Cargill has announced a new initiative that aims to reduce the company’s greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent per metric ton of food by 2030.
Dubbed “SeaFurther Sustainability,” the new initiative would save two billion kilograms of CO2 by 2030 if successful – the equivalent of removing 400,000 cars from the road, according to Cargill. The company said that the first species being targeted is salmon, but that it will expand to other species in the future.
“With SeaFurther Sustainability we are charting a new bold course, one that makes aquaculture better for our planet,” Cargill Aqua Nutrition President and Group Leader Pilar Cruz said in a release announcing the new initiative. “Seafood consumption is rising globally. We want to meet that demand; increasing production while decreasing environmental impact. By working closely with farmers to source sustainable ingredients, improve farm productivity and ensure fish welfare, Cargill is redefining aquaculture’s role in helping the world thrive.”
SeaFurther, Cargill announced, will be focused on three pillars: sourcing, maximizing, and caring. “Sourcing” refers to the company working with suppliers on obtaining “responsibly-sourced ingredients” and finding new ways to reuse by-products that would normally be discarded. “Maximizing” is oriented toward improving the efficiency of the feed and farmers’ use of it, increasing production while reducing the need for feed. Finally, “caring” aims to make sure animal welfare is a priority, promoting animal health and safeguarding fish through nutrition solutions.
“We are excited to see a clear commitment from Cargill that is focused on the needs to reduce the environmental footprint of salmon,” Nova Sea Biology and Quality Advisor Stian Amble said. “Delivering more sustainable aquaculture will require the value chain to align on key goals and work together to deliver on them. By agreeing on the value of the changes that are required, we can deliver true transformation to become more sustainable more quickly and at greater scale.”
The SeaFurther initiative, Cargill said, adds to its previous efforts to reduce carbon emissions throughout the business’s supply chain. The company has also aligned with the International Maritime Organization’s target goal of decarbonizing shipping by at least 50 percent by 2050.
Since the end of 2019, Cargill has installed USD 3 million (EUR 2.4 million) worth of energy saving equipment on its long-term time charter vessels, it said. The company said it has also partnered with BAR Technologies to utilize “WindWings,” large solid-wing sails that reduce the CO2 emissions of cargo ships by harnessing the wind.
“Cargill has an opportunity to drive real, positive climate impact for people and the planet,” Cruz said. “With our global footprint and view across supply chains, sustainable oceans and sustainable seafood can become a reality if we are all in, partnering with farmers, working across the industry and pulling in the same direction.”
