ofi supports the plant-based revolution with new almond sustainability targets

London

 

olam food ingredients (ofi), a global leader in natural and sustainable food and beverage ingredients, and its almond business have developed its first public sustainability targets for its 50,000 acres of almond orchards and farming operations in Australia and the US.

 

As plant-based diets move into the mainstream, almonds are a popular ingredient in everything from protein powders to nut butters for plant-based recipes. But eco-conscious consumers

want to know their almond products are having a positive impact on the people and environment they come from.


Ashok Krishen, CEO of ofi’s nuts platform said:

“At every stage, from plant to palate, we aim to delight consumers while supporting our purpose to be the change for good food and a healthy future. As one of the world's largest almond growers, we’ve long invested in sustainable practices across some of our almond farming operations, like state-of-the-art irrigation and bee-friendly habitats. Now, we are seeking to deliver even more transparency and impact by setting public targets and sharing our data and insights.

 

“Customers can use ofi’s almonds, processed in our manufacturing facilities across the US, Australia and Vietnam, with our other sustainably-sourced ingredients to create customized products. From chocolate coated almonds made with ofi sourced cocoa, to almond milk lattes made with organic coffee and spices, we can work with customers to create natural, delicious, and sustainable products with our ingredients.”

 

Almond Trail sets out ambitious targets for water stewardship, carbon reduction and support for communities and ecosystems, including a commitment to reduce emissions in line with achieving a 1.5˚C pathway.

 

 

By 2030, ofi is committing to a broad range of almond-related targets1, including:

 

  • Increase our irrigation distribution uniformity to 90%+ on all orchards2
  • Reduce absolute scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions in line with achieving a 1.5˚C pathway
  • Offset 75% of total energy demand by purchasing renewable energy
  • Achieve Bee Friendly certification across 100% of almond orchards
  • Achieve annual cover cropping in 75% of all orchards.

 

 

Burcu Turkay, Global Sustainability Manager of ofi’s nuts platform said:

“Innovation will be key to achieving these goals by using smart tech to track everything from tree growth to soil health. We’re working with several university partners to explore new research opportunities. For example, we’re looking at the potential of artificial intelligence in making data-driven decisions to optimize fertilization and water use.

 

“We’re also using technology to measure our impact. We will track sustainability data through our insights platform, AtSource3, helping us to monitor our progress and provide customers with a single view of their supply chain sustainability. For instance, in 2020 we launched a trial, called “More Crop per Drop”, to better understand the behavior of almond trees under different conditions. Using technology like this is helping the team in Australia reduce their water footprint, which is conveyed to customers on the AtSource Plus dashboard.”

 

 

Fiona Chambers, CEO of The Wheen Bee Foundation in Australia said:

“We applaud ofi’s public recognition of the important role bees and other insects play in almond production, and the company’s dedication to creating healthy ecosystems and improving diversity. The certification of 100% of its farms with the Bee Friendly Farming program would set a new standard for the almond industry, and other pollinator-reliant sectors across agriculture.

 

ofi has shown great leadership in its commitment to increasing pollinator habitats and foraging crops, and balancing the risks related to pest management with pollinator welfare front of mind, as part of its 2030 goals. The company’s partnerships with universities, almond boards and other related organizations will ensure best-practice pollinator management techniques are employed across the supply chain.

 

 

 

1 These targets apply to ofi orchard volumes
2 *Our baseline is 80% irrigation distribution uniformity.
3 AtSource is ofi’s sustainability insights platform, powered by a comprehensive suite of data and metrics to report on the social and environmental impact of almonds, as well as other ingredients, across the entire value chain. There are three tiers of data with increasing granularity for customers’ to choose from, based on their sustainability management requirements.
Press Release
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About ofi

 

olam food ingredients (“ofi”) was created in early 2020 following the announcement of the re-organisation within Olam International Limited (“Olam”) to unlock and maximise its long-term value. ofi intends to seek a primary listing on the premium segment of the London Stock Exchange, and a concurrent secondary listing in Singapore. ofi offers sustainable, natural, value-added food products and ingredients so that consumers can enjoy the healthy and indulgent products they love. It consists of industry-leading businesses of cocoa, coffee, dairy, nuts, and spices. ofi has built a unique global value chain presence including its own farming operations, farm-gate origination, and manufacturing facilities. ofi partners with customers, leveraging its complementary and differentiated portfolio of ‘on-trend’ food products, to co-create solutions that anticipate and meet changing consumer preferences as demand increases for healthier food that’s traceable and sustainable. To subscribe to the ofi newsroom and for more information on ofi please visit www.ofi.com. Follow @ofi-group.

 

 

 

About Olam Group

 

Olam Group is a leading food and agri-business supplying food, ingredients, feed and fibre to 20,900 customers worldwide. Its value chain spans over 60 countries and includes farming, processing and distribution operations, as well as a global network of farmers. By re-imagining global agriculture and food systems, Olam Group aims to address the many challenges involved in meeting the needs of a growing global population, while achieving positive impact for farming communities, our planet and all our stakeholders. Headquartered and listed in Singapore, Olam Group currently ranks among the top 30 largest primary listed companies in terms of market capitalisation on SGX-ST. Since June 2020, Olam Group has been included in the FTSE4Good Index Series, a global sustainable investment index series developed by FTSE Russell, following a rigorous assessment of Olam’s supply chain activities, impact on the environment and governance transparency. The FTSE4Good Index Series identifies companies that demonstrate strong Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) practices and is used by a variety of market participants to create and assess responsible investment funds. More information on Olam can be found at www.olamgroup.com. Follow @olam.

Contacts for ofi corporate communications

Nikki Barber

Head of Communications, ofi

nikki.barber@ofi.com

 

Nick Viner

Head of Media, ofi

nick.viner@ofi.com

Issued on behalf of ofi by Teneo

ofi@teneo.com

+44 7887 993130