We’re transforming agriculture to be more climate resilient and to regenerate the living world.
The challenges of climate change, land degradation and biodiversity loss facing our planet require collaborative and immediate action.
We’re taking action to play our part to fight climate change and protect natural ecosystems. Our sustainability initiatives aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, support the transition to nature-positive supply chains, and reduce food waste.
Advancing Regenerative Ag
Good agriculture starts with healthy soil. We’re future-proofing agriculture by identifying hotspots, harnessing satellite imagery & data, to develop targeted approaches that improve soil health & advance regenerative practices. We work with farmers to monitor soil health & train them in regenerative techniques that help protect soil biodiversity & nutrients.
Preserving Landscapes
We employ holistic on-farm approaches to protect biodiversity and natural ecosystems in the landscapes where our crops are grown. We work with scientists to map land & biodiversity hotspots across our supply chains to better understand risk factors while engaging farmers to help protect forests.
Restoring Soil Fertility for Cotton Growers
In Côte d'Ivoire, we are helping cotton farmers maintain and restore soil fertility. In 2021, more than 14,000 farmers have been trained in mixed cropping, green manuring, and enriched composting techniques to enhance soil organic carbon and improve yield and income.
Building Climate Resilience for Farmers
Farmers need support to adapt and build resilience amidst a changing climate. We promote good agricultural practices that optimise resources and support access to high-yielding, drought-resistant seeds for crops such as wheat and cotton. We’re committed to net zero reduction of absolute emissions by 2050 with a multi-pronged decarbonisation plan that includes addressing emissions in our value chains.
Implementing Water Stewardship
Our water stewardship strategy aims to mitigate and manage water risks. Solutions include managing on-farm water use efficiency in at-risk locations and implementing irrigation methods. By rethinking how water-intensive crops such as rice are grown, we have helped rice farmers in Vietnam reduce their water usage by up to 40%.
Protecting Forests & Biodiversity
Forests are fundamental to thriving ecosystems and provide a critical barrier against climate change. Agroforestry, conservation and restoration initiatives ensure that business, people and nature co-exist and thrive together. Alongside 14 global companies we have agreed a roadmap to accelerate actions to halt commodity-linked deforestation supply chains. In places where we operate, such as the Republic of Congo, we are responsibly managing natural forest concessions.
Integrating Regenerative Agriculture
Transforming global supply chains across commodities involves tackling various complexities from farm to fork. Hear from Julie Greene, our Chief Sustainability Officer, and how we're leading efforts to champion nature-based solutions, ensuring sustainable production throughout the entire value chain.
Climate-smart Rice Farming
As a leading in rice merchant, processor and exporter, we strive to support farmer livelihoods in Asia by promoting sustainable rice farming. To reduce methane emissions in smallholder rice production systems, we have been working through public-private partnerships to introduce climate-smart agriculture practices, such as alternate wetting and drying, laser land levelling, site-specific nutrient management, and better straw and stubble management. After success with rice farmers in Thailand since 2018, the initiative has expanded to Vietnam, India and Nigeria, showing promising results for reduced emissions, improved yields and profitability.
Customising Fertiliser Formulations
In Thailand, our training on how to customise fertiliser formulations to the crops needs and soil sample results (instead of using pre-blended fertilisers) has helped rice farmers reduce nitrogen application by 40% and phosphorus application by 21%, which also reduces GHG emissions and the risks of eutrophication in waterways from fertiliser runoff.
Organic Farming
In Peru, we’re creating more sustainable quinoa and chia supply chains, while delivering positive social and environmental impacts for the local communities. Our work with smallholder farmers enhances crop quality, yields, income, soil fertility, and pest management. Simultaneously, we supported these farming communities with ongoing health and educational initiatives. Thanks to our training, 2,118 farmers have secured organic certification, granting access to new markets in Europe and the U.S. This contributes to transparent and responsible global supply chains for these sought-after grains.
Pioneering Responsible Forestry
In the Republic of the Congo, our responsible wood business depends on the forests that support both livelihoods and biodiversity. We preserve high-integrity forest areas through selective, low impact harvesting. Collaboration is crucial, and we've worked with the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and the Congolese government for two decades in an innovative tripartite agreement. This partnership strengthens anti-poaching efforts, identifies and expands protected forest areas, such as the 9,500-hectare Djéké Triangle incorporated into the Nouabale-Ndoki National Park in March 2023.
Partnering to Scale Our Impact
We continue to review our own operations and supply chain to make positive changes. However, we can't make the level of change required alone. We partner with organisations to achieve greater impact, are active in a number of sector-wide initiatives and also collaborate with customers to help them mitigate their environmental impacts.
Sustainability Across Other Areas of Our Value Chain
