IRELAND— Kepak, an Irish beef processor, has become the first Irish business to commit to a pioneering global framework for regenerative agriculture practices.
Kepak played a pivotal role in creating and testing this framework over the past two years, positioning itself as a key player in the development of regenerative agriculture practices.
The framework, officially launched by the Sustainable Agriculture Initiative Platform (SAI), provided the agriculture industry with a globally standardized approach to transition towards regenerative agricultural practices.
SAI is a prominent nonprofit organization dedicated to driving sustainable agriculture worldwide, and Kepak is the sole beef processor globally to embrace the principles outlined in this new framework.
Meanwhile, global giants such as Nestlé, Danone, Unilever, and PepsiCo have also committed to this groundbreaking global standard.
At a time when climate change threatens to reduce global farming productivity by up to 30%, the agriculture industry faces a critical juncture.
The Regenerating Together framework, along with its broader program, seeks to rally the food and beverage industry towards achieving large-scale, long-term systemic change, ensuring the resilience and future-proofing of the global food supply.
Through collaborative efforts with farmers, academic institutions, NGOs, and dedicated businesses, SAI Platform has devised a coherent approach to agriculture.
This approach aims to address and adapt to the impacts of climate change, enhance soil health, support biodiversity, retain water in the soil, and reduce water consumption, all while ensuring the viability of farmers’ businesses remains a central focus.
Serving as a beacon for the industry, SAI Platform’s Regenerating Together program aspires to unify the agriculture sector under a common objective: a resilient and productive food system that regenerates natural ecosystems and enhances farmers’ livelihoods.
The Regenerating Together framework, created with practical use at the farm level, empowers crop, dairy, and beef farmers across the globe to collaborate with supply chain partners in achieving tangible regenerative agriculture outcomes.
It aims to translate the often-ambiguous concepts of regenerative agriculture into actionable steps at the farm level.
Additionally, this framework will be integrated into SAI Platform’s existing industry solutions, including the European Roundtable for Beef Sustainability (ERBS), the Farm Sustainability Assessment (FSA), and the Sustainable Dairy Partnership (SDP).
Developed in close consultation with farmers, academics, and NGOs, the framework facilitates the assessment, monitoring, and verification of farm practices to facilitate the global shift towards regenerative agriculture.
SAI Platform’s Regenerating Together program identifies four key areas of impact; water, soil, biodiversity, and climate and outlines four distinct steps to implement the framework: risk screening assessment, outcome selection, the adoption of principles and practices, and ongoing monitoring and assessment of progress.
“Kepak have been involved in the development and piloting of the Regenerative Agriculture framework on supplier farms in Ireland and the UK,” Rebecca Thomson, Kepak Group Sustainability Manager, stated.
“Based on the results, we can see the potential this can have to provide clarity and consistency at the farm level, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, restoring and enhancing water quality and biodiversity, and regenerating soils, which will embed the agri-food sector in the circular regenerative bioeconomy.”
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