At a glance:
As climate change becomes a concern for shoppers in wealthier nations, producers in developing countries such as SA could be negatively
impacted by the potential market access implications. SA's wine and fruit industry is a prime example or where such risk exists.
It exports 2,2 Mt of fruit and 412 M litres of wine each year. About 10%-15% of this goes to the UK.
But with climate change and national strategies to mitigates it effects increasingly becoming a foreign policy issue,
and with large European supermarket chains such as Sainsbury's and Tesco, putting pressure on supply chains to account
for reduced emissions, local wine makers and fruit growers have reason to be concerned.
"In the near future, carbon emissions could be used as an artificial trade barrier to SA producers," says Hugh Campbell, GM of the Deciduous
Fruit Producers' Trust research team. "In the developing world, we've got to start managing the perceptions of buyers and policy makers by
providing them with objective information on carbon emissions along the supply chain as well as keep them informed of measures to reduce these emissions."
The SA wine and fruit industry, with its funding partners, has launched a carbon footprint study to enable SA
growers and service providers to determine their carbon footprint and identify carbon hotspots with the objective of finding
creative measure to reducing carbon emissions.
One of the main outcomes of this three-year research project will be to provide a standardised, credible and scientifically
robust way for producers and packhouses to measure their carbon emissions. In the absence of any clear standards, In the absence
of any clear standards, there is the real risk of inconsistent and incomparable footprinting methodologies being conducted that do not
stand up to scientific scrutiny. The aim of this project is to allow free access to a standardized carbon calculator tool so that all
users are able to compare their carbon emissions year-on-year and allow them to benchmark themselves against fellow industry players.
The tool will provide the data collection templates, calculations and reporting which provide the user insight to GHG emission
hotspot areas within their supply chain, from which sound business management decisions can be made to address their carbon
management needs and strategies.
Aims of the project:
- To highlight and communicate climate change issues, opportunities and threats to the agricultural sector
- To create an industry standard for GHG auditing within the fruit and wine sector, and ensure a standardised measurement, reporting and comparison of individual farm emissions plus emissions along the supply chain that highlights emission reduction opportunities.
- To enable informed and authoritative comment, debate and negotiation by stakeholders and policy-makers
- To guide short and long term strategy formulation by decision-makers across the industry
Project timeframes:
The initial funding cycle runs from mid 2008 until end 2010. Deliverables include:
- Communication about the project - information documents
- Website & information portal development
- Freely available online carbon calculator and aligned protocol document
- Benchmarking exercises and industry trends & target setting reporting
- Strategic Framework for the industry based on local and relevant data from the calculator
The project team:
The project is coordinated by DFPT Research and will be managed by a steering committee made up of the funders and key experts (see SC Member list below).
Genesis Analytics have been contracted to conduct the research and develop the calculator tool and necessary documentation.
Funders:
The Regional Standards Program (RSP) of the ComMark Trust is the major funder of the carbon footprint research project.
The RSP is funded by the UK's Department for International Development (DFID) to help SADC countries and firms meet international
standards for agri-business products. Other backers of the research programme are the Post Harvest Innovation Programme,
the National Agricultural Marketing Council and the South African wine and fresh fruit industries (South African Table Grapes,
South African Apple and Pear Producers' Association, South African Stone Fruit Producers' Association, Citrus Research International,
Citrus Growers Association of Southern Africa, South African Avocado Growers Association and Winetech).
The Steering Committee Members:
The project's strength lies in the collaborative effort of the funders, industry representatives and selected experts,
who all sit on the Steering Committee. They are actively involved in the overall shaping of, and day-to-day decision making for the project.
Jennifer Rathebe (ComMark Trust)
Dr Malcolm Dodd (Post Harvest Innovation Programme)
Prof André Jooste (National Agricultural Marketing Council)
Jan Booysen (Winetech)
Jacques Rossouw (Winetech)
Daniel Schietekat (IPW)
Stuart Symington (Fresh Produce Exporters' Forum)
Dr Kevin Chambers (Capespan)
David Farrell (Colors Fruit)
Hugh Campbell (DFPT Research) - Chairperson
Prof Vaughan Hattingh (Citrus Research International)
Paul Hardman (Citrus Growers' Association)
Mike Elliot (South African Subtropical Growers' Association)
Derek Donkin (South African Subtropical Growers' Association)
Koos Bouwer (Industrial Engineer: Consultant)
Shelly Fuller (Genesis Analytics)
Tony Knowles (Genesis Analytics)
Dr Stephanie Midgley (OneWorld Sustainable Investments)
Roché Kenny (APL Group)
"This project will allow us to address both the buyers and growers concerns about carbon efficient supply chain
systems by providing the tools, results and planning needed to secure the industry's long-term sustainability and
the jobs it provides." Hugh Campbell, project Co-ordinator.
Through conservative energy technologies and sustainable farming practices, substantial emission reduction
opportunities exist which can improve efficiency and reduce costs throughout the supply chain.
This project is specifically aimed to address the needs within the fruit & wine sector and the
information provided has been collated with this target audience in mind. The calculator is also calibrated
for activities within the fruit and wine production and processing supply chains. However there is potential to
expand this scope to include other agricultural commodities in subsequent phases of the project. Watch this space!
Contact us:
Project Co-ordinator: Hugh Campbell
Tel: 021 882 8470, email: hugh@dfptresearch.co.za
Project Manager: Shelly Fuller
email: shellyf@genesis-analytics.com
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