Key Takeaways:
- Significant Progress in Regenerative Agriculture: McCain Foods has onboarded 51% of its global potato acreage within its Regenerative Agriculture Framework, with 28% advancing towards comprehensive adoption.
- Resource Efficiency and Environmental Footprint Reduction: The company has improved water-use efficiency, reduced carbon emissions, and prioritized renewable energy sources.
- Focus on Good Food and Community Involvement: McCain has launched new policies for clean ingredients and nutrition, reduced sodium in products, and has heavily invested in community development and volunteer initiatives.
- Innovative Farming Techniques and Training: The company’s ‘Farm of the Future’ projects in Canada and Africa are central to trialing and implementing new farming methods and extensive training for farmers.
- Ongoing Commitment to Sustainability: While acknowledging the progress, McCain emphasizes the need for continued efforts and collaboration with various stakeholders for sustainable food production.
McCain Foods’ Sustainability Efforts
McCain Foods, a global leader in frozen potato products and prepared snacks has recently released its 2023 Global Sustainability Report, outlining the company’s advances in sustainability and regenerative agriculture practices. The report reflects McCain’s commitment to transforming its operations and supply chain into more environmentally friendly and socially responsible.
Advancements in Regenerative Agriculture
A key highlight of the report is McCain’s progress in regenerative agriculture. The company has successfully integrated 51% of its global potato acreage into its Regenerative Agriculture Framework, with a significant portion progressing towards fully adopting these practices. This initiative is part of McCain’s goal to implement regenerative agriculture practices across all its potato-growing operations by the decade’s end.
Resource-Efficient Operations
McCain is also making strides in enhancing the resource efficiency of its operations. Key achievements include a 9.4% improvement in water-use efficiency in water-stressed regions, a reduction in carbon emissions by 9.8% since 2017, and a shift towards renewable energy sources, with over 21% of its electrical energy now coming from renewables.
Focus on Good Food and Community Engagement
The company has launched new global policies for clean ingredients and nutrition, reducing sodium in its products, and removing artificial ingredients. Additionally, through the McCain Chips In initiative, employees have contributed over 17,000 volunteer hours, and the company has supported community development programs, benefiting thousands of individuals.
Innovative Farming Techniques and Global Learning
McCain’s ‘Farm of the Future’ projects in Canada and Africa are at the forefront of experimenting with and learning from new agricultural practices. These farms serve as a model for innovation in farming techniques, providing valuable insights shared with McCain’s global network of 3,500 farming partners.
Ongoing Commitment and Call for Collaboration
While McCain Foods has made commendable progress, the company acknowledges the need for ongoing efforts and collaboration with various stakeholders, including farmers, governments, financial institutions, NGOs, suppliers, customers, and others in the food system, to achieve its sustainability goals.
McCain Foods’ 2023 Global Sustainability Report demonstrates the company’s commitment to sustainability, highlighting significant advancements in regenerative agriculture, resource efficiency, and community engagement. With continued efforts and collaborative partnerships, McCain aims to lead the way in sustainable and responsible food production.
Read the complete report here.
McCain Foods Recent News
McCain Foods US Secures $6.9M for Climate-Smart Potato Farming (2023/11/08)
McCain Foods USA has received a $6.9 million grant from the USDA to enhance sustainable farming practices over 6,000 acres in Wisconsin and Maine. This initiative, part of the “Improving Soil Health in Potato Supply Chains” project, involves a strategic partnership with Campbell Soup Company and the Soil Health Institute. It aims to integrate soil health and climate-smart agricultural practices, marking a significant step towards McCain’s goal of applying regenerative agriculture to all its potato acreage by 2030. This collaboration supports McCain’s and Campbell’s sustainability commitments and sets a benchmark in the agricultural industry for implementing sustainable and economically viable farming practices.
