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EDF’s Sustainable Sourcing Initiative
Maggie Monast
Senior Policy Analyst
Why is sustainable grain production important to EDF?
Sustainability Challenges
PEOPLE
Feeding a growing population, with
increasing protein demand
PLANET
GHG emissions, “dead zones”, drinking water
PROSPERITY
Economic challenges from extreme weather
and price fluctuations
SOLUTIONS
What is Needed:
• Maintain or increase grain production
• Increase efficiency
• Reduce fertilizer loss
• Increase landscape resilience
Feed 9 Billion People
Stabilize Climate
Protect Drinking
Water
Restore dead zones
What is EDF’s approach to supply chain sustainability?
FARMERS
EDF’s Sustainable Sourcing Initiative
RETAILERS
Advocate for performance-
focused approach to
sustainability
FOOD COMPANIES
Collaborate to develop and
implement strong fertilizer
optimization plans
Identify, evaluate, and improve tools
and service offerings available
to farmers
GRAIN BUYERS, LIVESTOCK
Engage to help farmer education
and data collection efforts
INFORMATION SERVICES &
TECHNOLOGY
Increase awareness and use of tools and
services available
Fate of Corn Grown in the U.S.
Animal Feed38%
Ethanol37%
Processed Food12%Export
8%
Surplus5%
Source: National Corn Growers Association
What are some of EDF’s current collaborations?
Smithfield Foods/Murphy-Brown
• Largest pork producer in the world
• How to respond to Walmart’s request for a fertilizer optimization plan and boost local grain?
• Goal: 75% of corn sourcing acreage and 60% of wheat sourcing acreage in optimal fertilizer management by 2018
Works for the
business as a whole
• Agricultural wholesale cooperative owned by thousands of local retail locations
• SUSTAIN: program to promote nutrient use efficiency and soil health
• Goal: 10 million acres engaged in SUSTAIN by 2020
• 2015 pilots in IA, KS, MO, NE, IL, OH
United Suppliers
Turn-key program
to meet
sustainability goals
How can EDF collaborate with the beef industry?
1. Set goals and objectives
2. Engage feed supply chain to advance nutrient use efficiency and soil health measures Identify priority sourcing regions
Process focused on performance across sourcing regions, notsegregated supply or traceability of grains themselves
Collaborative process to identify tools, technologies, platforms for improving NUE, soil health
Involve key players - grower groups, ag retailers, technology providers, advisory infrastructure, and more
3. Data collection and documentation to prove performance while fully protecting individual farmer confidentiality
4. Communicate benefits
5. Replicate results
Project Development Process
