WWF releases examination of Nutreco’s sustainability roadmap

The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has released a new app, in collaboration with Republic Systems, focusing on traceability in commodity supply chains.

The new app, called transparenC, is a free, cloud-based smartphone app and desktop web portal. According to WWF, it is the first free open-source traceability software for commodity supply chains.

WWF said it developed the app to address increasing consumer demand to know where food is coming from – demand which has in some cases resulted in new regulations across all stages of production. However, that traceability can often fall short due to the complex nature of seafood supply chains, WWF said. In response, it developed the app to be used anywhere by farmers, buyer, and retailers without fees that might pose a barrier to use.

“Developed with Seafood Task Force members to help meet practicalities on the ground, transparenC is a flexible, easy to use, and innovative digital traceability tool. It can provide essential traceability oversight for supply chain companies from vessel to plate,” Seafood Task Force Executive Director Martin Thurley said.

This software represents WWF’s philosophy on how to ensure traceability – low-cost solutions that are widely accessible – it said.

“Traceability in complex supply chains, especially in the developing world, will not be solved with high-tech solutions. Instead, by focusing on cost-effective tools that help organize and link supply chain actors together, we’ll begin to achieve traceability results that deliver big impact. That’s why we developed transparenC – to break down barriers to advancing traceability and make it accessible to all,” WWF Vice President and Global Network Lead for Aquaculture Aaron McNevin said.  

In relation to traceability, WWF has also released a new business brief covering Nutreco’s RoadMap 2025, the company’s plan to make its animal feed more sustainable. Animal protein is one of the largest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions, with animal feed often the largest component of those emissions. Feed also contributes to climate change through use of resources such as land, water, and fertilizer that can lead to deforestation and habitat conversion. Many feed companies lack transparency and progress towards making and meeting environmental commitments, according to WWF.

For its project, Nutreco involved both internal and external stakeholders to identify 18 sustainability issues facing the company, and narrowed that down to three three key pillars of health and welfare, climate and circularity, and good citizenship, to improve upon.

Nutreco said its focus within its health and welfare pillar is anti-microbial resistance. The company is seeking to create new products and services to reduce dependency on antibiotic usage in animal husbandry.

Nutreco's efforts on climate and circularity are focused on greenhouse gas emission reductions, using science-based targets to reduce emissions, sustainable ingredients sourcing, incorporating life-cycle assessment methodologies, and addressing the responsible use of natural resources.

Nutreco's third pillar, good citizenship, is focused on diversity and inclusion in staff and the empowerment of local communities with the implementation of best practices and technology to allow sustainable farming to raise those communities out of poverty.

This business brief prepared by WWF examined Nutreco’s plan to see what lessons are applicable to the entire feed industry. The plan serves as an example of how food industry leaders can set ambitious yet realistic targets in order to meet commitment goals of maintaining transparency and accountability, WWF said.

Image courtesy of the World Wildlife Fund