thetacticalapproachofmanybusinesses,whotendtofocustheirimmediateeffortsonmorecontroversialproductssuchasseafood,palmoil,andBraziliansoy,oronissuesraisedbytheircustomerssuchasanimalwelfareandanti-bioticuse.
OnenotablechallengefortheimplementationofsustainablesourcingrequirementsinCanadaisthatmostbulkcommoditiesarecommingledandmarketedas“Canadian.”Traceabilitytospecificfarmsorevenprovincesisverydifficultinthesecircumstances.Theuseofmassbalanceapproachesbyprocessors,whooperateatanimportantnexuspointbetweenproducersandtheirdownstreamcustomersandwhoarehencewell-positionedtomediatethesustainablesourcingrequirementsof
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differentcustomers,providesoneoptionforcommunicatingthedegreeofimplementationofrequiredpracticesalongthesupplychain.Thechallengeofincentivizingproducersanddiscouragingfree-riding,however,remains.
Beyondgeneralprinciplesregardingpromotingmoresustainableagriculturalpractices,theevaluatedschemeswerefoundtobequiteheterogeneousinbothbreadthanddepth.Someofthemorematureschemes–forexample,Unilever’sSustainableAgricultureCodeandtheInternationalSustainabilityandCarbonCertificationsystem–providedetailedrequirementsandsupportingguidance.Manyoftheinitiatives,however,onlydescribegeneralobjectivesandrequirements.Inthecaseofthelatterschemes,implementationatthefarmlevelwilllikelybechallenging.
Themostprevalenttypeofsustainablesourcingschemeisthe“compliancechecklist”approach,wherebyfarmersarerequiredtodemonstratecompliancewithasetofrequiredoutcomesorbestpractices.Prescriptive,quantitativeperformancetargetsarenotcommonlyemployed,althoughsomeschemesdoaskforgoalsettingwithrespecttoreducing,forexample,greenhousegasemissions,waste,andwateruse.Otherkindsofschemessuchascalculatorsandcertificationprogramsdoexistbutarelesscommon.Third-partytoolssuchascalculatorsdevelopedthroughmulti-stakeholderinitiativesmay,however,beusedbysomecompaniesinsupportofspecificsustainablesourcingactivities.Forexample,GeneralMillsiscurrentlyusingtheCanadianFieldprintCalculatorforpilotprojectsinManitobaandSaskatchewan.Onecommonthreadtyingmosttheschemestogetheristheemphasisondemonstrationofcontinuousimprovementovertime.
Alargenumberofdifferentcriteriaandindicatorsforvariousaspectsofenvironmentalsustainabilityareemployedbytheschemesconsidered.Animalwelfareandsocio-economiccriteriaarealsocommon,althoughthesewerenotthesubjectofdetailedanalysisinthisstudy.Thereis,however,asmallersubsetofcriteriathatiscommonacrossmostoftheschemes.Theseare:WaterManagement;EnergyUse/Efficiency;Climate;SoilManagement;BiodiversityConservation/Enhancement;WasteManagement;CropProtectionManagement;andNutrientManagement.Atthemorespecificlevelofindicatorsusedtoassessperformanceforthesecriteria,thesetsemployedbyeachschemetypicallyvary.Alsovariableisthedegreeofspecificityandguidancetosupportdemonstratingcompliancewiththecriteriaandindicators.Moreover,someschemesrefertocriteriaonly,withoutdescribingsupportingindicators.
Requirementsandpracticerelatedtoverification/auditalsodifferconsiderably.Asmallnumberofschemesprovideadetaileddescriptionofverification/auditrequirements.Othersstatesimplythatsuppliersmustdemonstratecompliancewiththeirrequirements,includingfortheupstreamsupplychain,andthataudit/verificationmaybeundertaken.Forsomeschemes,noinformationreferringtoverification/auditactivitieswasidentified.
Takentogether,theseobservationssuggestconsiderablescopeformaturationformostoftheinitiativesevaluated,aswellasthecleardesirabilityofharmonizationamonginitiatives.Ingeneral,thefeasibility
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andefficacyofsustainablesourcingwillbestronglyinfluencedbytheextenttowhichfarmersareenabledtoparticipate.Thisrequiresclarityandconsistencyinrequirements,verification/auditmechanisms,andavoidanceofduplicationandoverburdenresultingfromfarmershavingtograpplewithmultiple,heterogeneousschemes.
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ContentsExecutiveSummary......................................................................................................................................3
ListofFigures...............................................................................................................................................8
ListofTables.................................................................................................................................................9
Introduction...............................................................................................................................................10
Methods.....................................................................................................................................................12
IdentifyingApplicableSustainableSourcingSchemes...........................................................................12
CharacterizingCommonalitiesandDifferencebetweentheSelectedSustainableSourcingSchemes.14
Characterizationbytype....................................................................................................................14
Characterizationofcriteriaandindicatorsemployed........................................................................14
Characterizationofverification/auditrequirements.........................................................................14
Summaryofcommonalitiesanddifferences......................................................................................14
Evaluationoftheaccessibilityoftheselectedsustainablesourcingschemes...................................15
ResultsandDiscussion...............................................................................................................................18
SummaryoftheSustainableSourcingSchemesConsidered.................................................................20
Multi-StakeholderInitiatives..............................................................................................................21
PrivateCompanyInitiatives................................................................................................................37
CharacterizationofCommonalitiesandDifferencesbetweentheSelectedSustainableSourcingSchemes.................................................................................................................................................61
CharacterizationbySchemeType......................................................................................................61
CriteriaandIndicatorsEmployedbytheSustainableSourcingSchemes...........................................62
Audit/VerificationRequirementsoftheSustainableSourcingSchemes...........................................67
Assessmentresultsforthe“accessibility”oftheselectedsustainablesourcingschemes................70
SummaryofSomeKeyCommonalitiesandDifferencesamongtheSelectedSchemes........................71
Conclusions................................................................................................................................................76
AppendixA.DetailedEvaluationResultsfortheAccessibilityoftheProgram/Activity............................78
CanadianFieldprintCalculator...............................................................................................................78
SustainableAgricultureInitiativeFarmSustainabilityAssessment2.0..................................................79
ISCC/ISCCPlus........................................................................................................................................80
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PotatoSustainabilityInitiative...............................................................................................................81
NestleSupplierCodeandResponsibleSourcingGuideline....................................................................82
UnileverSustainableAgricultureCode...................................................................................................83
MolsonCoorsSupplierCodeandAgriculturalBrewingIngredientsPolicy............................................84
KelloggsSupplierCode...........................................................................................................................85
SyscoSupplierCodeandRelatedMeasures..........................................................................................86
WalmartSustainabilityIndexandTheSustainabilityConsortium.........................................................87
PepsicoSupplierCodeandSustainableFarmingInitiative.....................................................................88
AppendixB.AboutNathanPelletierandGlobalEcologic..........................................................................90
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ListofFigures
Figure1."Accessibility"scores(rankedfromhighesttolowest)forasubsetofeachofthereviewedsustainablesourcingschemes....................................................................................................................71
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ListofTables
Table1.Matrixofcriteriaappliedforevaluatingtheselectedsustainablesourcingschemesforaccessibility................................................................................................................................................16Table2.Sustainabilityschemesselectedfordetailedassessment............................................................20Table3.Characterizationofschemesbytype............................................................................................62Table4.Criteriaemployedbytheselectedschemes.................................................................................65Table5.Characterizationofschemeaudit/verificationrequirements......................................................68Table6.Summaryofkeycommonalitiesanddifferencesamongtheselectedschemes..........................74Table7.SustainablesourcingprogramsthatrefertopriorityAlbertacommodities.................................76
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Introduction
Sustainability,andsustainablefoodsystemsinparticular,aretopicsofincreasingimportanceinsocietyatlarge.Thisgrowingattentiontotheroleoffoodproductionasakeycontributortosustainabilityoutcomesreflectstheverylargecontributionmadebyfoodsystemsinaggregatetoourcollectiveresourcedemands,aswellasahostofbothenvironmentalimpactsandsocio-economiccostsandbenefitsthataccrueacrossecosystemsandstakeholdergroups.Understanding,measuring,andmanagingthesustainabilityofparticularfoodproductsandproductiontechnologiesisthereforeanareaofintenseresearchandimplementationactivities.
Ofcentralimportancetothefieldoffoodsystemsustainabilitymeasurementandmanagementislifecyclethinking–whichis,perhaps,themostimportancenewparadigmintheartandpracticeofeffectivemanagement.Lifecyclethinkingrequiresthatmanagersseektounderstandandinfluenceactivitiesandinteractionsacrosstheentirevaluechaininordertopromoteimprovedsustainabilityoutcomes.Importantly,thisapproachtosustainabilitymanagementfacilitatesidentificationofpotentialtrade-offsthatmayoccurasaresultofmanagementdecisions–whetheratdifferentstagesalongthevaluechainorbetweenvarioussustainabilityobjectives.Essentialtoeffectivelifecycle-basedsustainabilitymanagementisengagementandcollaborationwithvaluechainpartners,whosecooperationisessentialinleveragingimprovements.
Beginningintheearly2000’slargefoodcompaniessuchasUnileverandDanonebegantoconvenemulti-stakeholdergroupsinordertodevelopschemestosupportsustainablesourcingbyprocessors,foodserviceproviders,restaurants,andothercustomersoffoodproducts.Theseinitiativesreflectedagrowingrecognitionamongleadingcompaniesofincreasingsocietalexpectationsregardingcorporatesocialresponsibilityaswellasthecompetitiveadvantagethatwouldultimatelybeconferredtothoseattheleadingedgeofsustainabilitymanagement.Sincethemajorityofemergingresearchsuggestedthatthelargestshareofsupplychainsustainabilityimpactsforfoodproductstendedtobeconcentratedatthelevelofrawmaterialproduction,suchschemesencompassedtheentiresupplychain.
ThemomentumbehindsustainablesourcingactivitiesandprogramsinthefoodsystemwasfurtherbolsteredbystrongsignalsfromEuropeanregulatorsregardingtheeventuallegislationofcorporatesocialresponsibility.Indeed,avarietyofinitiativeshavebeenundertakenorsupportedbytheEuropeanCommissionwithrespecttodevelopingstandardstoenablealevelplayingfieldinfoodsystemsustainabilityinitiativesassociatedwithpolicydevelopments.Theseinitiativeshaveunderscoredthatsustainabilityasthebottomlineofbusinessactivityhasnowbecomea“when”ratherthan“if”question.
Sincethesefirstdevelopmentswithrespecttosustainablesourcingactivitiesinthefoodsupplychain,similareffortsbybothmulti-stakeholdergroupsandindividualcompanieshaveproliferated.Atpresent,foodsystemstakeholders,includingfarmers,faceabewilderingarrayofactualoremerging
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expectationsandrequirementsforparticipationinfoodsupplychainsustainabilityprograms.Theseprograms,whichmayincludeenvironmental,animalwelfare,andsocio-economicsustainabilitycriteria,arehighlydiverse.Thesheernumberofsuchprograms,aswellasconsiderableinconsistencybetweenthemwithrespecttorequirements,indicators,andrigorisclearlyinefficientbothforfarmersandothervaluechainactors.Asaresult,harmonizationeffortstobringgreaterconsistencyandrigortosucheffortshavealsobecomequiteimportant.Harmonizationeffortsarelargelybeingledbyindustryassociationsinthefoodsystem,incooperationwithavarietyofstakeholdersincludingfarmers.Animportantfeatureofanysuchinitiativeis,whereverpossible,tobuildonexistingprogramsandsystemsthatarealreadyinplace,andwhicharefamiliartostakeholders.
TheEnvironmentalFarmPlan(EFP)programisawhole-farm,self-assessmenttoolthatenablesfarmerstoidentityenvironmentalrisksassociationswiththeiractivities,andtodevelopriskreductionplans.EFPhasbeenoperationalinCanadasinceitsgenesisinOntarioin1993.AllprovincesalongwiththeYukonTerritoryhavesinceimplementedtheirrespectiveversionsoftheEFPprogram.Atpresent,roughly35%ofproducersaccountingfor50%oftheagriculturallandbaseinCanadahavecompletedanEFP.AlthoughEFPprogramsdifferbyprovinceincertainrespects,thereisnonethelessconsiderablesimilaritybetweenthem.Anational-levelinitiativeiscurrentlyunderwaytoexploreopportunitiesforharmonization.Onekeypurposeofaharmonized,nationalEFPistoensurethatprovincial/territorialEFPscover,totheextentpossible,thecommonrequirementsofvarioussustainablesourcingprograms.
Towardsthisend,theAgriculturalResearchandExtensionCouncilofAlberta(ARECA),whichmanagestheAlbertaEFPprogram,hasbeguntoexplorethepossibleroleofamodifiedEFPprograminenablingfarmerswithanEFPtosatisfytheenvironmentalcomponentofcurrentoremergingsustainablesourcingprograms.Aspartofthisprocess,ARECAcommissionedGlobalEcologicLtd.toundertakeastudyofsustainablesourcingprogramsinCanadawhichmayproverelevantforAlbertafarmers.Specifically,thestudyistoevaluatekeycommonalitiesanddifferencesbetweenthemostrelevantofsuchprograms.AnenvisionedsecondstepofthisresearchistoevaluatetheextenttowhichtheEFPcurrentlyenablesfarmerstosatisfythecommonrequirementsoftheseprograms,aswellaswhatmodificationstotheprogrammightbeentertainedsuchthatthemajorityshareofrequirementscanbesatisfied.Thecurrentreportdescribestherationale,methodsandresultsoftheinitialphaseofthisresearch.
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Methods
IdentifyingApplicableSustainableSourcingSchemes
Thereisawidevarietyofprogramsandactivitiesthataredesignedfor,ormaybeappliedinthecontextof,sustainablesourcingofagriculturalproducts.Theseprogramsmayaddresssingleormultipledimensionsofsustainability(i.e.environmental,social,economic,animalwelfare,foodqualityandsafety,etc.).Theymaybemulti-stakeholderinitiatives,industryprograms,privatecompany,orgovernment-sponsoredactivities.Theymayalsobeapplicableinspecificgeographiesorglobally,andforspecificfoodproductsorforagriculturalrawmaterialsingeneral.
Severalreportsareavailabledescribingandevaluatingvariousamongtheseschemes.Theseinclude,forexample:
o Sustainabilityindicators,toolsandreportingsystemsforagri-foodproducts.PreparedbyGlobalEcologicEnvironmentalConsultingandManagementServicesLtd.forAlbertaAgricultureandRuralDevelopment.2015.
o Sustainabilityevaluationtechniques.PreparedforEnvironmentalStewardshipDivision,AlbertaAgricultureandRuralDevelopmentbyCampbellHandKKoehler-Munroe.2013.
o Examinationofgovernment&non-governmentalsustainabilityrequirementsforagricultureproducts.PreparedforAgricultureandAgri-FoodCanadabyWaterfallAdvisorsGroupLtd.2012
o EvaluationofAgri-foodSustainabilityCertificationSystems.PreparedbyGeorgeMorrisCentreforOntarioFruitandVegetableGrowersAssociation.
Internetsearchesorperusalofmaterialsavailableinacademicdatabasesfurtherrevealadiversityofadditionalinitiatives.
Afirstnecessarystepforthisstudywastoidentifywhichamongtheseschemesmaybemostrelevant/applicableforCanadianfarmersingeneral,andforAlbertafarmersmorespecifically.Followinganinitialscanoftheaboveresourcesinordertoidentifysustainablesourcingschemesofpotentialrelevance,thefollowingcriteriawereappliedinordertoarriveatashort-listofschemestobeconsidered:
• theschemerefersspecificallyorgenerallytoapriorityAlbertaagriculturalcommodity,asdeterminedbasedon
o agriculturalareadevotedtoproductionofthecommodityinAlberta(including,forlivestock,feedinputproduction),specifically
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§ wheat§ canola§ tamehay§ barley§ peas§ oats§ livestock(beef,pork,chicken,eggs,milk)
o aspecificrequestbyARECAthatthecommoditybeconsideredinthestudy
§ sugarbeets§ potatoes
• apparentrelevanceofthescheme,asindicatedbytelephoneandemailcorrespondencewith
representativesofindustryassociationsinordertodeterminetheperceivedrelevanceofparticularschemesforeachcommoditygroup
• apparentrelevanceoftheschemeasindicatedbytelephoneandemailcorrespondencewithschemeownersinordertodeterminetheperceivedimportanceoftheschemeforCanadianfarmersingeneralandforAlbertafarmersinparticular
• apparentscaleofimplementationofthescheme,asindicatedbypublicallyavailablereportsregardinginstancesofschemeimplementation
• inthecaseofprivatecompanyschemes,bothsizeandCanadianpresenceofthecompany• inthecaseofprivatecompanyschemes,indicationbyacompanyrepresentative(intelephone
oremailcorrespondence)orinpublicallyavailableliteraturepublishedbythecompanythattheschemeisbeingormaybeimplementedinCanadagenerallyorinAlbertaspecifically
• quantityandqualityofpubliclyavailableinformationdescribingthescheme
Effortswerealsomadetoselectacross-sectionofschemesrepresentingtheactivitiesofdifferentfoodsystemactors,includingprocessors,retailers,foodserviceproviders,andindustrygroups.Insomecases,thismeanttheinclusionofschemesforwhichlimitedinformationwasavailable,orwithlimitedcurrentattentiontoAlberta-relevantcommodities.
Onceashort-listofschemestobeconsideredwasidentified,asummarydescriptionofeachprogram/activitywasdevelopedbasedonpublicallyavailableinformationandadditionalinformationobtainedviatelephoneand/oremailcorrespondencewithschemeownersorstakeholders.
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CharacterizingCommonalitiesandDifferencebetweentheSelectedSustainable
SourcingSchemes
Characterizationbytype
Inordertofacilitateevaluationoftheselectedsustainablesourcingschemes,theywerefirstcharacterizedbytype.Theclassificationsemployedwere:
• Calculators(on-lineordownloadabletoolswhoseprimarypurposeistoallowdirectcalculationofthesustainabilityperformanceofagri-foodproductionorproducts)
• Certificationprograms(requiringthird-partyverificationofsustainabilityperformanceagainstapublicallyavailablestandard)
• Checklistcomplianceprograms(sustainablesourcingprogramsthatapplychecklistswithrespecttoasubsetofsustainabilityindicatorsorbestpracticesandrequireeitherselforthird-partyassessment)
• Other
Characterizationofcriteriaandindicatorsemployed
Thespecificcriteriaandindicatorsemployedforeachprogramwereidentified.Wherecriteriaandindicatorsreferringtoacommonthemewereidentified,theywereassignedunderacommonheading(forexample,indicatorsrelatedtocropprotectionproductapplication,handling,management,etc.wereassignedunderthecriteria“cropprotectionmanagement”(specificdetailsregardingcriteriaandindicatorsareprovidedinthesummarydescriptionforeachsustainablesourcingscheme).Frequencyofuseofeachcriterionwasalsoassessedinordertodeterminetheapparentcomparativerelevanceofeach.
Characterizationofverification/auditrequirements
Sustainablesourcingschemesmayormaynotbesupportedbyverification/auditrequirements.Thoseschemesinvolvingverification/auditwereidentified.
Summaryofcommonalitiesanddifferences
Inordertosummarizekeycommonalitiesanddifferencesbetweentheshortlistedsustainablesourcingschemes,theschemeswerecomparedintermsof:
o program/activitytype
o operator(i.e.governmentvoluntary,governmentmandatory,multi-lateral,private)
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o stakeholderrepresentation(i.e.stakeholderswereinvolvedindevelopmentofthescheme)
o singleormulti-criteria
o verification/auditrequirements
o emphasisoncontinuousimprovement
o Alberta-relevantsector(s)/commoditygroup(s)offocus
EvaluationoftheaccessibilityoftheselectedsustainablesourcingschemesAsanadditionalsteptobetterresolvekeycommonalitiesanddifferencesbetweentheselectedschemes,asemi-quantitativeanalysiswasundertakentodeterminetheirgeneralaccessibilityforAlbertafarmers.AccessibilityreferstothecomparativeeasewithwhichAlbertafarmersmightsatisfytherequirementsofeachprogram/activity.
Anassessmentmatrixwasdevelopedemployingavarietyofcriteriaforaccessibility.Performancewasassessedusinga“stop-light”system,wherebyaprogram/activitywasscoredforeachsub-criterionbasedontheextenttowhichitsatisfiedthecriterion(i.e.redfor“doesnotsatisfythesub-criterion”,yellowfor“somewhatsatisfiesthesub-criterion”,andgreenfor“satisfiesthesub-criterion.”A“notapplicable”assignmentwaspossiblewheresub-criteriawerenotrelevantfortheassessmentofspecificschemes.Anotessectionwasalsoincludedforeachcriterion.
Oncescoreswereassignedforallsub-criteria,weightedaveragescoresweresubsequentlycalculatedforoverallaccessibility.Here,weightsof0,1,and2wereassignedtored,yellowandgreenratings,respectively.Theoverallscoreforeachprogram/activitywascalculatedbydividingthesumofthesub-criteriascoresbythetotalpossiblescore(i.e.numberofcriteriaforwhichagreenratingcouldhavebeenappliedmultipliedbytwo,notincludingsub-criteriawherea“notapplicable”ratinghadbeenapplied).Thisallowedrankingtheschemesbasedontheirscoresforaccessibility.
ACCESSIBILITY
EvaluationCriteria
Thescheme...
(1)providesclearinformationastoitspurposeandapplicability
(2)providesclearguidancedocumentsinsupportofitsimplementation
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describesthesub-criteriaapplied.
Table1.Matrixofcriteriaappliedforevaluatingtheselectedsustainablesourcingschemesforaccessibility.
(3)isaccessibletoanon-expertaudience
(4)requiresdatathatarereasonablyaccessible
(5)hassupportingtools/softwareorothermaterialsthatfacilitateitsimplementation
(6)doesnothavehighimplementationcosts
(7)hasclearverification/auditproceduresandrequirements
Totals
WeightedAccessibilityScore
ACCESSIBILITY
EvaluationCriteria
Thescheme...
(1)providesclearinformationastoitspurposeandapplicability
(2)providesclearguidancedocumentsinsupportofitsimplementation
(3)isaccessibletoanon-expertaudience
(4)requiresdatathatarereasonablyaccessible
(5)hassupportingtools/softwareorothermaterialsthatfacilitateitsimplementation
(6)doesnothavehighimplementationcosts
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(7)hasclearverification/auditproceduresandrequirements
Totals
WeightedAccessibilityScore
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ResultsandDiscussion
AccordingtotheInternationalChamberofCommerce,responsiblesourcingrefersto“avoluntarycommitmentbycompaniestotakeintoaccountsocialandenvironmentalconsiderationswhenmanagingtheirrelationshipswithsuppliers.”Theterm“responsiblesourcing”isusedinterchangeablywiththeterm“sustainablesourcing.”Theliteratureandwebreviewrevealedwidespreaduseoftheseterms,inparticularintheprivatesector.Forexample,aGooglesearchfor“responsiblesourcing”generatesoverthreehundredthousandhits,whileasearchfor“sustainablesourcing”generatesclosetotwohundredthousandhits.Inlightoftherelativelyshorthistoryofcorporatesocialresponsibilityreportingandassociatedinitiativesasmainstreambusinessactivities,thedegreeofsaturationoftheseconceptsintothecorporatelexiconis,indeed,remarkable.Thisiscertainlyevincedinthefoodsector,wherefewcompaniesthatmightbeclassifiedaslargeandsuccessfulenterpriseshostwebsitesthataredevoidofreferencestoresponsibleorsustainablesourcing.
