Demonstrating tangible supply chain sustainability wins for food and drink industry partners

According to Landcare Australia CEO Dr Shane Norrish, “Our organisation is seeing more food and beverage businesses looking to build sustainability initiatives within their supply chains as well as incorporating the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).”

The projects these businesses are funding engage farmers involved in their supply chains in sustainable agriculture practices to help maintain food security and care for the natural environment on their property.

James Link, Head of Landcare Australia Partnerships says, “We are working to align our corporate sustainable agriculture partnership projects with the principles of the Landcare Farming Program.”

The Landcare Farming Program, which is funded by the Australian Government and jointly managed by Landcare Australia and the National Landcare Network, is supporting Australian farmers to achieve exceptional landcare outcomes in environmental stewardship, and protect the health of our soil, water and biodiversity.

Current sustainable agriculture projects managed by Landcare Australia and funded by food and drink industry corporate partners include:

4 Pines Brewing Company

Partnering with Landcare Australia to build sustainability projects into its supply chain was a “no brainer” according to 4 Pines Brewing Company CMO Todd Atkinson.  Landcare Australia is managing a project on Ryefield Hops farm (a key 4 Pine’s supplier) in southern NSW to support biodiversity and sustainable agriculture outcomes along a section of riparian habitat on an eroded creek line.

“Malt and hops are integral to the beer we brew; one bad season can be detrimental to growing conditions which can have a knock-on effect on our end. By supporting our growers through Landcare Australia, we will be helping to ensure that our key supply partner’s livelihood is secure, their soil is healthy and that our beer will continue to taste great,” says Chris Willcock, 4 Pines Chief Brewer.

The March 2021 issue of Food & Drink Business features the 4 Pines/Landcare Australia partnership.

The a2 Milk™ Company

Since its inception in 2017, the a2 Milk™ Sustainable Agriculture Landcare Grants program has provided more than $600,000 in funding for sustainability initiatives with positive environmental and business outcomes for a2 Milk™ farms.

Most recently, nine a2 Milk™ dairy farmers in New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia received grants of up to $35,000 each for projects focusing on increased biodiversity, reduced erosion, improved productivity, and improved pasture health, as well as energy reduction initiatives. Click for more information about this partnership and project outcomes. 

Latina Fresh

Lantina Fresh, a General Mills brand, is partnering with Landcare Australia to develop a sustainable agriculture program in northwest New South Wales to help farmers improve the sustainability and resilience of farm production systems.

Landcare Australia and Latina Fresh are working with farmers to develop methods such as cover cropping and harvest stubble height manipulation for conserving more of any spring and summer rainfall in the soils and storing it for when needed by crops.  These activities have been shown to help stabilise soils, increase fallow efficiency, and, in the medium to long term, help improve resilience of regional farming systems.

Learnings from the trials will be shared to benefit all farmers in the region to advance sustainable agricultural practices in Australia. Click to view short video about this partnership.

Other food and beverage industry partners supporting Landcare and Coastcare projects

In addition to working directly with farmers in food and beverage company supply chains, Landcare Australia also works with other food and beverage partners to deliver a range of environmental and business outcomes including:

Hawke’s Brewing Read interview with Nathan Lennon, co-owner of Hawke’s Brewing Company about what the brewer’s partnership with Landcare Australia means for its business.

Banrock Station, the Australian eco-friendly wine brand from Accolade Wines, partnered with Landcare Australia to plant 100,000 native trees and shrubs over 2021 and 2022.  Read more

The Nature Valley™ Trails Landcare Grants program is enabling two not-for-profit environmental conservation groups to rejuvenate nature trails impacted by bushfires.  Read about these grant projects.

Coca-Cola Australia’s 15-year partnership with Landcare Australia focuses on supporting the development of Landcare and Coastcare Groups through funding Coca-Cola Foundation and Landcare Australia Coastal Protection grants. Read about some of the project outcomes.

Photo: Multiple food and drink industry companies have partnered with Landcare Australia, including 4 Pines Brewing for which Landcare Australia is managing a biodiversity project on Ryefield Hops farm (a key 4 Pine’s supplier) in southern NSW.