SA: Woolworths changes the way fresh produce is grown

Woolworths, together with its produce farmers, is pioneering a new way of farming fresh produce that improves soil and plant health, preserves scarce water resources and promotes biodiversity. In initial trials, yields and quality have been more consistent, while water, herbicide, pesticide and fertiliser use have been reduced. This will help ensure that Woolworths suppliers will be able to grow sufficient produce in future. What’s more, the new methods won’t add anything to the cost of production – or to the price consumers pay.

As Woolworths chief executive officer Simon Susman explains: “Having realised several years ago that the supply of organically grown produce would, by its nature, be inconsistent – although we will continue to offer organic produce as a selective choice for our customers – and that conventional farming methods were not sustainable in the long run, Woolworths decided to work with our produce farmers to develop alternatives. Our agricultural experts have spent three years developing the practices with our suppliers. These have now been incorporated into what we’ve called ‘Farming for the future’.”

It’s all part of Woolworths comprehensive sustainability programme, their Good business journey, and, as Susman explains, it’s somewhere between organic farming and current conventional farming practices.

Like organic farming, ‘Farming for the future’ focuses on building and maintaining healthy soil. Says Susman, “As any farmer will tell you, it takes good soil to produce good food.

What we found was that most of our fruit and vegetables were being grown in soil that is increasingly depleted of minerals and nutrients. Conventional farming methods extract minerals and nutrients from the soil without replacing them, so over time, more and more fertilisers are needed. Fertilisers are basically mineral salts, so they also increase the salinity of the soil.”

Susman continues, “As a result, even with additional expensive inputs, experience has shown that the volume and quality of crops decreases over time. In other words, it takes more to produce less. The goal of ‘Farming for the Future’ is to do the opposite: produce more using less.”

That means looking after the soil in order to grow quality produce while minimising any negative effect on the environment and reducing farmers’ dependence on chemical fertilisers, herbicides and pesticides. “Without proper soil management now, South Africa will not be able to produce quality fresh produce in the future,” says Susman.

Improving soil and water quality and encouraging biodiversity

Healthy soil also offers numerous benefits for the environment. “When soil is healthy, it requires less irrigation because it is better able to retain water. It is also better able to bind carbon back into the earth, which helps mitigate against global warming,” says Susman, adding that soil erosion and loss of top soil are also reduced. “Healthy soil also requires fewer chemical interventions, so these techniques also reduce chemical run-off into water systems, helping to maintain the quality of our water.”

He explains, “Responsible management of water as a natural resource is a major concern in South Africa and a key focus of ‘Farming for the future’. Both on-farm crop irrigation practices, as well as management of wastewater generated in fresh produce pack houses and processing facilities, form an integral part of the ‘Farming for the future’ programme."

Using fewer chemicals and pesticides also contributes to maintaining and encouraging biodiversity. This is of particular significance in South Africa, which is home to three of only 34 biodiversity ‘hotspots’ in the world and is, in fact, the third most biodiverse country on the planet. ‘Farming for the future’ encourages biodiversity not only because a healthy field is a complex ecosystem which includes everything from microbes in the soil to the birds that enjoy a share of the crop, but also because, as soils are not depleted, there is less need to continually clear new land for farming.

Farm workers also benefit in terms of reduced exposure to pesticides and herbicides.

No extra cost to consumers

More good news for South African consumers is that producing food using ‘Farming for the future’ methods costs no more than conventional farming.

Look for the new logo in stores

Woolworths customers will begin seeing the new ‘Farming for the future’ logo on some fresh produce this month. Produce from farms that are at least 75 percent compliant with the new ‘Farming for the future’ criteria will carry the full logo; produce from farms that are from 50 percent to 74 percent compliant will carry an ‘in conversion’ logo. By 2012, all locally grown fresh produce at Woolworths – which accounts for over 90 percent of Woolworths fresh produce – will either be certified organic or grown using ‘Farming for the future’ methods. Currently more than 50 percent of Woolworths produce is farmed using these methods.

Susman concludes, “’Farming for the future’ is a significant paradigm shift and a giant leap forward in how we farm fresh produce in South Africa. In my view, it will help to secure the sustainability of South Africa’s soils, water resources and productive capacity in the long term. It is clearly kinder to the environment, better for true biodiversity and, best of all, yields and quality are more consistent and there is no extra cost to our customers.”


Source: supermarket.co.za

Publication date: 11/5/2009

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