Thatsaid,thepreliminaryscreeningofsustainablesourcingactivitiesforfoodproductsthatmaybeofrelevanceinAlberta(orinCanadamoregenerally),aswellasthesubsequent,moredetailedanalysisofasubsetofselectedschemessuggestedthatthebreadthofattentiontosustainablesourcingisnotyetmatchedindepth.ApreliminaryindicationofthisgeneralobservationwasprovidedviatelephoneinterviewswithspokespersonsofindustryassociationsrepresentingthevariousAlbertaagriculturalcommoditiesthatwereprioritizedforconsiderationinthisanalysis.Inparticular,whenqueriedastotheextentthattheirrespectiveconstituentsarecurrentlyactivelyengagedinsatisfyingthesustainablesourcingrequirementsofcustomers,thereplywasalmostunanimousinconsistency–theyarenot.Besidesafewnotableexceptions(forexample,farmersandprocessorsusingISCCcertificationtogainaccesstoEUbiofuelmarkets,potatogrowerscommunicatingtheirsustainabilityassessmentresultstotheircustomersthroughthePotatoSustainabilityInitiative’son-lineplatform,orUnilever’simplementationoftheSustainableAgricultureCodeviatheGreenlightssoftwaresystem)itwouldappearthatsustainablesourcing(atleastforthecommoditycategoriesoffocusforthisstudy)largelyremainsattheconceptuallevelintheCanadianagri-foodsystem.Forcertainothercommoditiesthatareoutsideofthescopeofthecurrentanalysis,however,–forexamplefisheriesandaquacultureproducts–sustainablesourcingprogramshavealreadybeeninplaceandimplementedbyacross-sectionofstakeholdersforquitesometime.Thisissimilarlytrueforcommoditiessuchaspalmoil,cocoa,coffeeandsoy,asaresultofconcernsregardingproductionconditionsandimpactsfortheseproductselsewhereintheworld.Indeed,attentiontosustainabilityissuesrelatedtotheselatterandsimilarproductcategoriesinternationallyprovidedmuchoftheoriginalimpetusforthedevelopmentofthesustainablesourcingmovement.
AnotherimportantexceptiontothisgeneralobservationofthecurrentlackofimplementationofsustainablesourcingprogramsinCanadathatdoapplytosomeoftheAlbertacommoditiesofconcernrelatestocurrentapplicationoffoodsafety/qualityandanimalwelfarecriteriainsourcingactivitiesforlivestockproducts.Certainly,theseissuescontributetothemuchbroadersuiteofcriteriathatultimatelymustbeconsideredincomprehensivesustainabilityassessmentsforfoodproducts.With
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respecttoenvironmentalsustainabilityconcernshowever,andthesubsetofcommoditieshereconsidered,theobservationofinactivitygenerallyholdstrue.
Asecondindicationoftheapparentabsenceofwidespreadimplementationofsustainablesourcingrequirementsforthecommoditiesconsideredwasprovidedbysomeofthecompanieswhosein-housesustainablesourcingprogramswereconsideredinthisanalysis.Ingeneral,thereseemedtobeareticenceamongthemajorityofthesecompanies–whetherprocessors,foodserviceproviders,restaurants,orretailers-todiscusstheirrespectivesustainablesourcingactivities.Aspartoftheresearchundertakentoevaluatetheshort-listedschemes,effortsweremadetocontacttheschemeownersbybothtelephoneandemail.Theseattempts(inmanycasesrepeatedseveraltimes)includedabriefoverviewofthepurposeofthecurrentstudyandanexpressionofinterestindiscussingthespecificcompany’scurrentorenvisionedsustainablesourcingactivitiesthatmightbeofrelevance.Aminorityshareoftheschemeownerswhowerecontactedrepliedtoeitherinitialorfollow-upqueries–despitethatalloftheschemesdescribedonthecompanywebsitesdorefereithergenerallyorspecificallytoatleastsomeoftheagriculturalcommoditiesconsideredinthisanalysis.
Asmallersubsetofthecompaniesthatwerecontacteddidagreetodiscusstheiractivities.Severalinterestinginsightsemergedfromthesediscussions.Firstwasthat,forcompanieswithinternationalpresence,thesustainablesourcingactivitiesoftheiroperationsintheUSand/orEuropetendtobemoreadvancedthanarethosefortheCanadianoperations.Thislikelyreflectsseveralfactors,amongthemthat(1)companiesheadquarteredelsewherearelikelytofirstdevelopandtrialsustainablesourcinginitiativesintheirheadquartercountry;(2)companiesbasedinEuropefaceabusinessenvironmentwheresustainablesourcingactivitiesachievedwidespreadimplementationearlierthaninNorthAmerica(spurredonbothbyearlyadopterssuchasfoodindustrygiantsUnileverandDanoneaswellasbymovesbytheEuropeanCommissionand/orspecificcountriestolegislatecorporatesocialresponsibility-relatedactivities);and(3)thegenerallyfavourablereputationoftheCanadianagriculturesectorwithrespecttoenvironmentalperformance.SeveralintervieweesalsosuggestedthattheCanadianbranchesoftheirrespectivecompaniesarewaitingtolearnfromtheimplementationofthesustainablesourcingactivitiesoftheUSbranchespriortoimplementationinCanada.Morethanonecompanyspokesperson–despitethepresenceofanon-trivialvolumeofmaterialdescribingtheimportanceandfociofsustainablesourcingontheircompany’swebsite–indicatedthattheircompanyisnot,infact,currentlyimplementinganysustainablesourcingactivities.Oneintervieweerepresentingamajorsuppliertoalargeretailerdescribedthatthestaffresponsibleforsustainablesourcingforthatretailerhadbeenrelocatedtothecompany’sUSheadquarters–effectivelyputtingahalttoprogressintheretailer’ssustainablesourcingactivitiesinCanada.
Itshouldbenoted,however,thatoutsideofprivatecompanyinitiatives,anumberofimportant,multi-stakeholder,industry-levelinitiativestosupportsustainablesourcingactivitiesforspecificcommoditygroupsarecurrentlyunderwayinCanada.Thisincludes,forexample,theCanadianRoundTableonSustainableBeef,theCanadianRoundtableonSustainableCrops,andtheDairyFarmersofCanadaproActionprogram.Despitethattheseinitiativesareworksinprogress(i.e.specificdetailsregarding
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indicatorsandverification/auditsprotocolsareatvariousstagesofdevelopment),theywilllikelybeofconsiderablerelevanceforbothAlbertanandCanadianfarmers.Certainly,oneimportantmotivatorbehindtheemergenceofsuchinitiativesisconcernregardingtheinefficienciesandburdensthatmaybecreatedbytheimplementationofnumerous,disparatesustainablesourcingrequirementsbyvaluechainpartners.Instead,akeygoalfortheseinitiativesistoprovideasingle,commonsetofprotocolsbywhichsustainabilityperformancemaybeassessedandcommunicatedfortheirrespectivecommoditygroups.
DespitetheseeminglylowlevelofactualsustainablesourcingactivitiesthatarecurrentlybeingimplementedforthecommoditiesofconcerninCanada,thegeneralsentimentofthoseinterviewedforthisstudywasthatimplementationofsuchactivitiesisclearlyontheradar.Intervieweesfromindustryassociations,privatecompanies,andthirdpartysustainablesourcingserviceproviderswerealmostunanimousinrecognizingboththegrowingrelevanceofsustainablesourcingasamarketaccessandsociallicenseconsideration,aswellastheabundanceanddiversityofemergingschemes.
SummaryoftheSustainableSourcingSchemesConsidered
Followingthepreliminaryscreeningtodeterminetheirapplicability,eighteenschemeswereselectedformoredetailedanalysis(Table2).Theseincludebothmulti-stakeholderandprivatecompanyinitiatives.Someoftheinitiatives,suchastheCanadianRoundtableonSustainableBeef,theCanadianRoundtableonSustainableCrops,andtheDairyproActionprogramarecurrentlyunderdevelopment.Inthesecases,completedetailsarenotyetavailableregardingspecificindicators,metrics,and/orverification/auditrequirements.However,theywerenonethelessconsideredsufficientlyimportantactivitiestomerittheirinclusion-despitethatthescopeofanalysisthatispresentlypossibleislimited.
Table2.Sustainabilityschemesselectedfordetailedassessment.
SchemesSelectedforDetailedAssessment
CanadianFieldprintCalculatorSustainableAgricultureInitiativeFarmSustainabilityAssessmentTool2.0InternationalSustainabilityandCarbonCertification(andISCCPlus)PotatoSustainabilityInitiativeCanadianRoundTableonSustainableBeefCanadianRoundTableonSustainableCropsDairySustainabilityFrameworkandDairyproActionNestleSupplierCodeUnileverSustainableAgricultureInitiativeGeneralMillsMolson-CoorsSupplierCodeandAgriculturalBrewingIngredientsPolicyLoblawSourcingwithIntegrity
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KelloggsSupplierCodeSyscoCostcoWalmartSustainabilityIndexandtheSustainabilityConsortiumADM(SustainableGrowersProgram-ISCC)PepsicoSupplierCodeandSustainableFarmingInitiative
Thereisconsiderableheterogeneityinthequalityandquantityofpublicallyavailableinformationdescribingthevariousschemes.Insomecases,asubstantialamountofdetailedinformationisavailableregardingthescheme,facilitatingin-depthanalysis.Preferencewasgiventosuchschemesindevelopingtheshort-listofthosetobeconsidered.Inothercases,verylittlepublicallyavailableinformationwasidentified.WheretheschemeownerinquestionisofobviousimportanceintheCanadianfoodsystem,itwasdecidedtoanywaysincludethemintheanalysisasexamplesofsustainablesourcingintheirbusinesscategories(forexample,LoblawandADM).
Theschemesalsodifferwidelyintermsofbreadth.Somerefertosingleissueareasonly(forexample,theanimalwelfareauditsimplementedbyCostco),whereasmanyrefertonumerouscriteriaandindicators.Thefollowingsectionprovidesadetaileddescriptionofeachoftheshort-listedschemesanditsrespectiverequirements.
Multi-StakeholderInitiatives
CanadianFieldprintCalculator
TheCanadianFieldprintCalculator(Serecon2015)isbeingdevelopedinparalleltobutindependentlyoftheUSFieldtoMarketinitiative.WhereastheUSinitiativelistsamongitsmembershipalmost100organizations,includingmajorprocessors,retailers,industryassociations,NGOs,academicinstitutions,directmembershipintheCanadianinitiativeiscurrentlymuchmoremodest.Thisinitiativeis,however,workinginassociationwiththeCanadianRoundTableonSustainableCrops,whichitselfhasbroadmembershipamongstakeholdersintheCanadiancropsector.ThecalculatorhasbeenprimarilydevelopedbytheconsultingfirmSerecon.
ThepurposeoftheCanadianFieldprintCalculatoristoenablefarmers,attheindividualfarmlevel,to:
• Calculateandcomparesustainabilityoutcomesontheirfarmstoregionalaverages• Comparetheirsustainabilityoutcomesovertime• Comparethesustainabilityoutcomesofalternativescenariosontheirfarms
TheCalculatorcurrentlyincludesmetricsforLandUse,SoilLoss,EnergyUseandClimateImpact.
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DevelopmentofthecalculatorbeganwithapilotstudyofseveralWesternCanadianfieldcrops(spring,winter,anddurumwheat,canola,oats,peas,flaxandlentils).Thisstudyprovidedtheinitialmethodsanddatabasisfordevelopingthecalculator.TheintentionisthatthecalculatorwillbefurtherdevelopedsuchthatitwillultimatelyapplytoabroadersuiteofcropsthandoestheAmericanFieldtoMarketFieldprintcalculator.Moreindicatorsmayalsobedeveloped–forexample,forwateruseandbiodiversity.
DependingontherolethattheCanadianFieldprintCalculatoreventuallyplayswithinthebroadersuiteofsustainabilitymetricsthattheCanadianRoundTableonSustainableCropsintendstodevelop,itmaypotentiallyenjoywidespreaduseamongsustainablesourcingprogramsthatapplytofieldcropproductioninAlberta.Giventhatthecalculatorsupportscomparingindividualfarmstoregionalaveragesaswellastrackingchangesinindicatorperformanceovertime,itmayprovesuitabletosatisfyingthesustainablesourcingrequirementsofspecificcustomerswhorequiredemonstrationofcontinuousimprovement.
Atpresent,theCanadianFieldprintCalculatordoesnotappeartobeusedinsustainablesourcingprograms.AnotableexceptionistheCanadianpilotstudiescurrentlybeingundertakenbyGeneralMills.TheseincludestudiesoffarmsproducingoatsinManitobaandSaskatchewan(withNorthAmericanFoodIngredientsandPattersonaspartners),andalsosoyfarmsinOntario.TheformerpilotstudyimpliesthepossibilitythatuseoftheCanadianFieldprintCalculatorcouldpotentiallyberequiredofAlbertaoatproducersbyGeneralMillsinthefuture.
Useofthecalculatorisreasonablestraight-forward.Thecalculatorisfreelyavailableasadownloadable,Excel-basedtool.Thetoolrequiresthatfarmersenterdatafortheirfarmsandfarmingactivities,whichmaybespecifiedattheindividualfieldlevel.
Datarequiredincludes:
• farmandfieldlocation• farmequipmentdetailssuchasname,horsepowerorfueluse,userate(acres/hr)• soilinformation• tillagepractices• wetlanddrainage• croprotations,frequencyofrotationsandyield• fertilizer,manure,andpesticidetypeandapplicationrates• harvestpractices
SustainableAgricultureInitiativePlatform
TheSustainableAgricultureInitiative(SAI)Platformisafoodindustryinitiativetopromotesustainableagriculturalpracticesworldwide.Itwascreatedin2002byNestle,UnileverandDanoneforthepurposeofsharingknowledgeandbestpracticesforsustainableagricultureataprecompetitivelevel.Sinceitscreation,membershipintheSAIPlatformhasgrownconsiderably.ThePlatformnowhasamembership
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offoodvaluechainstakeholdersthatexceeds70,includingmanyoftheworld’slargestagri-foodprocessorsandretailers.
ThePlatformdefinessustainableagricultureas“theefficientproductionofsafe,highqualityagriculturalproducts,inawaythatprotectsandimprovesthenaturalenvironment,thesocialandeconomicconditionsoffarmers,theiremployeesandlocalcommunities,andsafeguardsthehealthandwelfareofallfarmedspecies.”Ratherthanaddressingnichemarkets,thePlatformfocusesonmainstreamagricultureand,hence,themajorityoffoodproductsglobally.
AnimportantfocusoftheSAIPlatformisthedevelopmentoftoolstofacilitatesustainablesourcingandthedisseminationandmainstreamingofsustainableagriculturalpractices.Theemphasisisnotonlyonmeasuringsustainabilityperformanceinfoodproduction,butratheroncapacitybuildingandencouragingcontinuousimprovement.
Insupportoftheseaims,theSAIPlatformactivitiesinclude:
• developingprinciplesandpracticesforthesustainableproductionofarableandvegetablecrops,coffee,dairyandfruit(bestpracticesaretestedthroughpilotprojects).
• benchmarkingprinciplesandpracticesagainsttheguidelinesandrecommendationsofotherfoodvaluechainsustainabilityschemes.
• developingaSustainabilityPerformanceAssessmenttoolforfirstorthird-partyevaluationofagriculturalpractices.
ThePlatformcurrentlyhasfiveworkinggroupsrespectivelyaddressingarableandvegetablecrops;beef,coffee,dairy,andfruit.Inaddition,fourcommitteesaredevotedtocross-cuttingagriculturalchallenges,specifically:biodiversity;farmerandsupplierpartnerships;farmsustainabilityassessment;andwater.
OfdirectrelevanceforAlbertafarmersareSAI’s“PrinciplesandPracticesforSustainableDairyFarming”and“PrinciplesandPracticesfortheSustainableProductionofArableandVegetableCrops.”Theseprinciplesandpracticesdocumentslayoutareasoffociforwhichafarmer,inpursuitofcontinuousimprovementwithrespecttosustainabilitywritlarge(i.e.includingeconomic,socialandenvironmentalsustainability)canconsiderandseektoimprovetheirfarmingsystem.Forenvironmentalsustainability,specifically,theprinciplesandpracticesreferto:
• soilfertility/soilloss• wateruseandqualityimpacts• biodiversity• energyinputs,andassociatedclimatechangeimpacts• waste
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Thedairyprinciplesandpracticesalsoprovideguidancewithrespecttoanimalwelfare(genetics,healthplanningandbio-security,andanimalhusbandry),aswellasthebroaderfarmingsystemincludingfeedproduction.
OfmoregeneralrelevanceacrossAlbertafarmingsystemswithrespecttoparticipationinpotentialsustainablesourcingschemesistheFarmSustainabilityAssessment(FSA)2.0tool.FSAisawhole-farm,self-assessmenttoolwhichfarmersandothervaluechainstakeholderscanapplyintheinterestofbenchmarkingandmonitoringforcontinuousimprovementinthesustainabilityperformanceofagriculturalactivities.Itisnotcommodity-specific,butrathermaybeusedforallcropagriculturalproductionsystemsandfarmsizes.Itisintendedforuseinsustainablesourcingbycompanieswhodonothavetheirown,company-specificcodes.Whenappliedmorebroadly,thetoolalsosupportsaggregatingfarmingdatageographically,asbycommodityandsupplier.Amongthespecificbenefitstofarmers,theSAIPlatformrefersto:
• improvingperformance• reducingcosts(i.e.withrespecttocommunicatingpracticesalongthevaluechain)• savingresources(byreducingduplicationofeffortifusedasthesoletoolforassessment,
auditingandverificationoffarmpractices)• improvingmarketaccess(i.e.preferentialaccesstocompaniesinterestedinsustainable
sourcing)
TheFSA2.0tooliscompliantwiththeprinciplesandpracticesdocumentsproducedbytheplatform,henceuseofthelattermaybesupportedbytheguidanceprovidedbytheformer.Thetoolhasalsobeenpilottested,withresultsfromthesepilotsinformingfurtherrefinementofthetool.
FarmerswishingtousetheFSA2.0toolmayeitherdownloadandcompleteanExcel-basedtool,orinputdatadirectlyviaanon-lineplatform.Resultsmaybesavedandcomparedovertime,andthefarmerhastheoptionofsharingtheresultswithcustomers.Thetoolhasanaccompanyinguserguide.
ConsistentwiththeSAIPlatformsfocusonsustainabilityinthebroadsense,theFSA2.0toolcontainsgeneralquestionsaboutthefarmingsystems,aswellasspecificquestionsrelatedtoeconomic,socialandenvironmentalsustainability.Eachquestionissupportedbyabriefguidancesection,includingrecommendedpracticeswithrespecttothespecificquestion.Subjectareasforenvironmentalsustainabilityreferto:
• Farmmanagement(i.e.seekingoutadviceonsustainablefarming;equipmentmaintenance;useofcroprotations)
• Planting(selectionofappropriatevarieties;optimumspacing;soilsamplingandmonitoring)• Soilmanagement(avoidingcompaction)• Nutrientmanagement(choosingfertilizertypesforoptimumefficiency;nutrientmanagement
plans;non-useofuntreatedsewageandsludge;ensuringthatcompositionofanytreatedsewage/sludgeisacceptable)
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• Cropprotection(trainingonandapplicationofintegratedpestmanagement;necessityofuseofchemicalcropprotectionproducts;useofselectiveratherthanbroadspectrumpesticidesandtargetedapplication;preventionofpestresistance;avoidanceofcropdiseasecross-contamination;protectionofnon-targetareas)
• Agro-chemicals(protectionofnon-targetareas)• Wastemanagement(riskassessmentforwastestorageandmitigationstrategies;waste
reduction,reuseandrecyclingstrategies)• Watermanagement(irrigationwaterquality;waterusemanagementplantooptimizeuseand
reducewaste;over-extraction;useofoptimizedirrigationmethods;avoidanceofwaterandsoilpollution;preventionofrun-offofagro-chemicalsandmanure;useofbufferzonestoprotectadjacentwaterandwildlife)
• Biodiversity(planformaintainingorimprovingbiodiversity;non-disturbance/conversionofprimaryforest,wetland,peatland,protectedgrasslandorothernativeeco-systems;habitatrestorationandcompensation)
• Air(assessment,monitoringandmitigationofairpollutionrisks)• Greenhousegasemissions(measurestomaximizeenergyuseefficiency;identification,
measurementandmonitoringofGHGemissionsources
Oncetheself-assessmentiscomplete,thetoolprovidesscorespertopic,aswellasaggregatedscoresbysustainabilitydomain(people,planet,profit)andoverall.Scorelevelscorrespondtoeitherbronze,silverorgoldcompliance.
AccordingtotheSAIPlatformwebsite,severalcompaniesincludingCoca-Cola,UnileverandMcCainarealreadyusingtheFSAtoolinsupportoftheirrespectivesustainabilitygoals.Noweb-basedliteraturewasidentifiedsuggestionthatthistooliscurrentlyusedbyanyofthesecompaniesinCanadagenerallyorinAlbertaspecifically.TelephonecorrespondencewithaUnileverCanadarepresentativesuggestedthattheUnileverSACcodeisbeingusedinCanadaasopposedtotheFSA2.0tool.However,Coca-Cola,Heineken,Mondelez,andUnileverhavedecidedtouseFSA2.0forbeetsugar,directlywithfarmers/throughsuppliersand/orasabenchmarkingreference,withacurrentfocusonEuropeansugarbeet.ThistoolcouldhencepotentiallyberelevantforAlbertasugarbeetproducersinthefuture.
InternationalSustainabilityandCarbonCertification(ISCC)andISCCPlus
TheInternationalSustainabilityandCarbonCertificationsystemisaglobal,supplychaincertificationsystemfortheecologicalandsocialsustainabilityofbio-basedfeedstocksandrenewables.Itisintendedforuseinthebioenergysector,aswellasfood,feedandchemicalmarketsmorebroadly.ISCCwasdevelopedthroughanopenmulti-stakeholderprocessbyroughly250internationalassociations.Theseincludedcorporations,researchinstitutionsandNGOs.Itsmembershipcurrentlyincludesover80organizations.
