Can Defra’s new schemes that aim to ‘save the planet’ really help farmers rebound?
UK farmers who have been battered by a range of challenges that include labour shortages and rising costs will be getting at least some relief from the government’s Environmental Land Management (ELM) plan, according to Defra. Defra announced on Thursday it will offer farms up to £1,000 extra in grants provided they can be both […]
Serious Apeel: How game-changing technology is eliminating food waste at Asda
Using edible produce protection technology from U.S.-based Apeel, UK supermarket chain Asda reduced its citrus waste by 36% in select stores and avocado waste by 10% during the course of a year. The trial, which was done in 150 Asda locations, shows the tremendous potential of using the company’s “plant-based” peels to help retailers achieve […]
Sustainability: Tapping into the wings of goodness through ‘awareness, care and respect.’
Recently, I had to present a guest lecture on sustainability to social entrepreneurs who are attending a college-based adult education program. I am soon turning 65, so I asked myself how relevant my grey-haired experience would be to the lives and business environment of this age group (mostly 25-35), especially on a topic they care […]
To reduce food waste, Tesco pitches produce exchange program to suppliers
Tesco is giving more than 3,500 suppliers the chance to alleviate costs and expand environmentally friendly practices by taking part in a new scheme where they can sell or transfer unwanted products to other suppliers. The unique trade system called Tesco Exchange will be a digital “marketplace” where suppliers with too much stock – “crops, […]
Canadian vertical farm ‘taking sustainability to the next level’
Ontario-based Local Leaf Farms is fighting some of the industry’s biggest issues, one sustainably packaged romaine at a time. Its particular model seeks to provide fresher, more nutritious options while supporting locally grown produce. To bring its vision to life, Local Leaf Farms builds facilities that are no more than 7,000 sq ft. but produce […]
European Market: Weaving sustainability into the corporate environment
On Aug. 16, U.S. President Joe Biden signed a bill into law that he has described as “the most significant legislation in history to tackle the climate crisis.” The Inflation Reduction Act contains $437 billion of spending — $369 billion of which will go toward emissions-cutting measures such as tax breaks for low-carbon energy and […]
Produce packaging gets more environmentally friendly while preventing food waste grows
Times are changing for consumer packaging in the produce industry. But even though plastic packaging is under closer scrutiny, that doesn’t mean that it is on the way out. Grand View research recently forecasted the global food packaging market will reach $562.3 billion by 2030, expanding at a compound annual growth rate of 5.5%. The […]
Freshfel launching Environmental Footprint methodology for fruits and vegetables
Freshfel Europe is developing what it calls a “a state-of-the-art, standardized methodology” in hopes of improving sustainability across the fresh produce industry. Under its Freshfel Environmental Footprint Initiative, the group and its members plan to launch the Product Environmental Footprint Category Rules (PEFCR) for fruit and vegetables. The goal is that more transparency, better communication […]
