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Sustainable sourcing

Sustainability is no longer an optional add-on for food manufacturers and their suppliers. Climate change and shrinking resources mean a responsible approach is called for – and shareholders and customers want to know what is being done to safeguard food supplies and the interests of future generations.

Diet change may be greener option than local sourcing

23-Apr-2009 - As consumers seek out food with a reduced carbon footprint, some experts believe a dietary shift from red meat and dairy consumption may be more effective than turning to locally sourced products, suggests new analysis.

G8 consider curbing speculation to control commodity prices

21-Apr-2009 - Speculation in the commodity markets needs close monitoring to help ease price volatility, the first ever G8 meeting of agricultural ministers has concluded, and agri-food chains should be more closely-coordinated to boost efficiency.

Talking organics to the occasional buyer

20-Apr-2009 - FoodNavigator talks to Peter Melchett, policy director at the Soil Association, about communication efforts to help more consumers understand and engage in organics, and the all-important issue of climate change.

Fairtrade is purchase pre-requisite for many, survey

17-Apr-2009 - Consumers don’t just expect companies to do no harm in communities they source from, but to actually contribute to development, a major international survey commissioned by FLO International indicates – and they appear to be sticking by their principles despite the economic woes.

Mars pledges sustainable cocoa only by 2020

10-Apr-2009 - Mars has pledged that its entire cocoa supply will be certified as sustainably produced by 2020, through a multi-year, multi-country deal forged with the Rainforest Alliance.

PureCircle establishing stevia’s sustainability early on

03-Apr-2009 - The supply chain for stevia is sound and sustainable, says PureCircle, which is communicating the ethical values behind its high purity Reb-A sweetener in keeping with the natural image.

Conference to address substantiation of sustainability claims

03-Apr-2009 - Organic Monitor is organising a Sustainable Foods Summit in June, which will give air the key debates on ethical and environment aspects of the food supply chain.

Roundtable to unite green food assessment methods

05-Mar-2009 - The food industry’s new sustainability roundtable will seek to unify all the green assessment methods now in use and under development, says the CIAA’s environmental director, rather than developing yet another approach from scratch.

Cadbury builds Fairtrade awareness, bar-by-bar

04-Mar-2009 - Cadbury’s commitment to source cocoa for its popular Dairy Milk chocolate bars is a strong signal that responsible sourcing is moving out of a niche and into the mainstream, and will introduce more consumers to the principal.

Sustainability Roundtable to reduce green label overload

27-Feb-2009 - The priority of the new Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) Roundtable is to reduce the confusing array of different labels and statements appearing on food packages but fostering agreement on scientific assessment of environmental impact.

Scientific roadmap needed to tackle food insecurity

26-Feb-2009 - The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) said it s to publish a list of priorities to tackle the challenges of delivering sustainable food security and the scientific advances needed to overcome them.

Climate change makes seeds ‘crown jewels’ of diversity

26-Feb-2009 - Crop and climate experts are emphasising the need for crop diversity to protect food security in the face of climate change, as the Svalbard Global Seed Vault celebrates its first anniversary.

UN calls for Green revolution to prevent food crisis

19-Feb-2009 - A major change is needed in the way food is produced, handled and disposed of in order to feed the world's rising population and protect the environment as prices are expected to remain volatile, according to a new UN report.

Consumers cannot be king in a sustainable world

05-Feb-2009 - Depending on the consumers to drive the food system down a more sustainable route is misplaced as government, food manufacturers and other industry players need to take the wheel, according to a new report.

Soil Association backs down on organic air freight issue

28-Jan-2009 - The UK’s Soil Association has decided to allow organic air freighted food to carry its certification mark, despite proposing in 2007 that it should not be certified unless it also met fair trade and ethical standards.

Industry invites Czech involvement in sustainability roundtable

26-Jan-2009 - The European food industry is in discussions over establishing a roundtable on sustainable production and consumption throughout the food chain, and is inviting input from the Czech presidency.

Fears for frogs as leg trade leaps

23-Jan-2009 - The trend for eating frogs’ legs is putting frog populations in Indonesia under pressure, according to Australian scientists who are calling for better resources management and mandatory certification at the point of processing.

Enzyme technology is tool for sustainable food, report

22-Jan-2009 - More research is needed on innovative raw material sourcing and alternative uses, according to a new report on how chemistry can contribute to sustainable food supply, which sees novel enzyme technology is a key area of development for ingredients, processing and preservation.

Chr Hansen’s environmental performance revealed

22-Jan-2009 - Shifting production closer to the customer and developing products to reduce resource consumption are among the measures introduced by Chr Hansen which it says has improved its environmental record, whilst adding value to the business.

Danisco offers sustainable palm-based emulsifiers

20-Jan-2009 - Danisco is now offering sustainable options on its palm-based emulsifiers, as palm oil produced at certified sustainable plantations enters the marketplace.

Sustainability and profits go hand in hand, says Nizo

16-Jan-2009 - Shareholders are increasingly looking for evidence that a food company has green projects ingrained in the management strategy, says Nizo Food Research, which is organising a workshop on how to make sustainability profitable.

Could consumers suffer from green logo overload?

05-Dec-2008 - Food and beverage manufacturers are adopting more sustainable practices and seek to communicate these to consumers. But are well-meaning consumers confused by the many different green and ethical logos in use?

Baobab: Sustainable and in-demand

18-Nov-2008 - After gaining novel foods approval in the EU, baobab is tipped to become a billion dollar industry. Stephen Daniells speaks to William Smith from Afriplex to find out what foods baobab fruit pulp is turning up in, and whether supply can match the demand.

Certificate system enables more support for sustainable palm oil

13-Nov-2008 - The first shipment of sustainable palm oil is set to arrive in Europe next week; but even if manufacturers do not use the oil directly they can still buy into the movement with certificates that allow them to state their support, explained the RSPO president.

Certifier launches new sourcing standards for soy

06-Oct-2008 - UK food manufacturers can now source soy that is certified as Non-GM and Responsibly Produced, as two new standards have been developed in response to retailer demands.