TheISCCsystemfocuseson:
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• reductionofgreenhousegasemissions(methodologiestocalculatemassbalancesandverifysupplychainGHGemissions)
• avoidanceofproductiononlandwithhighbiodiversityvalueand/orcarbonstocks• goodagriculturalpractices–inparticular,withrespecttoprotectionofsoil,waterandair• respectforhuman,labourandlandrights
TheprevalentuseoftheISCCsystemtodatehaslikelybeenthecertificationofgreenhousegasemissionlevelsandasubsetofbasicsustainabilityrequirementsforbiofuelsupplychains.TherequirementsforgreenhousegasemissionlevelsforbiofuelfeedstocksimportedintoEUmemberstates,asmandatedbytheRenewableEnergyDirective(RED),haveprovidedparticularmotivationforthedevelopmentandapplicationoftheISCCsystem(ISCCisofficiallyrecognizedbytheRED).ISCCPluswassubsequentlydevelopedtocoverthebroadercertificationoffood,feed,technical/chemical(e.g.bioplastics)andotherbioenergyapplications(e.g.solidbiomass)forsustainabilityperformanceacrossabroadersuiteofindicatordomains.
ISCCprovidesaseriesofdetailedstandardsandguidancedocumentstobeusedinsupportofthecertificationprocess.AdistinctselectionofsystemdocumentscharacterizeseachoftheISCCcertificationsystems,whichareISCCDE,ISCCDE36thBImschV,ISCCEU,ISCCDE36thBImSchVandISCCPLUS.FarmerswishingtoaccessEUbiofuelfeedstockmarketsmustcompleteISCCEUcertification.UsingtheISCCsystemtosupportclaimsrelatedtobroadersustainabilitycriteriainmarketsotherthantheEUbiofuelfeedstockmarketrequirescompletionofISCCPluscertification.ThelatterrequirescompletionofcoreISCCrequirementsalongwithadditionaladd-ons.ThedocumentsthatarecommonacrosstheEU,DEandPLUSschemesare:
• ISCC202:Sustainabilityrequirementso comprisessixprincipleswiththeirrespectivecriteriacoveringbothecologicalandsocial
sustainabilityissueso criteriaaredefinedaseither"majormusts"or"minormusts"(seeannex1).Asuccessful
auditrequiressatisfactionofallmajormusts,and60%ofminormusts.• ISCC203:Requirementsfortraceability• ISCC204:Massbalancecalculationmethodology• ISCC205:GHGemissionscalculationmethodology• ISCC207:Riskmanagement
Themajorandminor“musts”thatmustbefulfilledwithrespecttoISCC202atthewholefarmlevelareorganizedintermsofsixoverarchingprinciples,withdetailedcriteriaforeachprinciple.Theprinciplesandmajorcriteria(sub-criteriaarenotlistedhere–forspecificdetails,seeISCC202Annex1)are:
1. Biomassshallnotbeproducedonlandwithhighbiodiversityvalueorhighcarbonstocks.Highconservationvalueareasshallbeprotected.
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2. Biomassshallbeproducedinanenvironmentallyresponsibleway.Thisincludestheprotectionofsoil,waterandairandtheapplicationofGoodAgriculturalPracticesregarding
a. Environmentalimpactassessmentandconservationb. Naturalwatercoursesc. Soilconservationandavoidanceofsoildegradationd. Soilorganicmatterandsoilstructuree. Groundwaterandirrigationf. Useoffertilizerg. Integratedpestmanagementh. Useofplantprotectionproductsi. Plantprotectionproductsj. Emptyplantprotectionproductcontainersandwastedisposal
3. Safeworkingconditionsthroughtrainingandeducation,useofprotectiveclothingandproper
andtimelyassistanceintheeventofaccidentsa. Safeworkingconditionsb. Plantprotectionproducthandling
4. Biomassproductionshallnotviolatehumanrights,labourrightsorlandrights.Itshallpromote
responsiblelabourconditionsandworker’shealth,safetyandwelfareandshallbebasedonresponsiblecommunityrelations
5. Biomassproductionshalltakeplaceincompliancewithallapplicableregionalandnationallawsandshallfollowrelevantinternationaltreaties
6. Goodmanagementpracticesshallbeimplemented
ISCC205providestherequirementsforgreenhousegascalculationsandaudits.IndividualfarmerswishingtodemonstratecompliancewiththeISCCsystemmayprovidedatabasedondefaultvaluesor,ifitmaybeadvantageous,undertakecalculationsbasedonactualvaluesfortheirfarmingactivities.ISCC205providestheguidanceandrequirementsforeachoption.Forthelatter,dataonamountsandtypesofmaterialsusedsuchaspesticides,fertilizers,andenergyinputsmustbeprovided,alongwithinformationontypesandamountsofwastes,yields,andanyemissionsrelatedtolandusechange.Thesedatamustbesupportedbydocumentsorotherevidencesuchasproductionreports,deliverynotes,contracts,invoices,etc.EmissionfactorsforconvertinginputsandoutputsintoGHGemissionestimatesmustbetakenfromthe“ISCClistofemissionfactors”,whichformspartoftheISCC205document.
ISCCPlusalsoprovidesspecificrequirementsforbiomassproductionsystemsthatproducefood(ISCCPlus260-04)andfeed(ISCCPlus260-03).ThesedocumentsspecifyrecordkeepingrequirementsandspecificadditionalrequirementsforISCCPlus205forcalculatingGHGemissions.
ISCCPlus202-01specifiestherequirementsforthe“Environmentalmanagementandbiodiversity”add-on.Requirementsareprovidedwithrespecttomanagementplansforsoil,water,energy,and
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biodiversity.Eachmanagementplanmustbeprecededbyastatusdeterminationphase.Thisisfollowedbytwophasesofriskassessment(bothnaturalriskfactorsandagriculturalmanagementriskfactors)anddevelopmentofanactionplan,implementationoftheactionplan,andon-goingriskmanagementandmonitoring.
TheAmericanNationalStandardsInstitute(ANSI)accreditscertificationbodiesthatwillbeconductingISCCcertification.TheaccreditationverifiesthatthecertificationbodiescomplywiththeISCCsystemaswellasrelevantinternationalstandards.
ThenecessaryseriesofstepstowardsobtaininganISCCcertificateinclude:
• enteringintoacontractualagreementwithanaccreditedcertificationbody• registeringatISCC• preparingfortheauditinternally• undergoingtheauditbythecertificationbody,andanynecessaryremedialactions• certificationbodysubmitsdocumentationtoISCC• receivingcertificatesforthespecificcertificationchosen
Oncecertificationisreceived,thenthesuccessfulapplicantmayproceedwiththepermitteduses/applications.Thesemayincludedemonstrationofregulatorycompliance(forexample,foraccesstoEUbiofuelmarkets)ortheuseofISCClogosandclaims.Morethan10,000certificatesofcompliancewithISCC,verifiedthroughthird-partyaudit,havebeenissuedinover100countriessinceitsinceptionin2010.
SinceavarietyofdocumentsmustbeusedforISCCcertification,thereiscertainlypotentialforconfusionfornewapplicantsnavigatingthecertificationprocess.Calculationsmayalsobecomplicated(forexample,calculatinggreenhousegasemissionsforagriculturalproduction).ISCCrecommendssolicitingexpertassistanceinundergoingthecertificationprocess.Finally,someoftherequirementsarequitegeneral(forexample,“goodmanagementpracticesshallbeimplemented)hencetheremaybeconfusionastowhichactivitieswillsatisfythestaterequirements.
Atpresent,ISCCcertificationforbiofuelfeedstocksdestinedforEUmarketsisthemostrelevantoftheISCCsystemcertificationoptionsforsomeAlbertafarmers,sinceithasdirectmarketaccessimplications.However,sinceISCCallowsfordeterminationofregionalvalues,itispossibleforprocessorstocalculateandprovideaveragedataforthepoolofproducersfromwhichtheysourcebiomass.TheCanadianCropCarbonFootprintLook-upToolwasdesignedforthispurpose.Ifthisapproachischosen,thenfarmersmaynotneedtobedirectlyinvolvedinsatisfyingtheinformationalandproceduralrequirementsofISCCcertification.
ISCCclaimscross-compliancewithboththeUnileverSustainableAgricultureCode(thisrequiresadherencewiththeISCCstandardforsustainabilityrequirements(V2.0)andtheadd-ons202-01
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"EnvironmentalManagementandBiodiversity"aswellas202-02"ClassifiedChemicals")andtheSAIPlatform’sFarmSustainabilityAssessment(FSA2.0silverlevel)tool.
TheISCCprogramhasalreadyissuedcertificatestoseveralcompaniesoperatinginCanadasuchasViterra(ISCCPlus),ADMAgri-Industries(ISCCEU),CargillCanada(ISCCEU),andBungeCanada(ISCCEU).
PotatoSustainabilityInitiative
Severalmajorcustomersofpotatoproductshave,overtime,developedin-housesustainablesourcingrequirementsforpotatoes.Theexistenceofmultipleprogramscreatedinefficienciesforpotatofarmerssellingproducttomorethanonecustomer,aswellasindividualcompaniesimplementingtheirrespectiveprograms.ThePotatoSustainabilityInitiative(PSI)wasinitiatedinordertostream-linesustainabilityreportingandsourcingindustry-wide.PSIwasdevelopedbyacollaborationofprocessors,growersandcustomers,includingtheNationalPotatoCouncil(US),McDonalds,McCain,Simplot,theCanadianPotatoCouncil,LambWeston,HeinzAgriculture,Cavendish,BasicAmericanFoods,andSysco.
ThePSIhasdevelopedanon-lineplatformwherepotatogrowerscancompleteadetailedquestionnaireregardingtheirpractices(i.e.self-assessment),obtainscoresfortheirpracticesforavarietyofsocio-economicandenvironmentalsustainabilityindicators,andchoosetosharetheirresultsdirectlywiththeircustomers.Growerscanalsosavetheirresultsinordertocomparetheirperformancefromoneyeartothenext,identifyareasforimprovement,anddemonstratecontinuousimprovementovertime.
Scoresrelevanttoenvironmentaloutcomesarecurrentlyassignedfor:
• sustainablefarmingo seedhandlingandplanting
▪ activitiestoavoidorreducepestordiseaseproblemsandtransmissionpotential▪ useofcertifiedorcleanedseedinrotationalcrops▪ washing/disinfectingpractices▪ assessmentofseedhandlingandplantingsystems▪ participationinnewpotatovarietytests▪ trialsofGMpotatoes▪ compliancewithregulatoryandindustryprotocolsforGMfarmtrials,and
informingcustomers▪ basisforfieldselection▪ expansionofcultivationarea▪ suitabilitycriteriaforfieldselection▪ usesofGPS
o pesticideandnutrienthandlingandapplication
▪ legalcomplianceformixing,storage,useanddisposal▪ maintenanceofapplicationrecordsforthreeyears▪ equipmentcalibration
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▪ availabilityofpesticidespillcontainmentmaterialsatmixingandapplicationsites
▪ disposalofpesticidecontainers▪ operationofpesticideapplicationequipmentwithinwind-speedlimits,andwith
appropriateparameterstominimizespraydrift▪ existenceandavailabilityoffarmdriftmanagementplans▪ citationbyregulatoryagencyforoff-targetapplicationofagrochemicalswithin
pastthreeyears(notscored)▪ considerationofweatherforecastpriortonutrientapplications▪ preventionorminimizationofrun-offbyconsiderationofsoilconditions
o pest,weed,diseasemanagement
▪ knowledgeabilityofstaff/advisorregardingmajorpests/weeds/diseasesandtheirmanagement
▪ accesstoIPMinformationresources▪ precautionsagainsttransportofperennialweedsbetweenfieldsonequipment▪ controlofnoxiousweedsalongfieldedges▪ basisformanagementdecisionsregardingsoil-bornepestsordiseases▪ herbicideusereductionthroughnonchemicalmethods▪ locationsandfrequencyofpestanddiseasescouting,samplingandmonitoring▪ monitoringforinsectvectorsuntilendofseason▪ participationinregionalinsectanddiseasescoutingprogramsandinformation
sharing▪ pesticideapplicationdecisionsandtimingbasedonspecifictechniques▪ useofbiologicalmethodstocontrol/suppresspests/diseases/weeds▪ useofculturalcontrolpracticestocontrolpests/diseases▪ partialcontrolofinsects/diseasesthroughchemicalornon-chemical
managementofalternatehostsorsites▪ useofbandedpesticideapplicationtoreduceoveralltreatedarea▪ useofspotspraypesticideapplicationtoreduceoveralltreatedarea▪ partialcontrolofdifficultinsectpests/weedsinrotationcrops▪ basisforpesticideselection▪ identificationofpesticideresistancerisk,anduseofstrategiestodelay
resistance
o nutrientmanagement▪ completenutrientmanagementrecordsmaintainedandavailableforthree
years▪ useofbiosolids▪ useofanimalmanureorcompostonpotatofields▪ useofanimalmanureorcompostfollowsanutrientmanagementplan▪ useofgridorzonesoilsamplingtoidentifyfieldvariabilityandapplynutrients
accordingly
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▪ useofin-seasonnutrientsamplingasperregionalneeds▪ useofremotesensingtomonitorcrophealth▪ nutrientapplicationratesasperavailablenutrientsandprojectedcropneed▪ useofmultiplenitrogenapplicationsorslowreleasefertilizerswhere
recommended▪ inclusionofnitrogen-fixingandrecoveringcropsinatleast25%ofpotatocrop
rotation▪ phosphorusapplicationsoastopreventlossesandassociatedsurfacewater
contamination▪ splitpotassiumapplicationwhenindicatedbysoiltesting
o managementsystems
▪ implementationofwhole-farmsoilandwaterconservationplantomaintain/improvesoilandwaterquality
▪ evaluationpracticesforoverallcropmanagementperformance▪ communicationwithrespecttofarmstewardshipimprovements
• environmentalsustainability
o waterconservationandquality▪ waterobtainedasperapplicableregulations▪ waterconservationmeasuresforfacilitiesareinplace▪ preparationandimplementationofwaterwithdrawalsanduses,including
mitigationeffortswithrespecttodetrimentalimpacts▪ useofirrigationwater▪ irrigationwaterapplicationrecords,andawarenessofrainfalllevels▪ evaluationofirrigationsystemperformanceandcorrectivemaintenance▪ basisforschedulingofirrigation▪ irrigationtechnologiesthatareapplied▪ frequencyofevaluationofirrigationsystemefficiency
o soilconservationandquality
▪ rotationfrequencyandproportion(atleast75%)▪ soilcompactionmonitoringandmitigationstrategies▪ proportionofacreagewherebaresoiliscoveredfollowingharvest▪ useoflandstructuremodificationtoreduceerosionorwatercollection
problems▪ soilhealthmonitoringandimprovementmeasures
o biodiversity
▪ sensitiveareasonfarmaremapped▪ existenceofmeasurestoprotectsensitiveareas,andannualmonitoring▪ establishmentofproductiononlandnotpreviouslycultivatedwithinpastthree
years▪ existenceandscopeofwrittenplantoprotect/enhancebiodiversity▪ farmresourcesinvestedinconvertingunproductiveormarginallandinto
conservationareas
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▪ measuresinplacetoidentifyinvasivespeciesandpreventtheirspread
o pollinatorprotection▪ practicesforprotectingandenhancingpollinatorabundanceanddiversity
o energyconservation
▪ scopeofenergyconservationmeasures▪ equipmentmaintenancepracticesandrecordstomaximizefuelefficiency
o waste
▪ useoffireforwastedisposal▪ vegetationburningpractices▪ legalcomplianceofwastewatermanagement▪ legalcomplianceoffuelstorage
Informationonharvestrecords,recyclingrecordsandworkersafetyrecordsarealsocollected.
Intotalthesurveyconsistsof105questionsforthesustainablefarming,social,economicandenvironmentalsustainabilitysections.Inaddition,thereisasetofquestionspertainingtoharvest,recyclingandworkersafetyrecords,andonequestionregardingfarmerparticipationinarecognizedfoodsafetyprogram.Thequestionspredominantlyrequireyes/noanswers,orchoosingamongasetofpossibleanswers.Manyofthequestionsareaccompaniedbysupportinginformation,whichcanbedirectlyaccessedviamouseclick.Categorydefinitionsarealsoprovided.Oncethesurveyiscompleted,scoresaregeneratedonascaleof0-4foreachsub-category,foreachofthefourparentcategories,andasasingle,aggregatedscore.
Overall,thesystemiseasytouse,seeminglyquitecomprehensive,andprovidesaverystreamlinedanddirectlineofcommunicationbetweenproducersandcustomers.Thesystemis,bynature,basedonself-assessment.Itisunclearwhetherornotthesystemiscurrentlysupportedbythird-partyaudit.Likely,thiswouldbeatthediscretionofspecificcustomers.However,theCanadaGAP2015AnnualReportindicatesplanstoofferverificationauditsforgrowersparticipatinginthePSI.Inaddition,McCainFoodsusingCanadaGAPthird-partyauditsalongwithPSIself,secondandthirdpartyauditsaspartoftheirMcCainGAPprogramforsourcingpotatoes.
CanadianRoundTableonSustainableBeef
TheGlobalRoundTableonSustainableBeef(GRSB)releaseditsfirstsetofPrinciplesandCriteriainlater2014.ThesePrinciplesandCriteriasettheglobalagendawithrespecttopursuingmoresustainablebeefproductionpracticesinasetofkeyareas.Theyareintendedtoactasanumbrellaforthedevelopmentofregionallyornationally-appropriatesocial,environmentalandeconomicsustainabilityindicators.
ThefiveGRSBprinciplesare:
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1.NaturalResources:thebeefvaluechainmanagesnaturalresourcesresponsiblyandenhancesecosystemhealth;
2.PeopleandtheCommunity:sustainablebeefstakeholdersprotectandrespecthumanrights,andrecognizethecriticalrolesthatallparticipantswithinthebeefvaluechainplayintheircommunityregardingculture,heritage,employment,landrightsandhealth;
3.AnimalHealthandWelfare:sustainablebeefproducersandprocessorsrespectandmanageanimalstoensuretheirhealthandwelfare;
4.Food:sustainablebeefstakeholdersensurethesafetyandqualityofbeefproductsandutilizeinformation-sharingsystemsthatpromotebeefsustainability;and
5.EfficiencyandInnovation:sustainablebeefstakeholdersencourageinnovation,optimizeproduction,reducewasteandaddtoeconomicviability.
Withinthiscontext,theCanadianRoundtableforSustainableBeef(CRSB)isanational,multi-stakeholderbodythatwasconvenedtoorchestratethedevelopmentofCanadian-specificsustainabilityindicators,alongwithaverificationsystem,forbeefproductionsystems.DevelopmentoftheCanadianindicatorshasbeenleadbyamulti-stakeholdercommitteeof22experts.Thisgroupwaschargedwithidentifyingmeasurable,outcomes-based(i.e.asopposedtoprescriptive)sustainabilityindicatorsthatsatisfythefollowingcriteria:
• environmentalsustainability• science-based,andbasedonexpertopinion• developedthroughaconsensus-based,multi-stakeholderprocess• nationallyapplicable• consistentwiththeGlobalRoundTableonSustainableBeefPrinciplesandCriteria
ThefirstsetofdraftindicatorswasmadeavailableforpublicconsultationinFebruary2016.Thisfirstsetofindicatorsisspecifictotheprimaryproductionphaseofthebeefsupplychain(i.e.cow-calfoperations,backgrounding,feedlot,anddairybeefproduction).Theydonotincludefeedproductionorpost-farmstages,althoughtheCRSBhasexpressedtheintentiontosimilarlydevelopindicatorsforthesesupplychainstagesinthefuture.
Thefollowingdraftindicatorsthatrefertoenvironmentalsustainabilityconcernsoranimalhealthandwelfare,organizedbyGSRBPrinciple,areasfollows:
• NaturalResourceso managementofnutrientrun-off,riparianareas,surfaceandgroundwatersourcesto
maintainorimprovewatershedhealtho maintenanceorimprovementofsoilhealtho implementationofbeneficialmanagementpracticeswithrequesttocarbon
sequestrationorminimizationofemissions
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o implementationofpracticestomanageairqualityimpactsforpeopleandanimalso implementationofpracticestomaintainorenhancenativeecosystems,grasslands,and
tamepastureso maintenanceorenhancementofwildlifehabitat
• AnimalHealthandWelfare
o properanimalhealthpromotedthroughmeetingnutritionalneedsofcattleo watersupplytocattleissufficientinquantityandqualitytomeettheirphysicalneedso demonstrabilityofanimalhealthmonitoringandmaintenance,includingpractices
relatedtosickandinjuredanimalso demonstrabilityofresponsibleuseanddisposalofanimalhealthproductsrelativeto
labelrecommendationsorveterinaryprescriptiono demonstrabilityofstepstomitigate/minimizeanimalpaino demonstrabilityofcleardecisionpathandacceptablemethodsforeuthanasiao stockingdensitiessoastoallowexpressionofnormalbehaviour,includingresting
positionso demonstrabilityofpracticestominimizestress
• EfficiencyandInnovation
o wastereduction,reuseandrecycling,asperavailabilityandfeasibilityofservicesandtechnologies
o demonstrabilityofresponsibleuseofenergyandresourceso useofinnovationandtechnologytoimproveresponsibleproductiono demonstrabilityofsafeandresponsibledisposalofcropproductso demonstrabilityofresponsiblemanagementofdeadstocko engagementincontinuouslearningwithrespecttosustainabilityinbeefproduction
Thesedraftindicators,oncefinalized,willformthebasisof“what”willbemeasuredwithrespecttosustainabilityinbeefproduction.TheCSRBbeganacomplementarystreamofworkinJanuary2016todetermine“how”performanceforeachindicatorwillbemeasured.UndertakenbytheVerificationCommittee,thisworkwillconsiderexistingtoolsandprogramsthatarealreadyinplacewithintheindustry,alongwithwhateverelsemaybenecessarytosupportverification/auditofperformanceatthefarm-level.
CanadianRoundTableonSustainableCrops
TheCanadianRoundTableonSustainableCrops(CRSC)isamulti-stakeholderinitiativeincludingproducers,grainhandlers,cropinputproviders,commodityandfoodprocessors,foodretailersandrestaurants,governmentandNGOrepresentatives.TheRoundTablewasformedin2013tosupportcross-commoditycollaborationonsustainabilityissuesfortheparticipantsintheCanadiancropssector.ThemissionoftheCRSCisto“createvalueforallmembersofthegrainssectorbyprovidinganationalforumforadvancing,reportingonandcommunicatingthesustainabilityofCanadiangrainproduction.”
TheRoundTablesguidingprinciplesaretobe:
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• nationalinscope• ledbyindustry• inclusiveandtransparent• science-based• market-responsive• consensus-based• supportingon-goingimprovement• sharingcostsandbenefitsacrossthevaluechain
TheCRSChascommittedtoproducingtwodeliverables:theCanadianStatementofGrainsSustainability,andtheCanadianStandardofGrainsSustainability.
