Forging a sustainable path
Through its Origin Green programme, Bord Bia has announced an ambitious goal to have all Irish food and drink exports certified as on the road to sustainability by 2016. ShelfLife attended the organisation’s recent Global Sustainability Conference to learn more about why such an initiative is necessary and the challenges it will entail
Print16 October 2013
AT A GLANCE: Global sustainability
"By 2050, nine billion people will need twice as much food…Per capita impacts acceptable with seven billion will not be acceptable with nine billion. We must make production more efficient and sustainable."*
"China’s doubling of GDP occurred at 12 times the speed of growth in Britain during the Industrial Revolution and at 100 times the scale; lifting 400 million people out of poverty."*
*Jason Clay, senior vice president market transformation, World Wildlife Fund (WWF)
"Short term food price volatility is increasingly a long term phenomenon with devastating effects – Hunger and malnutrition already cause the deaths of over 3.5 million children every year."**
"Food prices are expected to stay high in the medium term (above 2004 levels through 2015) and volatile."**
"Agricultural growth is two to four times more effective in raising incomes of the very poor than growth in other sectors."**
"75% of the world’s poor are rural and most are in farm families."**
**Mark Cackler, manager, Agriculture and Environmental Services Department, World Bank
"People want to take care of "their world" before saving "the world"." – Lloyd Burdett, head of Global Clients and Strategy, The Futures Company
"Agriculture uses 70% of the world’s freshwater – Ireland has a very favourable water stress index with 0% of territory under water stress"- Aidan Cotter, chief executive, Bord Bia
An Taoiseach Enda Kenny opening the conference
More than 750 delegates, including 280 senior food buyers from 25 countries across five continents attended Bord Bia’s Global Sustainability Conference held in the Convention Centre in Dublin last month. The event focused on sustainable global food production and brought together thought-leaders including Dr. Jason Clay, senior vice president, World Wildlife Fund; Mark Cackler, World Bank; Inder Poonaji, Nestle UK and Ireland; and JC Gonzalez-Mendez, McDonalds Corporation.
The conference was opened by An Taoiseach Enda Kenny who told delegates that Ireland is well-placed to take the lead on the sustainability agenda, stating that the Irish agri-food sector has been a national leader in growing exports.
Ireland leading the way
During the conference, buyers representing some of the world’s key retail and foodservice operators – including Carrefour, the world’s largest food retailer; Marks & Spencer; Chinese Dairy company Whaha and Spinneys, the leading premium supermarket in the Middle East and North Africa – heard how Ireland’s industry-wide voluntary sustainability programme ‘Origin Green’, launched 15 months ago, now encompasses 35,000 farms and more than 280 companies, accounting for some two-thirds of Ireland’s food and drink exports. Origin Green sees Irish food and drink manufacturers develop individual sustainability plans that set out clear targets in key areas such as emissions, energy, waste, water, biodiversity and CSR activities.
In his presentation, Aidan Cotter, chief executive, Bord Bia, explained that through Origin Green, Ireland could become a world leader in sustainability by 2016. "We estimate that, by the end of 2014, 75% of Ireland’s food and drinks exports will come from farms and food businesses that are on the road to sustainability," he said.
Sustainable agriculture
Sustainable agriculture was the focus of the conference and Dr. Jason Clay, a world-renowned authority on the subject, addressed the stark challenges of feeding the world while protecting the planet’s resources. By 2050 the world will have a population of 9.6 billion and need to produce twice as much food as it currently does. He also pointed to growing market demands for sustainability to inform the corporate agenda. According to Standard & Poor’s 500, in 2009 81% of an organisation’s market value was based on intangible assets such as reputation, compared to 68% in 1995 and just 17% in 1975.
Also speaking, Dan Bena, head of Sustainable Development, PepsiCo, explained that, "for the globally conscious consumer, environment and food security areas top the list of important causes for companies to support". JC Gonzalez-Mendez from McDonalds Corporation, which purchases approximately 40,000 tonnes of Irish beef each year, accounting for 10% of total beef exports, said Ireland’s food supply chain and sustainability practices are regarded as ‘best in class’ internationally.
In his closing remarks, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Simon Coveney acknowledged the significant challenges ahead, but said that due to a rising world population,"we have no choice but to act together to safeguard the next generation and the generations following. At EU and United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) levels, officials of my department and other government departments work closely together to get international understanding of the need for balance between the vital objectives of meeting the food security challenge and setting ambitions for reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. Sustainable intensification will be part of the DNA of Irish food and drink for decades to come."
Exploring all opportunities
Recent Bord Bia-organised itineraries have allowed 150 new food and drink buyers to experience first-hand the high standards and world-class quality of Ireland’s food, drink and farming industry. Some 14 separate itineraries were devised for dairy, meat, alcohol, livestock and seafood buyers from new and emerging export markets including Russia, Libya, United Emirates, India and China. These involved farm and factory visits to more than 60 Irish food and drink companies, with an additional 50 companies involved in one-to-one buyer meetings.
Related Articles
Lidl Ireland and Kerry Dairy Ireland formulate €2m supply deal →
The sweetest thing →
Pringles launches eco-friendly paper-based tube nationwide →
Fans 0
Followers