In the fresh produce sector, renowned for operating on a low-margin, high-volume basis, it is imperative that a business manages its inputs very carefully throughout the supply chain. And these pressures will only increase as further international regulation and rising demand for oil, fuel and power take their toll.

Carbon footprinting has been on the agenda for many years - and yet it is still often misunderstood in the food industry, not least in fresh produce. But a business that measures its carbon footprint can take advantage of many tangible benefits.

Carbon footprinting offers a great insight into the use of a number of finite resources, all of which have an attributable environmental impact and associated real cost in both carbon emissions and monetary terms. It can allow you to access relevant data on input costs, offering a chance to slow the escalation of costs and take a measured approach in their reduction. It also allows a company to benchmark themselves and see where they stand within their sector.

In the past couple of years, the buzz around carbon footprinting has gradually been matched by an emphasis on the industry’s water footprint. Continued debate over water usage within the sector is a hot topic that deservedly requires research to underpin future varietal development, water collection and changes to growing methods. However, this should be set against the context of agricultural water abstraction being fewer than one per cent of total UK water abstraction. Attempting to separate carbon footprinting from water footprinting is nigh on impossible because the two areas are inextricably linked. Both have to be managed concurrently to ensure greater efficiencies and thus, reduced impact.

One of the biggest barriers for fresh produce firms in implementing carbon footprinting schemes is the very real concern that they will just become another due diligence or compliance procedure. But the AB Sustain team has already undertaken a great deal of work on footprinting in other areas such as livestock and to date, many producers have found the process to be enlightening, polarising their thoughts on steps to improve efficiency on-farm.

As a business with a strong track record in implementing carbon footprinting schemes in the food and drink industry, our largest challenge in fresh produce, across a broad spectrum of crops, will be to provide clear evidence of a real and current benefit of embracing the initial research.

In this economic climate, any business will require a clear and concise understanding of the long-term return on initial commitment to such a scheme. Only then will the fresh produce sector feel truly comfortable about taking a step in the right direction. -