Twoprojectsarecurrentlyunderwayinsupportofproducingthesedeliverables.ThefirstprojectistheSustainabilityMetricsPlatformProject.Thegoalofthisprojectistodevelopafullcomplementofsustainabilitymetricsforregional-scaleanalysis(whereappropriate,andfarm-levelwherenecessary)andreportingforeachcommodity(grains,oilseeds,pulsesandspecialtycrops),alongwithareportingplatform.Thiswillincludegenerationofresearchdata,aswellasidentifyingwhichmetricsmustbedevelopedinordertomeetcurrentandemergingvaluechainneeds.Workisalreadyon-goingtodevelopregion-specificcarbonfootprintestimatesforeachcrop.ThisworkbuildsonthemethodsusedintheCanadianCropCarbonFootprintLook-upTool,whichwasdevelopedbytheCanolaCouncilofCanadatosupportcanolaproducersingainingaccesstoEUbiofuelsmarketsbydemonstratingcompliancewiththerequirementsoftheRenewableEnergyDirective.Asecondstudyhasalsobeenundertakentodeterminetheextenttowhichthecropssectorcurrentlyperformswithrespecttokeysocialsustainabilityindicators.TheoutcomesofthesetwostudieswillbeusedtopopulatetheSustainabilityMetricsplatform.Completionofthefirstphasein2018isanticipated.
ThesecondprojectistheCRSCPilotProject,whichwillculminateintheCanadianStatementofGrainsSustainability,alongwithasupportingstandard.Thispilotprojecthasthefollowingfourmilestones:
(1) evaluateindicatorsofexistingprogramsfortheirpotentialutilityinthecontextofCanadiancroppingsystems,aswellasaccordancewiththeCRSCCorePrinciplesandCriteria
(2) Establishabaselineofpractice-basedoroutcomes-basedsustainableproductionindicatorstobeappliedattheregionallevel(wherepossible,orfarmlevelwherenecessary).
(3) Involvegrowersintestingtheselectedindicators
(4) Disseminatetheprojectresults.
Draftindicatorsarenotyetpubliclyavailableforanalysis.However,inlightofthebroadindustryrepresentation/participationinthisinitiative,itmaywellproverelevantforAlbertafarmers.Unclearishowtheregional-scalemetricswillenablesatisfactionoffarm-levelreportingrequirementsthatmaybeassociatedwithcustomersustainablesourcinginitiatives.
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DairySustainabilityFrameworkandDairyproAction
In2009,sixorganizationsbroadlyrepresentativeoftheglobaldairysector(i.e.EuropeanDairyAssociation(EDA),EasternandSouthernAfricanDairyAssociation(ESADA),Pan-AmericanDairyFederation(FEPALE),GlobalDairyPlatform(GDP),InternationalDairyFederation(IDF)andSustainableAgriculturalInitiativePlatform(SAI))launchedtheGlobalDairyAgendaforAction(GDAA).ThisAgendaexpressedthecommitmentmadebythedairyindustrytoactivelyreducesectoralGHGemissionsthroughoutthevaluechain.Subsequently,theDairySustainabilityFramework(DSF)wasdeveloped,whichistheGDAAprogramforaligningandconnectingsustainabilityinitiativesinthedairysector.Thisframeworkfocuseson11sustainabilitycriteriathatcoverenvironmental,socialandeconomicsustainabilityissues.TheDSFisintendedtoprovidetheumbrellaframeworkforlocal-scalesustainabilityinitiativesandprogramsinthedairysector.The11criteriaare:
• GreenhouseGasEmissions(quantificationandreductionacrossthefullvaluechainthroughalleconomicallyviablemechanisms)
• SoilNutrients(managementofnutrientapplicationtominimizewaterandairqualityimpactswhilemaintainingandenhancingsoilquality)
• Waste(generationminimized,orwastereusedandrecycled)• Water(availableandqualityisresponsiblymanagedthroughoutthevaluechain)• Soil(proactivemanagementandenhancementofqualityandretentiontooptimizeproductivity)• Biodiversity(risksareunderstoodandstrategiestomaintainorenhancebiodiversityare
implemented)• MarketDevelopment(economicviabilityforvaluechainparticipantsthroughdevelopmentof
transparentandeffectivemarkets)• RuralEconomies(sectorsupportsresilienceandeconomicviabilityoffarmersandrural
communities)• WorkingConditions(workersafetyandrightsarerespectedandpromoted)• ProductSafety&Quality(optimalnutrition,qualityandsafetyofdairyproductsthoughintegrity
andtransparencyacrosssupplychain)• AnimalCare(fivefreedoms,animalabletoengageinrelativelynormalpatternsofbehaviour)
TheDairyproActioninitiativerepresentstheCanadianresponsetotheGDAAandDSF.ItisbeingdevelopedandimplementbytheDairyFarmersofCanada(DFC)anditsmembers.Participationintheinitiativeisintendedtosupportfarmersinprovidingassurancetocustomersregardingtheireffortstoensuremilkqualityandsafety,alongwithexpectationsrelatedtoanimalcare,healthandwelfare,andenvironmentalstewardship.ParticipationinandcompliancewithallrequirementsoftheproActionprogramwillbemandatoryforallCanadiandairyfarmers,withassuranceviathird-partyaudit.
Specifically,thepurposeofproActionistoenablefarmersto:
• Implementasingle,national,credible,practicalon-farminitiative• Addresssocietaldemandsondairyfarming• SupportthemarketingandbrandingofCanadianmilk
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TheenvironmentalcomponentofproActioniscurrentlybasedoncompletionofanEnvironmentalFarmPlan.
PrivateCompanyInitiatives
NestléSupplierCode
Nestlehasdevelopedseveralpublicallyavailabledocumentsthatoutlinethecompany’ssustainabilitypriorities,activities,andrequirements,includingwithrespecttosustainablesourcing.Thesedocumentsinclude:
• NestleResponsibleSourcingGuideline• NestleSupplierCode• NestlePolicyonEnvironmentalSustainability• NestleCommitmentonClimateChange• NestleCommitmentonDeforestationandForestStewardship• NestleCommitmentonChildLabourinAgriculturalSupplyChains• NestleCommitmentonRuralDevelopment• NestleCommitmentonFarmAnimalWelfare• NestleCommitmentontheResponsibleUseofMaterialsfromAgriculturalOrigin• NestleCommitmentonWaterStewardship
Inthecaseofdirectsupplyfromfarms,NestlealsorequiresthatfarmersadheretoapplicableGoodAgriculturalPractices,withguidanceprovidedbytheNestleResponsibleSourcingGuidelineforMaterialsofAgriculture,Forestry,FisheriesandAquacultureOrigin.
Nestle’sSupplierCodedefinesminimumstandardsthatNestlerequiresbemetbytheirsuppliersandsub-tiersuppliers,allthewaybacktoprimaryproductionindustries.Ratherthanattempttodirectlymanagetheirentiresupplychains,NestleratherrequiresthateachsupplierverifycomplianceoftheCodewithitsownsub-tiersuppliers,includingfarmers.However,Nestlealsomaintainstherighttoverifycompliancethroughinternalorthird-partyaudit.ThestandardsprovidedbytheCodeareintendedtofostercontinuousimprovementalongthesupplychain.Forfarmers,thisincludesestablishmentofmilestonesandsystemstoensurethatpracticesarecontinuouslyimproved,withmarketaccessimplicationsifsuppliersfailtomeetthisrequirement.Nestle’sprocurementcontractsexplicitlyreferencetheCode,hencecommittingsupplierstoadherence.
TheNestleSupplierCodereferstothefollowing4pillars:
• HumanRightso freedomofassociationandcollectivebargainingrightso forcedlabouro employmentpracticeso minimumageofemployment
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o fairandequaltreatmento workingtimeandrestdayso wagesandbenefits
• SafetyandHealth
o workplaceenvironmento housingconditionsandrespectofprivacyo emergencypreparednesso productqualityandsafety
• EnvironmentalSustainability
o environmentalpermitsandreporting(legalcompliance)o environmentalmanagementsystem(mustdocumentandimplementasystembasedon
internationalstandardssuchasISO14001toidentify,controlandmitigatesignificantenvironmentalimpacts)
o hazardousmaterialsandproductsafety(basicpractices;legalcompliance;employeetraining)
o resourceconsumption,pollutionpreventionandwasteminimization(optimizationofresourceefficiency;implementationofpollutionpreventionmeasures;legalcomplianceofwastedisposalpractices)
• BusinessIntegrityo anti-briberyo grievancemechanismso recordso origin(traceability)o intellectualpropertyo conflictofinterest
AccordingtoNestle,“Nestléexpectsitssupplierstocontinuouslymonitorandverifytheirperformanceandcontinuousimprovementagainsttheserequirements.”SuppliersmustalsocommittonotifyingNestleofanysuspectedviolations,andtosubmittoaudits.
TheNestlesResponsibleSourcingGuideline(RSG),whichisapplicablefortheupstreamvaluechainincludingprimaryproduction,complementstheSupplierCode.TheRSGrequirementsapplytoallmaterialsofagricultural,forestry,fisheryandaquacultureorigin,withMaterialSpecificRequirementsextendingtheGeneralPrinciplesandRequirementsforeachprioritymaterial.TheoverallthrustoftheRSGisto“removetheworst,promotethebest,improvetherest.”
AmongtheGeneralRequirementsoftheRSG,environmentallyrelevantrequirementsinclude:
• Conversionofnaturalvegetationo nosourcingfromareasconvertedfromnaturalforestsafter01-02-2013o identificationandprotectionofHighConservationValues(includingabovegroundand
soilcarbonstocks,waterstewardship,livelihoods,speciesrequiringlargecontiguoushabitats,protectedareas)
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• Environmentalimpacts
o implementationofwatermanagementplan,andadditionalmeasuresinwaterstressedareas
o useofchemicalsconsistentwithbestagriculturalpractices▪ pestanddiseasemanagementbasedonIntegratedPestManagementprograms
o Soilmanagementconsistentwithbestagriculturalpractices
▪ takingintoaccountsoilstructure,fertilityanderosion▪ fertilizersappliedbasedonsoiltestingandsoastominimizenutrientrun-off
andGHGemissions▪ soilcarbonlevelsaremaintainedandenhanced▪ agrochemicaluseisminimized
o identificationandreductionofsignificantimpactsviaprocessesofcontinuous
improvement▪ waste▪ biodiversity▪ GHGemissions▪ energyefficiency
AnimalwelfarerequirementsoftheRSGGeneralRequirementsrefertothe“FiveFreedoms,”whichare:
• Freedomfromhunger,thirstandmalnutrition• Freedomfromfearanddistress• Freedomfromphysicalandthermaldiscomfort• Freedomfrompain,injuryanddisease• Freedomtoexpressnormalpatternsofbehaviouroffarmedanimals.
InadditiontotheGeneralRequirements,theRSGprovidesmaterialspecificrequirementsforeachofthe12highvolumematerialssourcedbyNestle.Ofthese,thosecategoriesthatrefertocommoditiesprioritizedforthecurrentstudyare:
• sugaro thespecificrequirementsprovideadditionalguidancewithrespecttosugarcane,but
forsugarbeetsnoteonlythatproducersmustbeabletodemonstratecompliancewiththeNestleRSG
• dairy(freshmilkaccountedfor55%ofrawmaterialsusedbyNestlein2014)o manuremanagement(priorityareaforcontinuousimprovement)
• meat,poultryandeggs
o supplychaintransparency(Nestlewillprioritizesupplierrelationshipsforanimalby-productsusedinpetfoodswherefulltraceabilityisavailable)
o fornon-GMfeedcropmarkets,industrystandardsrequiringthird-partyauditsshouldbeapplied
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o forlivestockproduction▪ goodhusbandrysystemsmustbeimplementedtopreventoccurrenceof
diseaseandminimizeuseofveterinarydrugs▪ demonstrationofcontinuousimprovementinhusbandrypractices▪ preventionoffeedcontamination(legalcomplianceanddemonstrationof
continuousimprovement)▪ useoffeedingredients(legalcompliance;medicatedfeedappliedunder
veterinarysupervisionintheframeworkofananimalhealthplan)▪ useofgrowthpromoters(legalcomplianceandimplementationoflong-term
phase-outplan)▪ breedingtechniques(geneticselectiontakesintoaccountanimalhealthand
welfare;nouseofclonedanimalsortheirderivativesinthefood/feedchain)▪ animalwelfare(animalwelfaresystemsguidedbyOIEGeneralPrinciplesforthe
WelfareofAnimalsinLivestockProductionSystems,withemphasisoncontinuousimprovement)
AlthoughnotspecifiedintheRSG,Nestleelsewhereindicatesthatuseofgestationcrates,vealcrates,andbatterycagesintheirsupplychainswillbephaseoutovertime.
The2014NestleinSocietyCSRreportindicatesanobjectiveofsourcing30%ofthevolumeofthese12prioritycategoriesfromsourcesthatarecompliantwiththeResponsibleSourcingGuidelineby2015.
NestlealsoappliestheirResponse-Inducing-Sustainability-Evaluation(RISE)tooltohelpsmallholderfarmersevaluateandreducefarm-levelsustainabilityimpacts.Forenvironmentalimpactsthetool,whichuses10performanceratingsfrom“problematic”to“goodperformance,”helpsidentifyareasforimprovementwithrespecttocropproduction,soiluse,nutrientflows,waterandenergy,andpotentialeffectsonclimatechangeandbiodiversity.
UnileverSustainableAgricultureCode(SAC)
AcorecomponentoftheUnilevervisionistodoublethesizeofthecompany’sbusinesswhilereducingoverallenvironmentalimpacts.By2020,thecompanyintendstosourceallofitsagriculturalrawmaterialsfromfarmsthatapplysustainableagriculturalpractices.Toachievethisgoal,Unileverexpectsthecooperationandcollaborationofsuppliers–inparticularatthelevelofprimaryresourceproduction,wheresupplychainimpactstendtobeconcentrated.Specifically,Unileverrequiresproducersoftheagriculturalrawmaterialssourcedbythecompanyocommittodemonstratecompliancewithminimumperformancestandardsaswellascontinuousimprovementovertime.
TheseminimumperformancestandardsareembodiedintheUnileverSustainableAgricultureCode(SAC).TheSACwasdevelopedinconsultationwithfarmers,researchers,andNGOs.TheSACformsthebasisoftheUnileverSustainableSourcingprogram,whichwasdesignedtoenableUnilevertomeasureprogresstowardsitssustainablesourcinggoals.SinceUnilevertypicallysourcesfromsupplierssuchasprocessorsratherthandirectlyfromfarmers,thecompanyrequiresitssupplierstocommittoensuring
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thatfarmersaremeetingtheSACrequirements.TheUnileverSchemeRulesdescribeshowsuppliersaretoprovidesuchassurance.
TheSACdescribestheGoodAgriculturalPracticesthatareexpectedofUnileversuppliers.Thepracticesaredividedintomandatoryrequirementsand“GoodPractices.”GoodPracticesare,inturn,describedintermsof“must”requirements(mandatory)and“should”requirements,whicharestronglyadvisedandhavethepotentialtobecomemandatory.Forpracticesreferringtosoilsandsoilmanagement,thesearespecifictothefieldsonwhichspecificcrops(includingfieldsinrotationwithothercrops)aregrown.Practicesrelatedtosocialsustainabilityapplyatthewholefarmlevel,asdosomeaspectsofbiodiversityandwatermanagement.Animalhusbandryiscurrentlynotcomprehensivelyaddressed(i.e.onlywelfareconsiderations)intheUnileverSAC.
TheSACisdividedintoelevensections,whichrespectivelycoverrequirementsrelatedto:
1. Overallcontinuousimprovement2. Agrochemicalsandfuels3. Soils4. Water5. Biodiversity6. Energy7. Waste8. SocialandHumanCapital9. AnimalWelfare10. ValueChainandLocalEconomy11. Training
TheSACdocumentalsoprovidesasummaryofmetricsandriskassessmenttoolsthatmaybeemployed.
Thefollowingsectionsprovideanoverviewofthemandatoryrequirements(notincludinglegalcompliance,whichisanywaysmandatory)foreachoftheenvironmentallyrelevantsectionsoftheSACaswellasanimalwelfare.Foradditional“should”requirements,thereadermayrefertotheSACdocument.
