Nature’s Pride and growers join forces for CO2 reduction and WASH initiatives
Together with our sister company Berries Pride, we are taking a significant step to increase the sustainability of avocado and blueberry production. This public-private partnership will implement concrete initiatives together with growers to reduce CO2 emissions and improve access to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH). These innovative solutions contribute to a living environment that is good for people and nature. This initiative emphasises our commitment to a future-proof value chain.
In 2023 we and Berries Pride, in partnership with the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RvO), initiated a project aimed at identifying and reducing the sustainability risks involved in the production of avocados and berries. Based on this study, forward-thinking growers were selected to tackle these risks and increase chain sustainability. The project involves two of our partner growers: ACP from Peru and ZZ2 in South Africa. Our goal is to improve access to water, sanitation and hygiene and reduce CO2 emissions.
Among other things, this multi-year project will investigative possibilities to install drinking points, improve sanitation facilities and introduce awareness campaigns and training for employees. Ways of measuring the impact of the initiatives taken by growers to reduce CO2 emission, such using natural compost and energy-efficient transport, will also be explored. Another part of the project focuses on developing methods that can be used to easily scale up these WASH and CO2 reduction initiatives to other products and production regions.
The project also provides a platform to share the insights gained by the participating companies so they can inspire other growers to join in and make the sector more sustainable. The ultimate objective is to create a sustainable, future-proof value chain with attention and respect for people and nature.
“We are convinced that our vision and mission share the same values as Nature’s Pride. In addition, the joint project contributes to the goals outlined in our sustainability plan, while collaboration with our client is coherently integrated into ACP's sustainability strategy,” says Pamela Gomez, Superintendent of Resource Management and Sustainability at ACP.
“At ZZ2, we believe that sustainability is not just a goal, but a responsibility. This collaboration allows us to push the boundaries of what’s possible in sustainable farming, from CO2 reduction to improving water and hygiene standards. By working together, we are building a future where agriculture supports both people and the planet.” explains Hendus Janse van Rensburg, agricultural economist at ZZ2.
Working together on a sustainable future
We stress that creating a future-proof value chain is inextricably linked with commercial success and sustainability, and especially so in the current context of climate change, increasingly strict legislation in this area and growing consumer awareness. By partnering with the Netherlands Enterprise Agency and growers ACP and ZZ2, we want to demonstrate that taking sustainable action is not only possible, but also highly effective. “Care for people and nature can only be genuinely successful if we embed these values, together with our chain partners and public parties such as the Netherlands Enterprise Agency, in every link of the supply chain. So that we can let everyone enjoy the tastiest exotic fruits and vegetables, both today and tomorrow,” according to Adriëlle Dankier, CEO of Nature’s Pride.