OverallContinuousImprovement
• monitoringcompliancewiththeSACandpursuingcontinuousimprovement
AgrochemicalsandFuels(includingCropProtectionProductsandSyntheticFertilizers)
• recordsmustbekeptaccessibleforatleasttwoyears• strategiccommitmenttoIntegratedPestManagement• recordstojustifyagro-chemicalapplications(pestmonitoring,nutrientbalancecalculations)• agro-chemicalapplicationrecords• recordsofspillsandremedialactionstaken
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• sprayequipmentcalibrationandmaintenancerecords• agrochemicalstoresrecords• riskassessmentrecordsofallphasesofuse• trainingrecordsforhandlers• vendordetails• continuousimprovementwithrespecttophasingoutWHO1aand1bcompounds,includinga
phase-outplan
NutrientManagement
• decreasingnitrogenreleasetotheenvironment(Nitrogenbalancemetricprovided)• prohibitionagainstdisposingoffertilizersandtheirpackaginginsurfaceorgroundwaters• prohibitionofapplicationofuntreatedhumansewageorsewage-contaminatedwater• implementationofcropnutrientmanagementplanwhichaspirestooptimizenutrientuse
efficiency,including:o clearlyassignedresponsibilitiesforplanningandimplementingcropnutritiono considerationofsoil’schemical,biologicalandphysicalcompositiono locally-specifictargetsforcropnutritionbasedonnutritionalrequirements,desired
yieldandqualityo amountofNandPappliedjustifiedbygapbetweenactualandtargetnutrientsupply,
consideringallsourceso nutrientbalancecalculationso recordsofjustificationsforfertilizerapplicationso applicationtointendedcropareaonly,specificallyavoidingwaterbodies,wildlife
habitatsandplacesofworkorresidenceo documentedmeasurestoavoidNandPloss,includingapplicationtiming,choiceof
fertilizertype,soilconditions,andapplicationtechniques
PestManagement
• provisionofnecessarydataforuseof“Chemicaluse”and“Water”metrics,withtheaimofreducinguseofhazardousCPPs
• useofCropLifeInternationalstandardsforsafeandeffectiveuseofCPPSwheretheseexceednationallegislation
• prohibitionofhandlingorapplyingCPPsbychildrenunder18orpregnant/nursingwomen• prohibitionofCPPapplicationbypersonnelwithoutbasictraining• disposingofCPPcontainersingroundorsurfacewaters• re-usingCPPcontainersforanypurposeotherthanrecyclingbyaprofessionalvendor• documented,strategiccommitmenttoIntegratedPestManagement• IPMsysteminplace,including:
o responsibilitiesforplanningandcarryingoutpestcontrolandimplementingIPMo processesandcriteriaforchoosingsuitablegrowingareas,rotationsandvarietieso culturalcontrolofpeststopreventbuilduporsurvivalofinoculumso identificationofkeypestsandunderstandingoftheirlifecycle,withestablishedaction
thresholds
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o checkingactualinfestationlevelsagainstactionthresholdsusingappropriatesamplingmethod
o justificationofuseofanyCPPo documentationofinfestationlevelsandcontrolmeasureso choiceofCPPinformedbyenvironmentalandhumanhealthriskso useofpreferredlistofCPPsforthecrop,assuppliedbythecustomer
• applicationofCPPsinconformitywithlabelrequirements• assessmentofsuitabilityofCPPpriortoapplication• observanceofsafetyprecautionspriortoapplicationofCPP• applicationtotargetareasonly• safedisposalofCPPcontaminatedmaterial• proceduresinplacetodealwithspillsoraccidents• applicationrecordsmadeattimeofapplication• applicationrecordstraceabletofield,containingrationale,timing,ingredientnameandamount
applied
AgrochemicalSafetyandRiskAssessment
• riskassessmentcoveringriskstooperators,neighbours,consumers,water,soil,air,biodiversityandGHGemissions,takingintoaccount:use;transport;storage;handling;choiceofagrochemicalsandequipment;filling,cleaningandmaintenanceofequipment;handlinganddisposalofpackagingandcontaminatedmaterial
• useofappropriatepersonalprotectiveequipmentwhereindicatedbyriskassessment• applicatorknowledgeofuseofprotectiveequipment• accessibilityandunderstandabilityoflabeldetailstooperators• availabilityanduseofwashingfacilitiesafterhandlingagrochemicalsandcontaminatedmaterial• protectiveequipmentcleanedafteruse,separatelyfromotherwashingandnotbychildrenor
pregnant/nursingwomen• storageofprotectiveequipmentseparatelyfromagrochemicalsandpersonal/householditems• avoidanceofhealthandsafetyriskstobystanders• purchasedagrochemicalsinoriginalpackagingonly,withalllabeldetailslegible• purchasedagrochemicalsfromnationallyorindustryrecognizedvendorsonly• up-to-daterecordsofagrochemicalvendorsused• prohibitionofusingagrochemicalcontainerstostorefood,waterorfeed• reuseofCPPcontainersforsameproductonly,andonlywherespecificallyintendedforreuse• returnofCPPcontainerstosupplierswhereverpossible• CPPcontainerstriple-rinsedandpuncturedpriortodisposal• safedisposalofsyntheticfertilizerpackagingifsafereusenotpossible• off-farmdisposalofagrochemicalwastebylegallyapprovedcontractors
AgrochemicalandFuelStorageandEquipment
• agrochemicalapplicationequipmentmaintainedingoodworkingorder• agrochemicalapplicationequipmentcheckedbeforeandcleanedafteruse
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• equipmentdeliversdesiredflowratesandevendistributionasperavailablerecommendations• machineapplicatorscheckedatleastannuallyforcorrectspreadpattern• sprayerscheckedatleastannuallyforcorrectsprayvolumesandpatterns• appropriatenozzlesused,checked,andreplacedwheredamaged• storagefacilitiessuitablyconstructedandkeptdryandwellventilated• storageconstructedsoastominimizerisktopeopleandenvironment,includingduring
emergencies• storagekeptsecureandlockedtopreventaccessbychildrenandunqualifiedpersons• fertilizersnotstoredtogetherwithCPPsorfuel• recordskeptforallstoredagrochemicals• handlingandwashingareasdesignedsuchthatspillagecanbeconfined• agrochemicalsandcontaminatedmaterialshandledaspermanufacturespecifications,separate
fromfood,feed,livingquarters,andfoodpreparationareas• allfuelstoresconstructedofsuitablematerialsandlocatedsoasminimizerisks• storesofhighlyflammablefuelskeptsecure
Soils
• maintenanceofrecordsforsoilmanagementandconservationsystem,riskassessmentsandresultingactions,decisionsandactionsofimplicationsoflandexpansion,andmonitoringofsoilqualityparameters
• plansinplacetophaseoutuseofpeat,foresttopsoilandotheron-renewablematerialsforsubstratesandsoilamendmentswithinthreeyears
• provisionofdataforcalculating“Soilhealth”metric• prohibitionofdisposalofwastesandchemicalsonland,unlessexplicitlyallowedandsafefor
applicationonagriculturallandforfoodproduction• documentedsoilmanagementandconservationsysteminplace• evidenceprovingthatsoilmanagementandconservationsystemensures
o planningandcarryingoutofresponsibilitiesisassignedtoacompetentpersono cropsonlygrownonsoilsproventobesuitableforthatcrop/rotationo cropsuitabilityandenvironmentalimplicationsassessedwherelanduseisexpandedo riskofsoilerosionandlossisassessedandmanagedo riskofsoilchemicaldegradationisassessedandmanagedo riskofsoilcompactionisassessedandmanagedo riskofsoilcontaminationisassessedandmanagedo soilorganicmatterismanagedtoreachormaintainoptimumconcentrationo precautionarymeasurestakenwhererisksorevidencesuggestthisisnecessaryo correctiveactiontakenwhensoilshavebeendamaged
• Soilqualitymonitoringrequiredandrecordskeptforatleastfiveyearsfor:concentrationsofmacronutrients;pH;soilorganicmatter;salinity,nutrientsorheavymetalsifriskofcroporenvironmentaldamage
Water
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• maintenanceofrecords(2yearsminimum)forapplication(reason,applicationrateandamountrelatedtoevapo-transpiration,fieldcapacity,timeanddate,location,applicationtechniqueandoperator,calibrationandtestingofequipment)
• providedatanecessarytosupportcalculationof“Water”metric• prohibitionofusingstreamsandriversaswastedump• useandrechargeratesofwatersourcesforirrigationassessedtochecksourcesustainability• waterharvestingoperationsmonitoredtochecktheydonotaffectdownstreamusersincluding
highbiodiversityvalueareas• riskassessmentaimedatpreventingdirectandindirectsurfaceandgroundwaterpollution,
includingfrom:siltation;nutrients;agrochemicalsandotherchemicals;fuels,lubricantsandsolvents;contaminatedrun-off;livestock;humansewage;wastewater
• irrigationmanagementsysteminplacewhereirrigationisused,ensuring:timingandamountofirrigationistailoredtomeetcroprequirementsunderlocalconditions;applicationtechniqueisappropriatetowateravailabilityandensureshighestuseefficiency;mechanismsinplacetopreventoverapplication;unproductivelossesduetoevapo-transpirationminimizedthroughchoiceofapplicationtime/conditionswhensprinklingandoverheadirrigationareused
• irrigationwaterqualitymonitoredandmanaged• irrigationequipmentmaintainedingoodworkingorder
Biodiversity
• recordskept(atleast2years)showing:strategiccommitmenttoatleastonelocal/regionalbiodiversityinitiative;trainingrecordsforfarmersandfarmworkers
• provisionofdatatosupportcalculationof“Protectandimprovehabitatsforbiodiversity”metric• prohibitionagainstdestroyingimportanthabitatsonandofffarm,huntingorpoisoning
rare/endangeredspecies,andcollectingrare/endangeredspecies• developmentandimplementationoflocallyappropriateBiodiversityActionPlanthatincludes:
anassessmentoflocallyrelevantbiodiversityissues;apracticalplantoadvanceinatleastoneareaofbiodiversityconservation/protection/equitableuseoreducation
• hunting,fishingandgatheringofwildspeciesindesignatedareasonly• BiodiversityActionPlanmustsupportanyrare/endangeredspeciesorhabitatsfoundonlocal
farmland• anylandconversiongreaterthan1hamustbeproceededbyfullEnvironmentalImpact
Assessment,withallrecommendationsfollowed• farmersareawareofavailablegovernmentsupportforbiodiversitywork• allprohibitionsregardingbiodiversityaremadeknowntostaff,workers,hunters,fishermen,
wildharvesters,andmembersofthepublicallowedtooperateonthefarm
Energy
• recordsmaintained(atleast2years)for:EnergyManagementPlan;demonstrationoflackofalternativesifusingfireforlandpreparation;riskassessmentandresultingactions;operatortrainingrecords
• provisionofdatatosupportcalculating“Carbonfootprint”metric
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• prohibitionagainsttakingfuelfromimportanthabitatsorprotectedareaswherethisthreatensthesizeorintegrityofsuchareas
• implementationofdocumentedEnergyManagementPlandesignedtoreduceenergyconsumption
• health,safetyandenvironmentalriskassessmentfor:liquidfuelsandlubricanttransport,storage,handling,spillageanddisposal;machines,generators,boilers,pumps,powertools,etc.;electricalinstallationsandpowerlines;disposalofash
• wastesolvents,plastics,CPPs,medicalwaste,etc.notdisposedofinboilersorincineratorsunlessexplicitlyratedforthiskindofuse
• appropriateuseofpersonalprotectiveequipment,andoperatorknowledgeregardingitsuse
Waste
• recordsmaintained(atleast2years)for:demonstrationoflackofalternativesforusingfirefordisposalofharvestresidues,ifapplicable;trainingrecords
• prohibitionagainststorageofhazardouswastewhereunauthorizedpeoplehaveaccessorinlocationsmayforeseeableeventsmayresultinleakagesorlosstotheenvironment
• WasteManagementPlanmustbeplacethat:respectsthehierarchyofwastereduction,reuse,recycling,energyrecoveryanddisposal;includesestimatesofmajorwasteflowsfromthefarm;liststhewastereduction,reuseandrecyclingoptionsalreadyinplaceorunderinvestigation,androutesofenergyrecoveryordisposalforotherwastes
• wastestreamsmustbeseparated,storedandmanagedseparately• wastestoragelocationsmustnotcreatehealthorsafetyhazards• wastemustbeproperlylabeledandcontained• wherenationalregulationsdonotexistforstorageofhazardouswaste,guidanceorbest
availableoptionslocallymustbesought• hazardouswastestoresmustbeconstructedandlocatedsoastominimizerisks,including
duringemergencies• mustbeseparatestoragefordifferenttypesofhazardouswaste• proceduresareinplacetoensurepotentialreleaseofhazardouswastedoesnotincursignificant
humanorenvironmentalrisk• ifnonationalregulationsfordisposalofdifferenttypesofhazardouswaste,guidanceonbest
availableoptionslocallymustbesought• incineratorsandburningsitesfitforpurpose• caretakenthatwastematerialssuchasPVCandcertainotherplasticsareneverburntinopen
firesorlowtemperatureincinerators• on-farmwastedisposalsystemsandpracticesmustbedocumented,andriskstohumanand
environmentalsafetyassessedandimproved• allwasteburiedon-farmmustbecoveredinalayerofsoil,normallyatleast50cmthick• litterandotherwastemustnotbethrownintoareasthatmightflood• ariskassessmentmustbeperformedcoveringallhazardousfarmwastestreams,andthe
outcomeusedtoprioritizeactionstoprotectpeopleandtheenvironmentfromsignificanthazards
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AnimalWelfare
• recordsmustbemaintained(atleast2years)for:applicationrecordsforveterinarymedicines/CPPsgiventoanimals;trainingrecordsforanimalstockpersons;recordsofwithdrawalperiods;animalhealthplan
• prohibitionofdirectphysicalabuseandmentalsufferingofanimals• freedomfromhunger,thirstandmalnutrition• feedandwaterdistributedsoastopreventunduecompetition• husbandryenvironmentmusttakeintoaccountwelfareneeds,includingprotectionfrom
physicalandthermaldiscomfort,fearanddistress,andallowperformanceofnaturalbehaviours
• managersandstockkeepersarethoroughlytrained,skilledandcompetentinanimalhusbandryandwelfare
• animalsprotectedfrompain,injuryanddisease• husbandryenvironmentisconducivetogoodhealth• documentedhealthplan,developedinconsultationwithaveterinarysurgeon,isinplace• healthplanrecordsforananimalarekeptfortwoyearsafterdisposaloftheanimal• healthplanrecordsaretraceablebacktotheanimalandcontain:reasonsfortreatment;timeof
application;productname;amountapplied
Sincefarmingsystemsarehighlydiverse,andconditions,availabletechnologies,andbestpracticesmaybecontextspecific,theSACcommunicateswhatisexpectedintermsofsustainablepractices,butisnotspecificastohowtheseareachieved.However,Unileverdoesprovideon-lineimplementationguidesasasourceofinformationforsuppliersandfarmerstosupporttheireffortstocomplywiththeCode.
Iffarmersarealreadycomplyingwiththecodesandstandardsofothersustainabilityprograms,thentheUnilevercodeisheldasabenchmark,withadditionalrequirementsimplementedonlywheretheexistingstandarddoesnotmeetUnilever’sSACrequirements.Unilevermaintainsalistofrecognizedexternalcodesandstandards,whichisprovidedasanAnnextotheSchemeRulesdocument.Unileverwillalsoconsiderin-houseorindustry-levelsustainabilityschemesthattheirsuppliersuse.Insuchcases,suppliersmustbenchmarktheirprogramsagainsttheSAC,andanyitemsnotcoveredmustbecheckedthroughself-assessment.
Unilever,inpartnershipwiththesoftwarecompany“MuddyBoots,”hasdevelopedasystemcalled“GreenlightAssessments”tocollectinformationfromsuppliersregardingcompliance,calculatescores,andtrackcontinuousimprovementmetrics.FarmersorsuppliersareabletoentertheirdatadirectlyintotheGreenlightAssessmentssystem.
Unilevercurrentlyallowsuseofmassbalancesystemsbysuppliersinreportingamountsofsustainabilityproducedmaterials,subjecttocertainconditions.Theseincludetheintentiontodevelopsegregatedsupplychainsovertime,demonstrationthatsuchsegregationisnotfeasibleintheshortterm,andtheimplementationofanindependentlyverifiedadministrativesystemtopreventdoublecounting.
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Primaryprocessingplantsarechargedwithfarm-levelassessmentsamongthepoolofproducersfromwhomrawmaterialsaresourced.Randomsampleoffarmsareselectedforself-assessmentthroughtheGreenlightAssessmentssoftwaresystem,orbyaUnileverrepresentativeiftheGreenlightsystemisnotused.Farmersarecountedascompliantif:
• 100%ofmandatoryrequirementsaremet• 80%ofapplicable“musts”aremetintotal• 50%ofapplicable“musts”aremetforeachSACchapter
Self-assessmentsareverifiedthroughrandomsamplespot-auditsbyanindependentverificationbodycommissionedbyUnilever,weightedbysustainabilityriskassessmentsfortherawmaterialorigin.
Unileverhasprioritizedsustainablesourcingactivitiesforasubsetofkeycommodities.ThoseofrelevanceforthepriorityAlbertacommoditiesconsideredaresugar,canolaoil,dairy,andeggs(cage-free).Thecompanyreportssourcing55%ofitsagriculturalrawmaterialssustainablyasof2014,withgoalofachieving100%sustainablesourcingby2020.DiscussionwithaUnileverCanadaspokespersonindicatedthatUnileverislikelynotcurrentlysourcingAlbertaproduct,althoughthismaypotentiallychangeinthefuture.Forexample,UnilevercurrentlysourcesSaskatchewancanola,viaBunge,foruseinbothHellmann’sandBecelproducts.UnileverisalsoworkingtowardssustainablysourcingwheatintheUS,whichmaypotentiallybeexpandedtoCanadainthefuture.
GeneralMills
GeneralMillshasdeclaredagoaltosustainablysourcetherawmaterialsusedintheirproducts.Intheshort-term,thisgoalincludessourcing100%ofits10priorityingredientsby2020,whichwillrepresentmorethan50%oftotalannualrawmaterialpurchases.
Towardsthisend,thecompanyisinvolvedinseveralmulti-stakeholderinitiativestodevelopsustainablesourcingframeworksaswellaspilotprojects.Theseeffortstargetbothsmall-holderproducersindevelopingcountriesandlargescalegrowersindevelopedcountries.Forrawmaterialsupplychains,acombinationofcertification,verification,continuousimprovementandorigin-directinvestmentapproachesareemployed.
TheGeneralMillsrequirementsforsuppliersaredetailedintheGeneralMillsSupplierCodeofConduct.TheCodecovershumanrights,healthandsafety,environment,andbusinessintegrity.The“environment”sectionofthecodeisverygeneral,statingonlythat“AtGeneralMills,ourgoalistocontinuallyreduceourenvironmentalfootprint.Inadditiontocomplyingwithallapplicableenvironmentallaws,weexpectyoutocontinuallyimproveyourownenvironmentalperformance.”
AmongGeneralMillspriorityrawmaterialsforsustainablesourcingofdirectrelevanceforthecurrentanalysisareoats,wheat,sugarbeetsandcorn.Thecompanycurrentlysourcesoats,wheat,canolaandpulsesfromWesternCanada-primarilyfromSaskatchewanandManitoba.Effortsrelatedtorowcrops
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focusoncontinuousimprovement,asdemonstratedbasedonmeasurementofyear-on-yearprogresscomparedtobaselinedata.
Asof2014,GeneralMillsreportsthatover100NorthAmericangrowersareparticipatingintheirsustainablesourcingactivities.Growerparticipationrangesfrom10-25growersand50,000-125,000acresineachkeygrowingarea.Theentirecroprotationisconsidered,whichexpandsthefocusbeyondthecoreprioritycropstoalsoincludelentils,peas,canolaandpotatoes.Thepurposeofthesepilotactivitiesistosupportdevelopmentofascalableprogramandverificationprotocol.OncetheNorthAmericanprotocolandmethodologyiscomplete,thisapproachwillbereplicatedinotherregions.
IntheUS,GeneralMillsisamemberoftheUSFieldtoMarketinitiative,whichdevelopedtheUSFieldPrintCalculator.ItappearsthattheFieldPrintCalculatorisbeingemployedtosupporttheGeneralMillspilotprojectsanddatacollectionintheUS.InCanada,GeneralMillshasapartnershipwithSerecon,whichdevelopedtheCanadianFieldprintCalculator.ApilotprojectwasinitiatedinManitobaandSaskatchewantomeasurethesustainabilityofoatsandotherrotationalcropsincludingwheat,canola,andpulses,usingtheCanadianFieldprintCalculator.In2014,additionalpartnersjoinedthepilotproject,withtheaimofcollectingthreeyearsofbaselinedataregardingyields,soilcarbon,energyuseandgreenhousegasemissions.Oncethisinitialbaselineiscompleted,growersintheprogramwillbeabletomeasureandmakeimprovementsrelativetothebaseline.
GeneralMillshasidentifiedthefollowingspecificsustainabilityissuesrelatedtotheirpriorityrawmaterials:
• oats(GeneralMillswillsource100%ofoatsfromregionsdemonstratingcontinuousimprovementagainstindustry-basedenvironmentalmetricsby2020)o decliningsupplyUSwheat-GHGemissions,wateruse,biodiversity
• USsugarbeet
o GHGemissionso soilloss
• fluidmilk(by2020GeneralMillswillsourceallfluidmilkfromregionsthatdemonstrate
continuousimprovementbasedontheDairySustainabilityFrameworkintheUSandcomparablemetricsglobally)o GHGemissionso wateruseo waterqualityo animalwelfare
Molson-Coors
Molson-CoorsestablishedSupplierStandardsin2012.Thesestandardssetminimumexpectationsforsupplierswithrespecttoenvironmental,socialandeconomicsustainability.ThestandardsalsorefertoapolicyspecifictoAgriculturalBrewingIngredients.
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Suppliersareexpectedtotakeactionstolimittheenvironmentalimpactoftheiroperations,andtohaveappropriateprogramsinplacetofacilitateachievingthisobjective.Specificexpectationsofpotentialrelevancetofarmersinclude:
• Energyo optimizationofenergyefficiencyo useofcleanandlowenergysources
• EmissionstoAir
o workcollaborativelywithMolson-Coorstoreduceemissionstoairo providelifecycleGHGemissionsdataformanufactureandsupplyofproductsand
services(mayberequestedintenderdocumentationandinfluenceprocurementdecisions)
• NaturalResourceso complywithAgriculturalBrewingIngredientspolicy
• Biodiversity
o implementbiodiversityactionplansforhighriskcategorieso demonstratecompliancewithgoodpracticeinhabitatmanagementwhereactivities
significantlyimpactspeciesorhabitatso complywithAgriculturalBrewingIngredientspolicy
• Water
o quantifywaterconsumptionanddemonstrateplantoreduceconsumptionovertimeo undertakewaterriskassessmentandprogresstowardsimplementingriskmitigationfor
operationsinwaterstressedareas
• Wasteo legalcomplianceo collaborateinwastereductionactivities,worktoensurealternativestolandfilldisposal
• Pollution
o demonstratelegalcomplianceandgoodpracticeinmanagementofpollutiontoland,airorwater
TheMolsonCoorsSupplierStandardsfurtherspecifythatthecompanywillpreferentiallysourceagriculturalmaterialsfromproducerswhoembracetheirsustainabilitystandards,inparticularasdescribedintheAgriculturalBrewingIngredientsPolicy.Thispolicyprovidessixpillarswhichsuppliersmustrecognizeandadopt:
• ComplywithMolsonCoors-qualityspecifications
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• Adoptagriculturalpracticesthatwillstrivetomaintainsoilfertility,waterresources,airqualityandbiodiversity.
• Managenaturalresourcesinanefficientmanner• Recognizetheimportanceofaccreditationandwhereestablishedadoptaccreditationto
appropriatefarmassuranceprograms.• Meetfoodsafetyguidelinesandtraceabilityspecifications• Understandandaddressanyfutureguidelines,bestpractice,andlegislativechangesthatmay
arise.
BasedontheSupplierStandards,thecompanyhasafourstageprocessforidentifying,assessingandmanagingsustainableprocurementrisks.Thesestagesare:
• Stage1-Screeningo conductinitialscreeningofsupplierbasebyconsideringrisk,opportunityforchange,
andmagnitudeofimpactbysupplycategory,focusingon▪ energyuse▪ emissionstoair▪ naturalresources▪ biodiversity▪ water▪ waste▪ pollution▪ laborpractices▪ ethics▪ regulatorycompliance
• Stage2-Qualification
o supplierswillberequestedtoprovidedataandcommentsduringtenderingprocessonforthecategoryarea,asraisedinStage1
• Stage3–Supplierdevelopmento Successfully-appointedsupplierswillbeprovidedwithfurthersupportandguidance,
enablingimprovementsagainstthestandards
• Stage4-Audito Supplierswhoareidentifiedtorepresentthehighestpotentialriskmaybeauditedto
ensurethattheminimumexpectationsaremetandthatrisksarebeingmitigated.o Allsuppliersareexpectedtoprovideinformationaboutarawmaterialssocial,
environmentalandethicalperformance.Ifanyinformationprovidedwarrantsfurtherinvestigation,anindependentauditormaybecommissionedtoexaminetheinformationprovided,attheexpenseofthesupplier
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WhereMolsonCoorsseesanecessity,suppliersarerequirementtoimplementmanagementsystemstofacilitatecontinualimprovementandcompliancewiththestandards.Thenecessarycomponentsofthemanagementare:
• Demonstrationofcommitmenttoaccountability• Demonstrationofcompliancewithlegalandcustomerrequirements• Implementationofriskmanagementmechanismsspecifictotherequirementsofthestandard• Documentationdemonstratingconformitywiththestandardandapplicableregulations• Trainingandcompetencyprogramstosupportmeetingthestandardrequirements• Demonstrationofcontinualimprovement
Asof2014,theSupplierStandardsareanon-goingrequirementfor100%ofMolson-Coorsglobalsupplybase.Inaddition,thecompanyisusingaSupplierQualityScorecardthatincludessustainabilitymetricstotracktheenvironmentalperformanceofTier1suppliersonaquarterlybasis,andtorewardthosewhoachievethebestresults.TheMolson-CoorsSupplierStandardsmustbeimplementedthroughoutthesupplychain,includingbysub-contractors.ThisprogrammaybeofrelevanceforAlbertabarleyproducers.
Loblaw
LoblawisgenerallyregardedasproactiveinsustainablesourcingamongthemajorCanadiangroceryretailers.ThecompanyisamemberoftheCanadianRoundTableonSustainableBeefandalsoemployssustainablesourcingstrategiesforpalmoil(RoundTableonSustainablePalmOil)andseafood(MarineStewardshipCouncilandAquacultureStewardshipCouncil.)Withrespecttotheformer,LoblawistheretailrepresentativeintheMcDonalds-ledpilotprojecttocreateaverificationprocessforsustainablebeef.TheseactivitiesareorganizedundertheumbrellaoftheLoblawin-house“SourcingwithIntegrity”program.
LoblawhasmadethefollowingtwopubliccommitmentsregardingsustainablesourcingthataredirectlyapplicableforasubsetofAlbertafarmers:transitionthePCBlueMenulineofeggstofree-run(todate,allPCandPCOrganicseggsarefreerun)andtosourcefreshporkfromvendorsthathavetransitionedtoloosehousingby2022basedonanimalwelfareconsiderations.Althoughthecompanydoesnotcurrentlyhavesustainablesourcingactivitiesimplementedforthecommoditiesofconcerninthisstudy,itwasdeemedinterestingtoincludeLoblawasanexampleofactivitylevelsintheCanadiangroceryretailsector.
Kellogg’s
Kellogg’shascommittedtoresponsiblysourceitstopteningredientsandmaterialsby2020.Oftheseingredients,thoseamongthekeyAlbertacommoditiesconsideredinthecurrentanalysisarewheat,oats,potatoesandsugarbeets.AllsuppliersofthesematerialswillberequiredtomeetKellogg’s
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sustainabilityguidelines,whichincludeacombinationofcertificationanddocumentationofcontinuousimprovement.
Kellogg’s’SupplierCodeofConductwasfirstdevelopedin2009andsubsequentlyupdatedin2014.SupplierstoKelloggarerequiredtoverifycomplianceoftheirownsupplychains,andallowKelloggoranauthorizedthirdpartytoconductauditstoverifycompliance.
TheCodereferstothefollowingareas(specificdetailsprovidedhereforenvironmentalsustainabilityconsiderationonly):
• BusinessIntegrityo legalcomplianceo anti-corruptiono conflictsofinteresto businessgiftso faircompetitiono confidentialinformation
• Quality,HealthandSafety
o productsafetyo workenvironment
• LabourStandards
o humanrightso noinvoluntarylabouro childlabouro fairwageandworkingtimeo noharassmento nodiscriminationo righttoorganizeo workdocumentation
• ManagementPractices
o systematicapproacho supplierdiversityo recordkeepingo complianceverification(suppliersmustverifycomplianceofsupplychainagainst
SupplierCode)o reportingconcerns
• Sustainability/LandUse
o Environment▪ legalcompliance
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▪ implementationofoperatingpractices,farmingpracticesandagriculturalproductionsystemsthataresustainable
▪ activitiestoreduceoroptimizeuseofenergy,water,andagriculturalinputs,reduceGHGemissions,minimizewaterpollutionandwasteincludingfoodwasteandlandfillusage
o Initiatives▪ suppliersshould(insomecasesmust)bemembersofrelevantmulti-
stakeholderinitiativessuchasRSPO(palmoil),BonSucro(sugar),RTRS(soy),WCF(cocoa),FieldtoMarket(UScommodityrowcrops)
o LandRights▪ mustrespectlandrightsofwomenandcommunitiesaffectedbytheir
operations,ensuretransparentreportinganddisclosureofconcessionagreements,andensurefairnegationsonlandtransfers
IntheUS,KelloggworkswithcornfarmersusingtheUSFieldprintCalculator.Withfouryearsofbaselinedata,thisworkisnowfocusedonidentifyingandcommunicatingbestpractices.Thecompanyisnowexpandingitsfocustowheat,includinginCanada.
TheKelloggSupplierCodeisquitegeneral.Intheabsenceofspecificrequirementsandverificationmechanisms,Albertafarmersmaybechallengedinsatisfyingthecoderequirements.GivenKellogg’scurrentcollaborationwithUSfarmersusingtheFieldprintCalculator,itispossiblethatsimilarimplementationoftheCanadianFieldprintCalculatormayberequiredofAlbertafarmersinthefuture.
Sysco
Syscoisamajorfoodservicecompany,withinternationalpresence.TheSyscoCanadawebsiteprovidesverylittlecontentrelatedtosustainabilityinitiatives.However,theUSwebsitedoesprovideaconsiderablevolumeofinformationregardingSysco’ssustainabilityinitiatives.ItisnotclearwhetherornotthismaterialisalsocurrentlyrelevantinCanadaatpresent.
SyscoUSemploysaSupplierCodeofConductcoveringhumanrights,healthandsafety,andenvironmentalstandards.AllsuppliersareexpectedtomeetthestandardsdescribedbytheSupplierCodeofConduct.AccordingtotheSysco(US)website:wedemandthatsuppliersofSyscoBrandgoodsmeetthehigheststandardsofaccountabilitywiththeirsocial,agriculturalandanimalwelfarepractices.Werequireanimalwelfareandqualityassuranceauditsandconductfollow-upauditstoensureimprovementplansareimplemented.”
SyscohasdevelopedaSustainable/IntegratedPestManagement(IPM)programtopromotetheresponsibleuseofinputstoagriculturalproductionofSyscoBrandcannedandfrozenfruits,vegetables,andpotatoesaswellasuseofcovercrops,croprotations,andnaturalpestcontrolpractices.This
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programmaypotentiallyberelevantforAlbertapotatofarmers.Sysco-requiredIPMpracticesmustbeappliedonthewhole-farmlevel,ratherthanacreagedevotedsolelytoproductionforSysco.Asof2013,Sysco’sIPMprograminvolved180foodfactoriesandcloseto900,000cultivatedacres.Syscosimilarlyimplementswaterconservation,agriculturalwaste,energy,andanimalwelfare-relatedrequirements.
AmongSysco’sstatedrequirementsor“encouragements”arethatparticipatingsuppliersaddressthefollowingareas:
• IntegratedPestManagement(IPM)o trackpesticideuse,withthegoalofreducingquantityortoxicityo protectandcreateandhabitatandforagesourcesonthefarmforpollinators
• WaterConservation
o measureallwaterusedforirrigation
• AgriculturalWasteo measureandreporthowmuchvegetativewastetheyreuse
• Energy
o reportfuelconservationfromin-fieldoperations
• AnimalWelfareo completeongoingself-assessmentsofanimalcareprograms,andallowunannounced,
third-partyauditsoftheirfacilitiesaswellasbySyscoQAemployees
Inaddition,Syscohasexpressedthatitisworkingwithporksupplierstowardsthecreationofagestationcrate-freeporksupplychain.
Costco
TheDirectorofEnvironmentalAffairsforCostcoCanadaindicatedinreplytoanemailquerythatCostcoCanadasustainablesourcingactivitiesfollowthoseofCostcoUS.TheCostcoUSwebsitedescribesCostcosustainabilityactivities–mostofwhichfocusonCostcostore-levelconcerns.OneconsiderationthatisrelevantforsomeAlbertafarmersaretheCostcopoliciesonanimalwelfare.Costcomayundertakeauditsofegglaying,dairycow,pork,poultry(chickenandturkey)andvealproductionfacilities.
TheCostcoanimalwelfarepoliciesalsostipulate:
• dairyo notaildockingo standardsfordehorning
• veal
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o calvesmaynotbetetheredinstallo minimum2calvesperstallafter8-10weekso stallsmustallowcalvestoturnfreely,liedown,andmaintainnormalpostureso calvesmustbeinspectedatleasttwicedailyforcleanlinesso properventilationmustbeassuredo vealbarnsmusthaveatleastoneannualthird-partyauditforhumanehandlingo vealbarnsmustbevisitedbyaveterinarianatleastonceeverygrow-outcycleo electricprodsmaynotbeusedo non-ambulatoryanimalsmaynotbeusedinproduction
• pork
o completephaseoutofgestationcratesby2022o allhogshousedingroupswithaccesstosafetyzonesby2022
• poultry
o hatcheryandgrow-outfacilitiessubjecttoaudito workingtowards100%cage-freeeggs
WalmartandtheSustainabilityConsortium
Walmartsustainabilityinitiativeshavebeenamongthemostwidelypublicized,inlargepartduetotheambitiousgoalscommunicatedbyWalmartaswellasthesignificantfundingallocatedbythecompanytosupporttheSustainabilityConsortium.Walmartwasamongthefirstofthemajorretailerstoannounceplanstobegintoapplyasustainabilityindextorankitssuppliers,andtopreferentiallysourcefromsupplierswithhigherranking.AmongWal-Mart’spublicsustainabilitycommitmentsistosource70%oftheproductsitsellsinNorthAmericafromsuppliersemployingtheWalmartSustainabilityIndexby2017.
TheWalmartSustainabilityIndexcollectsinformationfromsuppliersfor:
• EnergyandClimate–ReduceCostsandGreenhouseGasEmissionso measurementofcorporategreenhousegasemissionso reportinggreenhousegasemissionstotheCarbonDisclosureProjecto totalgreenhousegasemissionsreportedinthemostrecentlycompletedreporto settingpubliclyavailablegreenhousegasreductiontargets
• MaterialEfficiency-ReducingWasteandEnhancingQuality
o totalamountofsolidwastegeneratedfromthefacilitiesthatproduceasuppliersproduct(ifmeasured)
o existenceofpubliclyavailablewastereductiontargets,andtargetdetailso totalwateruseforfacilitiesthatproduceasuppliersproducts(ifmeasured)o existenceofpubliclyavailablewaterusereductiontargets,andtargetdetails
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• NaturalResources:ProducingHighQuality,ResponsiblySourcedRawMaterialso establishmentofpubliclyavailablesustainablepurchasingguidelinesfordirectsuppliers
thataddressenvironmentalcompliance,employmentpractices,andproduct/ingredientsafety
o any3rdpartycertificationsforproductssoldtoWalmart
• PeopleandCommunity:EnsuringResponsibleandEthicalProductiono knowledgeoflocationsof100%offacilitiesthatproducetheproductssoldtoWalmarto evaluationofproductionqualityandcapacitypriortobeginningabusinessrelationship
withamanufacturero implementationofaprocessformanagingsocialcomplianceatthemanufacturinglevelo effortstoresolveanysupplybasesocialissuesthatareidentified,alongwith
documentationofspecificcorrectionsandimprovements
UndertheNaturalResourcessection,theWalmartSustainabilityIndexinquireswhetherornotthesupplierhasestablishedpublicallyavailablesustainablepurchasingguidelinesfordirectsuppliersthataddress,amongotherthings,environmentalcompliance.Asimilarqueryrelatestoachievementofthirdpartycertification.Thesequestionsindicatethat,ratherthanestablishaprescriptivesetofsustainablesourcingcriteriaforimplementationacrossproductgroups,Walmartratherleavesittosupplierstoensurethatappropriatesystemsareinplace.Here,thereislikelysubstantialcomplementaritieswiththeworkoftheWalmart-supportedSustainabilityConsortium.
ThemandateoftheSustainabilityConsortiumistodevelopscience-baseddecisionsupporttoolsforimprovingthesustainabilityofconsumerproducts.Itcurrentlyincludesover100oftheworld’slargestorganizations,manyoftheseactiveinthefoodsector(forexample,Cisco,CocaCola,Cargill,Dow,DuPont,Kellogg’s,Mars,GeneralMills,Campbell’sandHershey’s).
TheSustainabilityConsortiumisdevelopingaSustainabilityMeasurementandReportingSystem,whichistailoredtotheproductcategorylevel.ThedecisionsupportmaterialforeachproductcategoryconsistsofSustainabilityInsightsandProductSustainabilityToolkits.TheSustainabilityInsightsarepublicallyavailablefordownload.Theyprovideanoverviewofkeysupplychainvariablesforsustainabilitymanagement.
ProductSustainabilityToolkitsareavailabletoTSCaffiliatesonly.Theseareinteractivetoolsthathighlightimportantsustainabilityissuesforeachproductcategory,describemitigationmeasures,andspecifyKeyPerformanceIndicatorsfortrackingandmeasuringperformance.Thesearelargelychecklistmetricsthatcompaniescanusetoassesstheirsupplychainpartnersforcompliance.
TheFood,Beverage,andAgricultureSectorWorkingGroupwasthefirstsector-levelgrouptobeestablished.TheWorkingGroup’smandateistoimprovetheenvironmentalandsocialsustainabilityofglobalagriculturalsupplychains.TheWorkingGrouphasdevelopedproductcategory-specificdecisionsupportmaterialfornumerousproductcategoriestodate.ThoseofrelevanceforAlbertaincludebeef,chicken,eggs,pork,grains,barleyandmalt,sugar,beans/lentils/peas,bread,andpotatoes.
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DuringadiscussionwithaCanadianWalmartsupplier,itwassuggestedthatWalmarthascurrentlyscaledbackitssustainabilityinitiativesinCanada,andrelocatedhumanresourcecapacityinthisregardtotheirUSheadquarters.InquiriesdirectedtoWalmartCanadatodiscusstheiractivitieswerenotrepliedto,henceitwasnotpossibletoverifythisinformation.
ADM
ADMisanagriculturalprocessorwithglobalpresence.Asamajornexuspointbetweenrawmaterialproducersandcustomers,ADMishenceideallypositionedtomediatetherequirementsofsustainablesourcingprogramsthatareapplicableatthefarmlevel.Indeed,ADMisactivelyinvolvedinseveralsuchinitiatives.Forexample,intheUS,ADMisinvolvedintheUSFieldtoMarketinitiative.ADMalsoimplementsUnilever’ssustainabilityrequirementsforprocuringsoyoilusedinHellmann’sbrandmayonnaiseintheUS.InEurope,ADMOilseedsproductionfacilitiesareISCCPluscertified,whichenablesthemtoprovidecertifiededibleoilstocustomers.
InCanada,theADMfacilityinLloydminsterisADM’sfirstcertifiedsustainablelocationinNorthAmerica.BasedontheISCCsystem,theSustainableGrowersprogramimplementedbyADMinAlbertaenablesgrowersabletodemonstratecompliancewithprogramrequirementsaccesstomarketpremiums.Thisprogramisvoluntary,andiscurrentlyusedbygrowerstofacilitateaccesstoEUbiofuelsmarkets.However,theprogramcouldpotentiallybeappliedtootherrawmaterials,includinganimalfeeds.Participantsintheprogramundergoself-assessment,followedbyADMauditand,potentially,third-partyaudit.ADMLloydminsterwascontactedtorequestspecificdetailsregardingtheSustainableGrowersprogram.Unfortunately,thesewerenotmadeavailable.DespitethepaucityofinformationregardingADM’ssustainablesourcingactivitiesinCanada,itwasnonethelessdecidedtoincludethecompanyintheanalysisasanexampleofaCanadianprocessorengagedinsustainablesourcingactivities.
Pepsico
PepsicohasdevelopedaGlobalSupplierCodeofConductthatsuppliersareexpectedtofollow.TheCodedetailsthefollowing14principlestowhichsuppliermustadhere:
1.Maintainawarenessandcomplywithallapplicablelawsandregulationsofthecountriesoftheiroperation.
2.CompetefairlyforPepsiCo’sbusiness,withoutpayingbribes,kickbacksorgivinganythingofvaluetosecureanimproperadvantage.
3.Encourageadiverseworkforceandprovideaworkplacefreefromdiscrimination,harassmentoranyotherformofabuse.
4.Treatemployeesfairly,includingwithrespecttowages,workinghoursandbenefits.
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5.Prohibitallformsofforcedorcompulsorylabor.
6.Prohibituseofchildlabor.
7.Respectemployees’righttofreedomofassociationandcollectivebargaining,consistentwithlocallaws.
8.Providesafeandhealthyworkingconditions.
9.Carryoutoperationswithcarefortheenvironmentandcomplywithallapplicableenvironmentallawsandregulations.
10.Maintainaccuratefinancialbooksandbusinessrecordsinaccordancewithallapplicablelegalandregulatoryrequirementsandacceptedaccountingpractices.
11.Deliverproductsandservicesmeetingapplicablequalityandfoodsafetystandards.
12.SupportcompliancewiththeSupplierCodebyestablishingappropriatemanagementprocessesandcooperatingwithreasonableassessmentprocessesrequestedbyPepsiCo.
13.ObservePepsiCo’spoliciesregardinggiftsandentertainmentandconflictsofinterestwhendealingwithPepsiCoemployees.
14.ReportsuspectedviolationsoftheCode.
Withrespecttoenvironmentalconsiderations(Principle9),theCodeisverygeneral,statingonlythat“Thepotentialenvironmentalimpactsofdailybusinessdecision-makingprocessesshouldbeconsideredalongwithopportunitiesforconservationofnaturalresources,recycling,sourcereductionandpollutioncontroltoensurecleanerairandwaterandtoreducelandfillwastes.”
Elsewhere,PepsiCo’s2014CSRdescribesthecompany’sfivekeyenvironmentalgoalsandassociatedvaluechainactivities,whichareto:
• Protectandconservewatero workwithfarmerstodevelopeffectivewatermanagementplansforaddressingwater
riskandsharebestpracticewater-efficientdripirrigationmethods
• Minimizeimpactfrompackaging• Eliminatewastetolandfills• ReduceGHGemissions(includingalongthevaluechain)• Supportsustainableagriculture
o PepsiCo’sSustainableAgriculturePolicyissupportedbythecompany’sSustainableFarmingInitiative(SFI)
PepsiCo’sSustainableAgriculturePolicydetailsmorespecificprinciplesforsustainableagriculture.Accordingtothispolicy,sustainableagricultureshould:
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• Integrateenvironmental,social,andeconomicsustainabilitywithinagriculturalproduction.• Complywithgovernmentallaws,regulations,andindustrystandards.• Integrateapprovedandcrediblescienceandtechnology,whereapplicable.• Enablelocalfarmingcommunitiestoprotectandimprovetheirwell-beingandtheenvironment
inwhichtheyoperate.• Optimizetheuseofresourcestoimprovefarmproductivityandpreservesoilfertility,waterand
airquality,andbiodiversityinagriculturaloperations.• Supportincreasedfarmproductivity,improvingcropandlivestockyieldsandnutritionalquality
tomeetexistingandfutureglobalbusinessgrowth.• Safeguardthecareoffarmanimalsthatareanintegralpartoursupplychain.
Thecompanyhasdevelopedasetofbroad-basedobjectives,withassociatedinitiativesandprojectstoimprovesustainabilitywithintheiragriculturalsupplychain.Goalsandprogramsdifferbycommodity,geographyandbusinessrelationship.ProgramsmaybeimplementedbyPepsicowheretheyhaveadirectrelationshipwithagriculturalproducers,orthroughthirdparties.Theirbroadenvironmentalobjectivesforagriculturalsupplychainsare:
• Agrochemicalandnutrientmanagemento optimizeuseofpesticides,nutrientsandotheragrochemicalso supportsustainablepracticesthatsubstitutenaturalcontrolsforsomeagrochemicals,
fosterecosystembalance,reduceGHGemissionsandmitigatecroplosses
• Airqualityo minimizeairemissionsinfarmoperationsbyminimizingcropprotectionproductdrift,
reducingparticularmatterandeliminatingodors
• Animalcareo ensureproperpractices,includingnutritiousdiets,safeandappropriateliving
conditions,andmedicalcare
• EnergyandGHGmanagemento optimizeenergyuseincropproductionandfieldactivities,andmanageherdsand
agriculturalwastesoastoreduceGHGemissions
• Soilconservationandpreservationo preserveandimprovesoilhealth,minimizeerosion,andavoiddamagefromdisease,
compactionandcontamination
• Watermanagemento optimizethewaterfootprintofcropandlivestocksystems,andresponsiblymanage
run-offrisksofpollutionorcontaminationofgroundorsurfacewatero developeffectivewatermanagementplanstoreducerisk
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PepsiCo’sSFImaybeofparticularrelevanceforAlbertaoat,sugarbeetandpotatoproducers.
CharacterizationofCommonalitiesandDifferencesbetweentheSelectedSustainable
SourcingSchemes
CharacterizationbySchemeType
Oftheshort-listed18schemes,themajorityarebestcharacterizedascompliancechecklistinitiatives(Table3).Thiscategoryreferstoprogramsinvolvingselforthird-partyassessmentagainstanestablishedlistofdesirableattributesorbestpractices.Specifically,halfoftheschemesareassignedtothiscategory.Incontrast,onlyoneoftheschemes(theCanadianFieldprintCalculator)isassignedsolelytothe“calculator”category,andtwo(ISCC/ISCCPlusandADM’sSustainableGrowerProgram,whichisbasedonISCC)tothe“certification”category.Twooftheprograms(theLoblaw“SourcingwithIntegrity”programandCostco’sanimalwelfareaudits)donotcorrespondtoanyofthesethreegeneralcategories.BothGeneralMillsandKelloggsdescribetheirsustainablesourcingactivitiesasinvolvingacombinationofapproacheswhichvariouslyrequireuseofcalculators,certification,andcompliancechecklistsasappropriatetotheirspecificactivities.Ingeneral,however,thecompliancechecklistapproachisclearlytheprevalentapproachtosustainablesourcingamongthereviewedschemesatpresent.
Acommonfeatureacrossmostoftheschemes-whetherbasedoncompliancechecklists,certification,theuseofcalculatorsorotherwiseistheemphasisonsupportingcontinuousimprovement.Dependingonthescheme,thisimprovementmightbedemonstratedbycomparisonagainstanindustrybenchmarkovertime,comparisonagainsttheperformanceofone’sownfarmovertime,implementationofriskassessmentsandreportingonprogresswithrespecttomitigationmeasures,ordemonstrationofprogresstowardsbestpractices.Indeed,themajorityofprogramsandtheirrespectivecriteriafocusonoutcomesratherthanprescriptive,quantifiableperformancelevelsforspecificindicators.
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Table3.Characterizationofschemesbytype.
Calculator Certification
Program
Compliance
Checklist
Initiative
Other Notes
CanadianFieldprint
Calculator
x
SAIFSA2.0 x ISCCandISCCPlus x PSI x CRSB notyetdeterminedCRSC notyetdeterminedDSFandDairy
proAction
x environmentalfarmplanforenvironmentmodule
NestleSupplier
Code
x
UnileverSAC x GeneralMills x x x combinationofapproaches
employedMolson-Coors x Loblaw x animalwelfare(alsoa
participantinseveralthird-partyinitiatives,butnotforconsideredcommodities)
Kelloggs x x x combinationofapproachesemployed
Sysco x Costco x auditsforanimalwelfareWalmart x supplierrankingbasedonindex
performanceADM(Sustainable
GrowersProgram-
ISCC)
x programdetailsnotavailable,butbasedonISCC
Pepsico x goalsandprogramsdifferbycommodity,geography,andbusinessrelationship
CriteriaandIndicatorsEmployedbytheSustainableSourcingSchemes
Ageneralschemestructuretodescribedifferentsustainablesourcingschemesisthe“Principles,Criteria,andIndicators”structure.Principlesrefertothegeneralgoaltobeachieved–forexample,sustainableproductionofagriculturalrawmaterials.Criteriarefertowhatisrequiredtoreachthedefinedgoal.Withrespecttothegoalofsustainableproduction,criteriamightbedefinedwithrespecttodiverseaspectsofproducingagriculturalrawmaterials,suchasmaintainingwaterandsoilquality.Indicatorsrefertospecificmeasurestoassesstheextenttowhichacriterionisbeingmet.
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Whiletheschemesselectedforanalysisgenerallysharecommonprinciples,theyarequitevariableintheextenttowhichtheyarticulatetheirrespectivecriteriaandindicators.Somearespecifictothecriterialevelonly–forexample,requiringthatfarmersachievetheobjectiveofmaintainingsoilorwaterquality–whereasothersarequitedetailed,withspecificindicatorsforvariousaspectsofsatisfyingagivencriterion.
Theevaluationofcriteriaandindicatorsfocusedonlyonthosethatarespecificallyapplicabletofarm-levelproduction.Insomecases,companiesmayalsoapplyothercriteriaandindicatorselsewhereinthevaluechainaspartoftheirsustainablesourcingprograms(forexample,forprocessors),orparticipateininitiativesrelatedtocommoditiesnotincludedinthisanalysisthathavetheirownrespectivecriteriaandindicators.Forexample,aspartoftheirSourcingwithIntegrityprogram,LoblawsourcesfisheriesandaquacultureproductsbasedontheMarineStewardshipCouncilandAquacultureStewardshipCouncilprograms,andpalmoilbasedontheRoundtableforSustainablePalmOilprogram.Thesewerenotconsideredhere,sincetheydonotapplytospecificcommoditiesoractivitiesofinterestinAlberta.
Awidevarietyoffarm-relevantcriteriaandindicatorsisobservedacrossthe18schemes(Table4).Ingeneral,thereisconsiderablevariabilityintheterminologyusedtodescribeotherwisesimilarcriteriaandindicators,aswellasvariationintheactualindicatorsemployed.Someschemesemployquitecomprehensiveindicatorsuitesforsomeorallcriteria,whereasothersmayhavemuchsmallerindicatorsuites,orlistcriteriaonlywithnosupportingindicators.Forexample,differentschemesmayhavequitedifferentindicatorrequirementsregardingdemonstratingcompliancewiththecriterionofmaintainingsoilquality.Dependingonthescheme,thesemayincludeimplementationofmeasurestopreventsoilerosionbywindorwater,soilcompaction,lossofsoilorganicmatter,maintenanceofsoilnutrientsandmicrobialactivity,preventionofsoilpollution,on-goingmeasurementsofsoilhealthindicators,etc.Suchheterogeneityinmethodsandterminologyinlifecycle-basedenvironmentalaccountancy,andthepotentialburdensthiscreatesforindustry,wasakeymotivatingfactorbehindon-goingmethodologicalharmonizationeffortsinternationally.Itislikely(anddesirable)thatsimilarharmonizationeffortswilloccurforsustainablesourcingprogramswithrespecttoterminologyandrequirementsrelatedtocriteriaandindicators.Indeed,industry-ledmulti-stakeholderinitiativesliketheCRSBandCRSCare,inpart,motivatedbythisneed.
Forthesakeofcomparability,indicatorsrelevanttooverarchingcriteria(forexample,“soilmanagement”)weregroupedundercommoncriteriaheadingswhereverpossible.Followingcharacterizationofcriteriausebyscheme,itwasthenpossibletoassesscommonalitiesanddifferencesinthoseusedbythedifferentschemes.
Atotaloftwelveoverarchingcriteriaforenvironmentalsustainabilityconcernswereidentified,aswellasadditionalcriteriaforanimalhealthandwelfareandsocio-economicindicators.Thenumberofenvironmentalcriteriaofrelevanceatthefarmlevelforthecommoditiesofconcernthatareemployedbydifferentschemesvariedfromnonetoasmanyasnineofthetwelvecriteria.Themajorityofthecurrentlyoperationalschemesapplyatleasthalfofthese12criteria.
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Thereisconsiderableconsistencywithrespecttousageofacoresuiteofcriteria.Specifically,theseare:WaterManagement;EnergyUse/Efficiency;Climate;SoilManagement;BiodiversityConservation/Enhancement;WasteManagement;CropProtectionManagement;andNutrientManagement.IndicatorsspecifictoAirQuality,NaturalResourcesManagement,LandUse,andPollinatorProtectionweremuchlessprevalent.Notably,indicatorsforAnimalHealthandWelfareaswellasavarietyofsocio-economicindicatorswerealsoappliedinalargenumberoftheschemes.
Ageneralobservationhereisthatfarmerswillbebetterenabledtosatisfytherequirementsofspecificsustainablesourcingschemeshavingcleardescriptionsofcriteriaandindicators,andspecificguidancewithrespecttothepracticeswhichwillenablesatisfactoryindicatorperformance.SchemessuchasUnilever’sSACareverydetailedbothintermsofrequirements(outcomes)thatmustbesatisfiedforeachindicator.Here,thedemandsonfarmersarecertainlyhighintermsofthesetofrequirementsthatmustbemet.Atthesametime,claritywithrespecttorequiredoutcomesmeansthatundertakingtoachievecomplianceissimplified.Thisisquitedifferentfromthoseschemeswithverygeneralambitionsregardingimprovingsustainabilityoutcomesbutlittleinthewayofspecificrequirements.Difficultieswithrespecttohowtosatisfyvaguerequirementsmaywellhinderboththeefficacyoftheschemeandthecapacityoffarmerstodemonstratecompliance.
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Table4.Criteriaemployedbytheselectedschemes.
WaterM
anagem
ent
EnergyUse/Efficie
ncy
Clim
ate
SoilM
anagem
ent
Biod
iversityCo
nservatio
n/En
hancem
ent
WasteM
anagem
ent
Crop
ProtectionMan
agem
ent
NutrientM
anagem
ent
AirQ
uality
NaturalR
esou
rcesM
anagem
ent
Land
Use
Pollina
torP
rotection
TOTALENVIRONMENTALCRITERIA
EMPLOYED
Anim
alHealth
and
Welfare
Socio
-econo
micIndicators
CanadianFieldprintCalculator x x x x 4 SAI x x x x x x x x x 9 ISCCandISCCPlus x x x x x x x 7 xPSI x x x x x x x x 8 CRSB x x x x x x x x 8 x xDSFandDairyproAction x x x x x x x 7 x xNestleSupplierCode x x x x x x x 7 x xUnileverSAC x x x x x x x 7 x xGeneralMills x x x x x x 6 x xMolson-Coors x x x x x x 6 xLoblaw x Kelloggs x x x x x x 6 xSysco x x x x 4 x xCostco x Walmart x x x x x 5 xADM(SustainableGrowersProgram-ISCC)
x x x x x x 6 x
Pepsico x x x x x x x x x 9 x xFrequencyofCriteriaUse 1
4
1
3
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
0
8 3 2 2 1 9 1
2
Itshouldbenotedthatnumerousindicatorsareassociatedwiththecriteriaemployedbytheselectedschemes.Someschemes,suchasthePotatoSustainabilityInitiative,providedetailedindicatorsforeachcriteria,whereasotherschemesprovidefew(ifany)specificindicators.Thefollowingsectionlistssomeoftheindicatorsvariouslyassociatedwiththeeightcriteriathataremostcommonlyemployedamongtheselectedschemes.Onlythoseindicatorsthatareemployedbyatleasttwooftheschemesarelisted.
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Again,althoughthespecificindicatorsemployedbyeachschememaybedescribedusingslightlydifferentterms/language,theyaregroupedwherepossible.
Onecommonfeatureacrossmanyoftheschemesandcriteriaistherequirementfordetailedmanagementplansandrecords.ThisisparticularlytrueforthecriteriaWaterManagementandBiodiversityConservation/Enhancement.Alsoofnoteisthatcertaincriteria(forexample,WaterManagement,SoilManagement,andCropProtectionManagement)tendtohaveeitherlargeindicatorsuitesforagivenscheme,orhighdiversityofindicatorsamongschemes.Incontrast,thenumberand/ordiversityofindicatorsforsomeofothercriteria(forexample,EnergyUse/EfficiencyandWasteManagement)aremuchsmaller.
WaterManagement(n=14)• managementplansandrecords(n=8)• waterusereductionstrategiesandtargets(n=6)• riskassessmentandmitigationstrategies(n=3)• useofoptimizedirrigationmethods(n=2)• monitoringirrigationsystemefficiency(n=3)• irrigationsystemmaintenance(n=2)• basisforschedulingirrigation(n=2)• avoidanceofover-extraction(n=2)• avoidanceofwaterpollution(n=2)• preventionofrun-off(n=2)
EnergyUse/Efficiency(n=13)
• managementplansandrecords(n=3)• energyusereductionstrategiesandtargets(n=4)
Climate(n=11)
• measurestoidentify,measure,monitorandreportGHGemissions(n=2)• settingGHGreductiontargets(n=2)• avoidanceofproductiononlandwithhighcarbonstocks(n=2)• typesandamountsoffertilizers,pesticidesandenergyused(n=2)
SoilManagement(n=11)
• managementplansandrecords(n=3)• soilhealth(n=2)• soilsamplingandmonitoring(pH,SOM,salinity,nutrients,heavymetals)(n=3)• soilorganicmatterandstructure(n=3)• compactionmonitoringandmitigation(n=4)• avoidanceoferosion(n=2)
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• cropchoicesuitabletosoilconditions(n=2)• avoidanceofchemicaldegradation(n=2)• avoidanceofcontamination(n=3)
BiodiversityConservation/Enhancement(n=11)
• managementplansandrecords(n=5)• non-disturbanceofnaturalareas(n=2)• justificationsforlandconversion(n=2)
WasteManagement(n=11)
• recycling,reuseandreductionstrategiesandtargets(n=6)
CropProtectionManagement(n=10)• managementplansandrecords(n=3)• riskassessmentsandmitigationmeasures(n=2)• procedurestodealwithspills(n=2)• traininginanduseofIPM(n=5)• demonstrablenecessityofCPPuseandamounts(n=3)• strategiestoreducequantityandtoxicityofCPPsused(n=2)• targetedCPPapplication(n=3)• preventionofpestresistance(n=2)• useofculturalcontrolmethods(n=2)• pest/diseasescouting,samplingandmonitoring(n=2)• responsiblecontainerdisposal(n=3)
NutrientManagement(n=8)
• managementplansandrecords(n=3)• soilnutrientsamplingasbasisforapplication(n=2)• use/compositionoftreated/untreatedsewageorsludge(n=3)• responsiblestorage(n=2)
Audit/VerificationRequirementsoftheSustainableSourcingSchemes
Informationregardingtheverificationandauditrequirementsoftheconsideredschemeswas,ingeneral,limited(Table5).Someschemes,suchastheISCCsystemandUnilever’sSustainableAgricultureCode,doprovidedetailedinformationregardingrequirementsandprocesses.Forexample,theISCCwebsitedescribesindetailthestepsthatanapplicantforcertificationmustfollow(seeISCCsummarysection),includingtheaccreditationrequirementsforthethird-partycertifyingbodythattheapplicantmustcontractwith.Similarly,informationavailableontheUnileverwebsitedetailsproceduresthat
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processorsmustfollowinordertoverifycomplianceoftheirrawmaterialsupplychains,includingspecificnumbersandproceduresrequiredforrandomsampleauditandverificationactivities.Incontrast,availableliteraturedescribingseveraloftheschemesindicatesonlythatsuppliersmustverifycomplianceoftheirsupplychainsagainstthe(oftenverygeneral)requirementsofthecompany’scode/program.Foranumberoftheotherschemesconsidered,nomentionwhatsoeverofverification/auditwasidentifiedinthepublicallyavailableinformationthatwasaccessedforassessment.Audit/verificationprotocolsarecurrentlyunderdevelopmentforsomeoftheinitiativessuchastheCanadianRoundtableonSustainableBeefandtheCanadianRoundTableonSustainableCrops.
Forsomeoftheschemes–inparticularthirdpartyormultistakeholderinitiativessuchastheCanadianFieldprintCalculatorandthePotatoSustainabilityInitiative–specificauditrequirements/proceduresarenotinplace,butratherwouldlikelybeatthediscretionoftheenduser.Forexample,inthecaseofthePotatoSustainabilityInitiative,farmersareabletocommunicatetheirresultsdirectlytospecificcustomers,andassociatedaudit/verificationrequirementswouldbeatthecustomersdiscretionandinaccordancewiththeirownsustainablesourcingpoliciesandprocedures.McCain’s,forexample,usesbothCanadaGAPandthePSI,withsupportingaudits,intheirMcCainGAPprogramformsourcingpotatoes.Finally,wherecompaniessuchasretailersemploymultiplethird-partyschemes(forexample,Loblaw),verificationandauditrequirementswilllikelyvarybyscheme.
Table5.Characterizationofschemeaudit/verificationrequirements.
Verification/AuditRequirements
CanadianFieldprintCalculator notcurrentlyapplicableSAI firstorthirdpartyauditsatdiscretionofcustomerISCCandISCCPlus requirescertificationbyanaccreditedthird-partybody,includingan
auditbythisbodyPSI verification/auditisnotanexplicitprogramrequirement-likelyat
discretionofcustomerCRSB underdevelopmentCRSC underdevelopmentDSFandDairyproAction third-partyauditwillberequiredNestleSupplierCode suppliersmustverifythatsub-tiersuppliers,includingproducers,
satisfytheCoderequirementsUnileverSAC suppliersmustverifythatsub-tiersuppliers,includingproducers,
satisfytheCoderequirementsaspertheUnileverSchemeRules-randomsamplechosenforself-assessment,followedbyrandomsamplespot-auditsbyanindependentverificationbody
GeneralMills nopublicallyavailableinformationwaslocated–likelydependsonspecificactivity
Molson-Coors supplieridentifiedtorepresenthighriskpotentialmaybeauditedatthesupplier'sexpense
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Kelloggs suppliersmustverifycomplianceoftheirsupplychainsagainsttheSupplierCodeofConductandallowKelloggoranauthorizedthirdpartytoconductauditstoverifycompliance
Sysco requiresanimalwelfareandqualityassuranceaudits,withfollow-upauditstoensureimprovementplansareimplemented
Costco mayconductanimalwelfareauditsWalmart nopublicallyavailableinformationwaslocatedADM(SustainableGrowers
Program-ISCC)
auditbyADMand,potentially,third-partyaudit
Pepsico nopublicallyavailableinformationwaslocated
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Assessmentresultsforthe“accessibility”oftheselectedsustainablesourcingschemes
Asubset(i.e.thoseforwhichsufficientinformationwasavailableforsomeorallofthecriteria)oftheeighteensustainabilityschemesthatwereselectedforanalysiswereeachevaluatedagainstamatrixofcriteriaforaccessibility.Accessibilityreferstotheextenttowhichfarmerparticipationintheschemewilllikelybeenabledbyvariousschemecharacteristics.Criteriainclude,forexample:theclarityofpurposeofthescheme;theeaseofimplementation(includingtheavailabilityofsupportinginformation,guidancedocuments,and/orcalculationtools);andthecostofimplementation.Thisassessmentwasbasedonareviewofthepublicallyavailabledocumentsthatwereidentifiedviainternetsearches–inparticular,thematerialavailableonthewebsitesoftheschemeowners.Thereviewwaslargelyqualitative,and,giventheshorttimelinesforthisproject,schemeoperatorswerenotcontactedforverificationoftheanalysis.Rather,thescoringreflectsthereviewer’sjudgmentofthescheme
characteristicsrelativetobestavailableapproachesforeachsub-criterionvis-à-vistheotherschemes,
basedonthepublicallyavailableinformationthatwasaccessedfortheanalysis.Error!Referencesourcenotfound.presentstherankedscoresforaccessibilityforeachscheme.DetailedscoresbycriterionforeachoftheevaluatedschemesareprovidedinAppendixA.
Theschemesgenerallyprovideclearinformationregardingtheirpurposeandapplicability,butarequiteTheschemesgenerallyprovideclearinformationregardingtheirpurposeandapplicability,butarequiteinconsistentwithrespecttothelevelofguidancethatisprovidedtosupportimplementationofschemerequirements.Someareverydetailed–forexample,theon-linePotatoSustainabilityInitiativesurveyprovidespop-upstyleguidanceforspecificquestions.Others,however,provideverylittleindicationastohowfarmersareexpectedtomeetthestatedrequirements,whetherthesearespecificorgeneralinnature.
Overall,theschemesshouldbequiteaccessibletofarmers,astheindicatorsandrequirementslargelyrefertosubjectareasandpracticeswithwhichfarmerswillbeintimatelyfamiliar.Schemesrequiringgreenhousegasemissionsassessments,soilsamplingtechniques,orotherassessmentactivitiesnotpreviouslyundertakenbyafarmermayprovechallengingandhencenecessitatethird-partyassistance.
Thedatarequirementsfortheschemescanlikelybemet,asmostrefertoinformation/recordsregardingthefarmersownpractices.Indicatorsrelatedtobiodiversity,orGHGemissionscalculationsrequiringuseofemissionfactorsmaypotentiallybemorechallengingtosatisfy.
Anumberoftheschemeshavetheirowncalculationtools,whileothersmakeuseofthird-partycalculators(toolsdevelopedbymulti-stakeholderinitiativesofwhichtheyarepart).Suchcalculatorsaretypicallydevelopedtobequiteuserfriendly,hencetheiravailabilityiscertainlyadvantageoustosupportsatisfactionofindicatorssuchasgreenhousegasemissionscalculations.
Onlyoneoftheschemesreviewed(ISCC)hasdirectassociatedcostsforfarmers,intheformoffeestohireanaccreditedcertificationbodyforthecertificationprocess.Molson-Coorsalsostates,however,thathigh-risksuppliersmaybeauditedattheirowncost.Outsideofthesedirectaudit/verificationcosts,
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burdensonfarmerswilllargelyrelatedtothetimerequiredtodemonstratecompliance,aswellascostsassociatedwithdevelopingtherequiredmanagementsystems,infrastructure,andmodifiedpractices.Thesecostswillbelargelycontext-dependent,henceitisnotpossibletomakemeaningfulestimationsregardingcostlevelsforthesevariablesinthecontextofthecurrentanalysis.
Onlyasubsetoftheschemesindicatethatverification/auditproceduresarenecessary.Wheresuchrequirementsexist,thelevelofdetailprovidedisquitevariable.BothUnileverandISCCprovidequitedetailedinformation,whereasotherschemesprovideonlygeneralstatementsonlysuchas“suppliersmustverifycomplianceoftheirsupplychains.”
Asageneralobservation,multi-stakeholderschemesachievedhigheraccessibilityscoresthandidmostprivatecompanyschemes.
Figure1."Accessibility"scores(rankedfromhighesttolowest)forasubsetofeachofthereviewedsustainablesourcing
schemes.
SummaryofSomeKeyCommonalitiesandDifferencesamongtheSelectedSchemes
Theselectedschemesevinceavarietyofcommonalitiesanddifferences(Table6).Oneofthemorecommonfeaturesisschemetype,withmostschemescorrespondingtothe“compliancechecklist”type.Here,participantsaretypicallyrequiredtodemonstratecompliancewithrespecttolistsofdesiredoutcomesorbestpractices.Calculatorsandcertificationprogramsareseeminglymuchlesscommon–atleastamongschemesofhighestpotentialrelevanceforAlbertafarmers.
Therewasafairlyevendistributionbetweenmulti-stakeholderversusprivatecompanyinitiatives.WiththeexceptionoftheUnileverinitiative,themulti-stakeholderschemesgenerallyappeartobemore
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
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comprehensiveanddetailedthanthein-houseinitiativesofprivatecompanies.Industry-led,multi-stakeholderinitiativessuchastheCRSCandCRSBmayultimatelyproveamongthemostsuccessfuloftheseschemesinlightoftheground-upbuy-inthatisachievedthroughconsensus-based,roundtableprocesses.Theymayalsobelesspronetochargesof“green-washing”orgeneralskepticismduetotherangeofstakeholderintereststhatarerepresentedduringtheirdevelopment.
Almostalloftheselectedschemesrefertomultiplecriteriaandindicators.Thereisalargerangeinthenumberofcriteriaandsupportingindicatorsappliedbydifferentamongtheschemes.However,acommonsetofcriteriaisobservedinthemajorityofschemes,specifically:WaterManagement;EnergyUse/Efficiency;Climate;SoilManagement;BiodiversityConservation/Enhancement;WasteManagement;CropProtectionManagement;andNutrientManagement.AnimalHealthandWelfare,alongwithavarietyofsocio-economicindicators,arealsorepresentedinmostschemes,althoughthesewerenotconsideredindetailinthecurrentanalysis.
Atpresent,thereisseeminglylittleconsistencyinthespecificindicatorsthatareemployedtoassessperformanceagainstmanyofthecriteria.Indicatorsforcriteriasuchascropprotectionmanagement,soilmanagement,andnutrientmanagementareparticularlydiverse.ThisislessthecaseforindicatorsrelatedtoWasteManagement,EnergyUse/Efficiency,andBiodiversityConservation/Enhancement.Thereisalsoinconsistencyinthelevelofdetailthatschemesprovidewithrespecttohowtodemonstratecompliancewithindicatorsandcriteria.Acommonfeatureacrossmanyoftheschemesistherequirementformanagementplansandrecordsforseveralofthecriteria.
Fewoftheschemesprovidedetailedinformationregardingverification/auditrequirements,andsomemakenomentionofsuchrequirements.Theabsenceofclearrequirements–bothintermsofcriteria/indicatorsandverification/audit–maypresentanon-trivialstumblingblocktoenablingfarmersuccessinmeetingschemerequirements.
Oneverycommonfeatureamongtheselectedschemesistheemphasisoncontinuousimprovement,althoughthebasisfordemonstratingcontinuousimprovementmayvary.Overall,thefocusappearstobeonoutcomesandbestmanagementpracticesratherthanestablishingprescriptive,quantitativeperformancerequirements.Requirementsrelatedtothedevelopmentandimplementationofmanagementplans,riskassessments,andmitigationstrategiesarecommontomanyoftheschemes.
Mostoftheprivatesectorinitiativesarecurrentlyfocusedontheirpriorityrawmaterials,withconcretetargetsregardingsustainablesourcingvolumesanddates.AlthoughverylittleinformationwasidentifiedsuggestingthatAlbertaproductionsystemsarecurrentlyontheradaroftheseprograms,manyofthepriorityrawmaterialsdocorrespondtothelistofpriorityAlbertacommoditiesthatwereidentifiedforconsiderationinthisstudy.Thisissimilarlytrueofthemulti-stakeholderinitiatives.TheCanadianinitiatives(CRSCandCRSB)aswellastheCanadianFieldprintCalculatorwillclearlybeofdirectrelevanceforAlbertanproducers.Withrespecttolivestockproducts,itisnotablethatfewschemes
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currentlyconsidertheenvironmentalsustainabilitydimensionsoflivestockproducts,buttendtofocusratheronanimalhealthandwelfareconsiderations.
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Table6.Summaryofkeycommonalitiesanddifferencesamongtheselectedschemes.
ProgramType Operator Stakeholder
Representation
Multi-
criteria
Verification/
Audit
Continuous
Improvement
RelevantTargetCommodities
Canadian
Fieldprint
Calculator
calculator Serecon Yes Yes Yes fieldcrops
SAIFSA2.0 checklist
compliance
SAIPlatform Yes Yes Maybe Yes allcrops,sugarbeets
ISCCandISCC
Plus
certification ISCCAssociation Yes Yes Yes allcrops,canola
PSI checklist
compliance
industryconsortium Yes Yes Maybe Yes potatoes
CRSB notyet
determined
CRSBCouncil Yes Yes Being
developed
Yes beef
CRSC notyet
determined
CRSCSteering
Committee
Yes Yes Being
developed
Yes fieldcrops
DSFandDairy
proAction
Environmental
FarmPlan
DairyFarmersof
Canada
Yes Yes Yes dairy
NestleSupplier
Code
checklist
compliance
Nestle private Yes Yes Yes sugar,dairy,meat,poultryand
eggs
UnileverSAC checklist
compliance
Unilever private Yes Yes Yes sugar,canolaoil,dairyandeggs;
workingonwheatinUS
GeneralMills multipletypes GeneralMills private Yes Yes oats,wheat,sugarbeet,aswellas
othercropsinrotation(lentils,
peas,canola,potatoes)
Molson-Coors checklist
compliance
Molson-Coors private Yes Maybe Yes barley
LoblawSourcing
withIntegrity
multipletypes Loblaw private Animal
welfare
Maybe Yes eggsandpork
Kelloggs multipletypes Kelloggs private Yes Yes Yes wheat,oats,potatoesandsugar
beets
Sysco checklist
compliance
Sysco private Yes Yes Yes potatoes,livestockproducts
Costco animalwelfare
audits
Costco private Animal
welfare
Maybe livestockproducts
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Walmart
Sustainability
Indexand
Sustainability
Consortium
checklist
compliance
Walmart/Sustainability
Consortium
Yes Yes Yes allproducts;TSCToolkitsavailable
forbeef,chicken,eggs,pork,
grains,barleyandmalt,sugar,
beans/lentils/peasandpotatoes
ADM
(Sustainable
Growers
Program-ISCC)
certification ADM private Yes Yes canola,butpotentiallyotherraw
materialsalso
Pepsico multipletypes Pepsico private Yes Yes oat,sugarandpotatoes
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Companies/schemesmakingdirectsustainablesourcingreferencetotheshortlistofAlbertacommoditiesaredescribedinTable7.Mostofthecommoditiesarereferredtobyatleastfiveoftheschemes.Canola,oats,sugarbeets,potatosandmilkarereferredtomostfrequently.Tamehay,barley,peas,andchickenarereferredtoleastfrequentlyamongtheschemesconsideredinthisanalysis.
Table7.SustainablesourcingprogramsthatrefertopriorityAlbertacommodities.
Commodity CFC SAI ISCC PSI CRSB CRSC DSF N U GM MC L K S C W ADM P #
Wheat x x x x x 5Canola x x x x x x 6TameHay 0Barley x x x x 4Peas x x x 3Oats x x x x x x 6SugarBeets x x x x x x x 7Potatoes x x x x x x 6Beef x x1 x x x 5Pork x x x x x 5Chicken x x x x 4Eggs x x x x x 5Milk x x x x x x 6
note:CFC=CanadianFieldprintCalculator,SAI=SustainableAgricultureInitiativeFarmSustainabilityAssessmentTool2.0,ISCC=InternationalSustainabilityandCarbonCertification(andISCCPlus),PSI=PotatoSustainabilityInitiative,CRSB=CanadianRoundtableonSustainableBeef,CRSC=CanadianRoundTableonSustainableCrops,DSF=DairySustainabilityFrameworkandDairyproAction,N=NestleSupplierCode,U=UnileverSustainableAgricultureInitiative,GM=GeneralMills,MC=Molson-CoorsSupplierCodeandAgriculturalBrewingIngredientsPolicy,L=LoblawSourcingwithIntegrity,K=KelloggsSupplierCode,S=Sysco,C=Costco,W=WalmartSustainabilityIndexandtheSustainabilityConsortiumProductToolkits,ADM=ArcherDanielsMidlandSustainableGrower’sProgram,P=PepsicoSupplierCodeandSustainableFarmingInitiative
(1)LoblawiscurrentlyinvolvedintheMcDonald’spilotprojectonsourcingverifiedsustainablebeef
ConclusionsSustainablesourcingisclearlyasubjectofincreasingrelevanceintheagri-foodmarketplace.Numerousprivatecompanyandmulti-stakeholderinitiativeshaveemerged.Theseinitiativestakeavarietyofapproachesandfociinpursuitofleveragingimprovedsustainabilityperformancealongsupplychains.Alsoimportantasmotivatorsforsuchinitiativesarethemarketaccessandsociallicenseopportunitiesforparticipants.
InCanada,severallarge-scale,multi-stakeholderinitiativesinsupportofdevelopingmethods,criteria,indicatorsandtoolstosupportsustainablesourcingofspecificcommoditiesareinprogress.NumerousfoodsectorcompaniesoperatinginCanadaalsohavein-housesustainablesourcingprograms,andseveralpilotprojectsareunderway.Internationally,therealsoinitiativessuchasSAIandISCCthatmaybeorarebeingactivelyimplementedinCanada.
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Overall,however,theactualdegreeofsustainablesourcingactivitythatisplacingdirectdemandsonAlbertanfarmers(outsideofanimalwelfareaudits)appearstobequitelimitedatpresent.WhereassustainablesourcingmayberelativelyadvancedinEurope,theUSorelsewhere,actualimplementationofsuchactivitiesinCanadaisseeminglylagging.Nonetheless,stakeholdersthroughouttheCanadianfoodsystemarewellawareoftheincreasingrelevanceofsustainablesourcingforagri-foodproducts,andtheinevitabilityofimplementationofrelatedprogramsinCanadaovertime.
Thesustainablesourcinginitiativesthatwereselectedforanalysisinthisstudyencompassaheterogeneoussetofactivities,andarequitevariableinbothscopeandspecificity.Somecommonfeaturesareinevidence,includingthenatureofsuchschemes(typicallybasedonacompliancechecklistapproach),thesetofenvironmentalcriteriathataremostcommonamongthem(WaterManagement;EnergyUse/Efficiency;Climate;SoilManagement;BiodiversityConservation/Enhancement;WasteManagement;CropProtectionManagement;andNutrientManagement),andageneralemphasisoncontinuousimprovementratherthanprescriptiveperformancelevels.Theyare,however,quitevariableintermsofindicatoruseandspecificityfordemonstratingcompliancewithenvironmentalcriteria.Detailsregardingverification/auditrequirements,ifany,arealsogenerallyquitethinaswellasinconsistentbetweenschemes.Atpresent,someschemeswilllikelybemuchmoreaccessibleforfarmersthanothers.
Takentogether,theseobservationssuggestconsiderablescopeformaturationformostoftheinitiativesevaluated,aswellasthecleardesirabilityofharmonizationamonginitiatives.Ingeneral,thefeasibilityandefficacyofsustainablesourcingwillbestronglyinfluencedbytheextenttowhichfarmersareenabledtoparticipate.Thisrequiresclarityandconsistencyinrequirements,verification/auditmechanisms,andavoidanceofduplicationandoverburdenresultingfromfarmershavingtograpplewithmultiple,heterogeneousschemes.
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AppendixA.DetailedEvaluationResultsfortheAccessibilityofthe
Program/Activity
CanadianFieldprintCalculator
PROGRAM/ACTIVITY:CANADIANFIELDPRINTCALCULATOR
ACCESSIBILITY
EvaluationCriteria Score
Theprogram/activity NA Doesnotsatisfythecriterion(weight=0)
Somewhatsatisfiesthecriterion
(weight=1)
Satisfiesthecriterion(weight=2)
(1)providesclearinformationastoitspurposeandapplicability
x
(2)providesclearguidancedocuments/materialinsupportofitsimplementation
currentlybeingdeveloped x
(3)isaccessibletoanon-expertaudience calculatorisuserfriendly
x
(4)requiresdatathatarereasonablyaccessible
x
(5)hassupportingtools/softwareorothermaterialsthatfacilitateitsimplementation
x
(6)doesnothavehighimplementationcosts x
(7)hasclearverification/auditproceduresandrequirements
x
Totals 10
WeightedAccessibilityScore 10/10=100%
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SustainableAgricultureInitiativeFarmSustainabilityAssessment2.0
PROGRAM/ACTIVITY:SAIFarmSustainabilityAssessment2.0
ACCESSIBILITY
EvaluationCriteria Score
Theprogram/activity NA Doesnotsatisfythecriterion(weight=0)
Somewhatsatisfiesthecriterion
(weight=1)
Satisfiesthecriterion(weight=2)
(1)providesclearinformationastoitspurposeandapplicability
detailedwebsiteandpublication
x
(2)providesclearguidancedocuments/materialinsupportofitsimplementation
limitedguidanceprovidedintoolitself x
(3)isaccessibletoanon-expertaudience x
(4)requiresdatathatarereasonablyaccessible
farmer’sowndata x
(5)hassupportingtools/softwareorothermaterialsthatfacilitateitsimplementation
onlineordownloadableExcel-basedtool
x
(6)doesnothavehighimplementationcosts free x
(7)hasclearverification/auditproceduresandrequirements
atdiscretionofcustomer,hencemayvary
x
Totals 1 1 5
WeightedAccessibilityScore 10/12=83%
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ISCC/ISCCPlus
PROGRAM/ACTIVITY:ISCCandISCCPlus
ACCESSIBILITY
EvaluationCriteria Score
Theprogram/activity NA Doesnotsatisfythecriterion(weight=0)
Somewhatsatisfiesthecriterion
(weight=1)
Satisfiesthecriterion(weight=2)
(1)providesclearinformationastoitspurposeandapplicability
detailedwebsiteandpublications
x
(2)providesclearguidancedocuments/materialinsupportofitsimplementation
Annexestostandardsspecifyrequirementsandcertificationprocess
x
(3)isaccessibletoanon-expertaudience x
(4)requiresdatathatarereasonablyaccessible
farmersowndata,detailedrecords,emissionfactors
x
(5)hassupportingtools/softwarethatfacilitateitsimplementation
x
(6)doesnothavehighimplementationcosts costsassociatedwithhiringcertifier
x
(7)hasclearverification/auditproceduresandrequirements
detailedguidanceprovidedre.process,requirescontracting
x
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PotatoSustainabilityInitiative
anaccreditedcertificationbody
Totals 1 2 4
WeightedAccessibilityScore 10/12–83%
PROGRAM/ACTIVITY:POTATOSUSTAINABILITYINITIATIVE(PSI)
ACCESSIBILITY
EvaluationCriteria Score
Theprogram/activity NA Doesnotsatisfythecriterion(weight=0)
Somewhatsatisfiesthecriterion
(weight=1)
Satisfiesthecriterion(weight=2)
(1)providesclearinformationastoitspurposeandapplicability
websitehostingthePSIsurveydoesnotprovidemanydetails
x
(2)providesclearguidancedocuments/materialinsupportofitsimplementation
on-linesurveyquestionshavelinkedsupportinginformation
x
(3)isaccessibletoanon-expertaudience x
(4)requiresdatathatarereasonablyaccessible
x
(5)hassupportingtools/softwareorothermaterialsthatfacilitateitsimplementation
on-linesurvey x
(6)doesnothavehighimplementationcosts free x
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NestleSupplierCodeandResponsibleSourcingGuideline
(7)hasclearverification/auditproceduresandrequirements
maybeatcustomersdiscretion,hencemayvary
x
Totals 1 1 5
WeightedAccessibilityScore 11/12=92%
PROGRAM/ACTIVITY:NestleSupplierCodeandResponsibleSourcingGuideline
ACCESSIBILITY
EvaluationCriteria Score
Theprogram/activity NA Doesnotsatisfythecriterion(weight=0)
Somewhatsatisfiesthecriterion
(weight=1)
Satisfiesthecriterion(weight=2)
(1)providesclearinformationastoitspurposeandapplicability
detailedinformationonNestlewebsite
x
(2)providesclearguidancedocumentsinsupportofitsimplementation
manygeneralrequirements,butspecificguidancewasnotidentified
x
(3)isaccessibletoanon-expertaudience sincespecificguidanceislimited,non-expertsmayrequiresupport
x
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UnileverSustainableAgricultureCode
(4)requiresdatathatarereasonablyaccessible
appearstobelargelyfarmersowndata
x
(5)hassupportingtools/softwareorothermaterialsthatfacilitateitsimplementation
x
(6)doesnothavehighimplementationcosts x
(7)hasclearverification/auditproceduresandrequirements
websitestatesonlythatfirstorthird-partyauditsmaybeimplemented
x
Totals 2 1 4
WeightedAccessibilityScore 9/14=64%
PROGRAM/ACTIVITY:UNILEVERSAC
ACCESSIBILITY
EvaluationCriteria Score
Theprogram/activity NA Doesnotsatisfythecriterion(weight=0)
Somewhatsatisfiesthecriterion
(weight=1)
Satisfiesthecriterion(weight=2)
(1)providesclearinformationastoitspurposeandapplicability
detailedinformationonwebsite
x
(2)providesclearguidancedocumentsinsupportofitsimplementation
limitedtechnicalguidance,butindicatorsarequiteclear
x
(3)isaccessibletoanon-expertaudience x
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MolsonCoorsSupplierCodeandAgriculturalBrewingIngredientsPolicy
(4)requiresdatathatarereasonablyaccessible
farmersowndata x
(5)hassupportingtools/softwareorothermaterialsthatfacilitateitsimplementation
GreenlightssoftwareonMuddyBootsplatform
x
(6)doesnothavehighimplementationcosts notdirectlyforfarmers(althoughprobablytime-intensive),butlikelycostlyforprocessorstoauditsuppliers
x
(7)hasclearverification/auditproceduresandrequirements
auditdetailsdescribedonwebsite
x
Totals 1 6
WeightedAccessibilityScore 13/14=93%
PROGRAM/ACTIVITY:MOLSONCOORSSUPPLIERCODE
ACCESSIBILITY
EvaluationCriteria Score
Theprogram/activity NA Doesnotsatisfythecriterion(weight=0)
Somewhatsatisfiesthecriterion
(weight=1)
Satisfiesthecriterion(weight=2)
(1)providesclearinformationastoitspurposeandapplicability
detailedmaterialoncompanywebsite
x
(2)providesclearguidancedocumentsinsupportofitsimplementation
quitegeneralrequirementsinCode,butthe
x
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KelloggsSupplierCode
companyprovidesguidancetosupplierstoenableimprovements
(3)isaccessibletoanon-expertaudience x
(4)requiresdatathatarereasonablyaccessible
x
(5)hassupportingtools/softwareorothermaterialsthatfacilitateitsimplementation
materialtobeprovidedbycompanyasappropriate
x
(6)doesnothavehighimplementationcosts x
(7)hasclearverification/auditproceduresandrequirements
statesonlythathighrisksuppliersmaybeauditedatowncost
x
Totals 1 2 4
WeightedAccessibilityScore 10/14=71%
PROGRAM/ACTIVITY:KELLOGGSSUPPLIERCODEOFCONDUCT
ACCESSIBILITY
EvaluationCriteria Score
Theprogram/activity NA Doesnotsatisfythecriterion(weight=0)
Somewhatsatisfiesthecriterion
(weight=1)
Satisfiesthecriterion(weight=2)
(1)providesclearinformationastoitspurposeandapplicability
detailedinformationonwebsite
x
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SyscoSupplierCodeandRelatedMeasures
(2)providesclearguidancedocumentsinsupportofitsimplementation
Codeisquitegeneral,littlespecificinformationwasidentified
x
(3)isaccessibletoanon-expertaudience x
(4)requiresdatathatarereasonablyaccessible
x
(5)hassupportingtools/softwareorothermaterialsthatfacilitateitsimplementation
mayuseexistingprogramslikeFieldprintCalculatorinUS
x
(6)doesnothavehighimplementationcosts x
(7)hasclearverification/auditproceduresandrequirements
statesonlythatsuppliersmustverifycomplianceofsupplychainagainsttheCode
x
Totals 1 1 5
WeightedAccessibilityScore 11/14=79%
PROGRAM/ACTIVITY:SYSCOSUPPLIERCODEOFCONDUCTANDRELATEDSPECIFICMEASURES
ACCESSIBILITY
EvaluationCriteria Score
Theprogram/activity NA Doesnotsatisfythecriterion
Somewhatsatisfiesthecriterion
Satisfiesthecriterion
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WalmartSustainabilityIndexandTheSustainabilityConsortium
(weight=0)
(weight=1) (weight=2)
(1)providesclearinformationastoitspurposeandapplicability
detailedinformationonwebsite
x
(2)providesclearguidancedocumentsinsupportofitsimplementation
goodguidancewithrespecttosomerequiredmeasures
x
(3)isaccessibletoanon-expertaudience x
(4)requiresdatathatarereasonablyaccessible
x
(5)hassupportingtools/softwareorothermaterialsthatfacilitateitsimplementation
x
(6)doesnothavehighimplementationcosts x
(7)hasclearverification/auditproceduresandrequirements
statesonlythatsuppliersmustallowunannouncedanimalwelfareandqualityassuranceaudits
x
Totals 2 1 4
WeightedAccessibilityScore 9/14=64%
PROGRAM/ACTIVITY:WALMARTSUSTAINABILITYINDEX(ANDSUSTAINABILITYCONSORTIUMPRODUCTTOOLKITS)
ACCESSIBILITY
EvaluationCriteria Score
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PepsicoSupplierCodeandSustainableFarmingInitiative
Theprogram/activity NA Doesnotsatisfythecriterion(weight=0)
Somewhatsatisfiesthecriterion
(weight=1)
Satisfiesthecriterion(weight=2)
(1)providesclearinformationastoitspurposeandapplicability
x
(2)providesclearguidancedocumentsinsupportofitsimplementation
Indexisfairlystraight-forward.Environmentalrequirementsclearonlyiflinkedtoexistingthird-partsustainablesourcingprogramorimplementingTSCToolkits
x
(3)isaccessibletoanon-expertaudience x
(4)requiresdatathatarereasonablyaccessible
x
(5)hassupportingtools/softwareorothermaterialsthatfacilitateitsimplementation
TSCmaterialprovidesgoodguidanceifused
x
(6)doesnothavehighimplementationcosts x
(7)hasclearverification/auditproceduresandrequirements
norequirements/detailswereidentified
x
Totals 1 2 4
WeightedAccessibilityScore 10/12=83%
PROGRAM/ACTIVITY:PEPSICOSUSTAINABLEFARMINGINITIATIVEANDSUPPLIERCODE
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ACCESSIBILITY
EvaluationCriteria Score
Theprogram/activity NA Doesnotsatisfythecriterion(weight=0)
Somewhatsatisfiesthecriterion
(weight=1)
Satisfiesthecriterion(weight=2)
(1)providesclearinformationastoitspurposeandapplicability
x
(2)providesclearguidancedocumentsinsupportofitsimplementation
Codeprovidesverygeneralstatementregardingenvironmentalperformance,andguidanceelsewhereisalsoquitegeneral.
x
(3)isaccessibletoanon-expertaudience x
(4)requiresdatathatarereasonablyaccessible
x
(5)hassupportingtools/softwareorothermaterialsthatfacilitateitsimplementation
supportingmaterialswerenotidentified
x
(6)doesnothavehighimplementationcosts x
(7)hasclearverification/auditproceduresandrequirements
statesonlythatadherencetotheCoderequirescooperatingwithreasonableassessmentprocesses
x
Totals 2 1 4
WeightedAccessibilityScore 9/14=64%
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AppendixB.AboutNathanPelletierandGlobalEcologic
Understandingandmanagingtheenvironmentalandsocialcostsandbenefitsofeconomicactivityhasbecomeadefiningchallengeofthemodernera.Thischallengeprovidesthenucleusfortherapidlyevolvingfieldofsustainabilitymeasurementandmanagement.NathanPelletier,principalofGlobalEcologic,isanindependentsustainabilityconsultantspecializinginenvironmentalandsocialperformancemeasurementandmanagementstrategiesinfoodandotherindustrialsystems.Hisworkproceedsfromtherecognitionthatsustainabilityisthefirstprincipleofresponsiblemanagement,whetheratthelevelofprivateenterprise,regional,nationalorglobalgovernance.
Pelletierworkscloselywithclientstobuildanunderstandingofsupplychainenvironmentalandsocialsustainabilityperformanceandmitigationopportunitiesusingavarietyofcuttingedgemodelingframeworks.Theseincludeenvironmentalandsociallifecycleassessment,environmentalfootprinting,supply-chaingreenhousegasaccounting,energyanalysis,andecologicalfootprintanalysis.Heisdedicatedtodeliveringhigh-quality,cost-effectiveconsultingservicestomeetthedemandsofcitizens,firmsandorganizationscommittedtofurtheringsustainabilityobjectives.
PelletierestablishedGlobalEcologicin2006.Hehassincecontinuedtoexpandhisbroadexperiencebaseinfoodsystemsustainabilityconsultingservices,workingwithavarietyofsmallandlargeorganizationstofurthertheirsustainabilityinitiativesbothathomeandabroad.Havingresearchedandmodeledover150agriculturalcrop,animalhusbandry,fisheriesandaquacultureproduction,processinganddistributionsupplychainsusingISO14044-compliantlifecycleassessment(LCA),PelletierisrecognizedasaninternationalexpertinLCAoffoodsystems,andaleaderinthefield.Examplesofrecentandon-goingconsultingprojectsinclude:
• evaluationofthesociallicenseandmarketaccessimplicationsofsustainablesourcingschemesforAlbertaAgricultureandForestry
• reviewofLCAstudiesforISO14044complianceforvariousprivateandpublicsectorbodies• socialandenvironmentallifecycleassessmentoftheCanadianeggindustry,including
assessmentofalternativehousingtechnologies,forEggFarmersofCanada• lifecycleassessmentofgreenhousegasemissionsforeggproductionandprocessingsupply
chainsintheUnitedStatesfortheAmericanEggBoard• comparativelifecycleassessmentoftheenvironmentalperformance(includingGHGemissions)
oftheUSnationaleggsectorin1960and2010fortheAmericanEggBoard,EggIndustryCouncil,andUnitedEggProducers
• developmentofasupplychainecologicalfootprintandgreenhousegasaccountingtoolincorporatingLCA-basedmodelsofagricultural,fisheriesandanimalhusbandryproductsupply
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chainsforamajorinternationalaquafeedscompany(EWOS)tofacilitateleast-environmental-costfeedsourcing(sevenprojectssince2006)
• lifecycleassessmentoftilapiaaquacultureproductioninlakeandpond-basedsystems,includingprocessingandtransportationtomarketportsfortheleadingglobaltilapiaproducer,RegalSprings
• developmentofasupplychaingreenhousegasaccountingtoolforSeaFishIndustryAuthority(UK)forprofilinghigh-volumeseafoodsupplychains
• ProvisionoffoodproductgreenhousegasemissionsintensitydataforBonAppétitManagementFoundationCompany(CompassFoodService),tobeusedineducatingtheirinstitutionalchefsaswellastheiron-linefoodproductGHGcalculatoraspartoftheLowCarbonDietInitiative
PelletierhassimilarlyconstructedandpublishedLCAmodelsofUSnationalbroilerpoultryproduction,highandlow-profitabilityconventionalandnicheswineoperationsinthemid-westernUnitedStates,aswellasthreecompetingmid-westernbeefproductiontechnologies.AllofthesemodelsareconstructedusinganISO14044-compliantLCAmodellingplatformdevelopedbyPelletierforthepurposeofhigh-resolutionanalysesofcropandanimalhusbandrysystems.Thisincludescustomizedsub-modelsbasedoninternationallyrecognizedprotocolsandbest-availablescientificpractice.Becausetheplatformenablestheuseofidenticalmodellingprinciplesandparametersforcontext-specificapplications,itensuresdirectandrobustcomparabilityofmodelresultswithinandacrossproductionsystemsandtechnologies.
Healsorecentlydevelopedamacroscalescreening-levelsocialLCAusing28socialriskcategoriesfortrade-basedconsumptionintheEuropeanUnion(takingintoaccountflowsofinternationallytradedcommodities)fortheEuropeanCommissionJointResearchCentre.Thismodelcharacterizedthesocialrisksattributabletothetrade-basedconsumptionpatternsoftheaverageEU-27consumer,aswellasforEU-27trade-basedconsumptioninaggregate.
Pelletiersimilarlyrecentlycompleteddraftingthelifecycle-basedEuropeanCommissionProductandOrganizationEnvironmentalFootprintmethods,whichwillbecomethereferencemethodslinkedtoanyvoluntaryormandatoryapplicationsassociatedwithEuropeanCommissionpolicy,aswellastheEuropeanSustainabilityFootprintframework.
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