Cargill’s latest initiative, SeaFurtherâ„¢ Sustainability, will help aquaculture farmers raise more sustainable seafood with less environmental impact. It is part of the company’s overall carbon commitment. With a science-based scope 3 target, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30% per tonne of food by 2030. SeaFurther alone will help save two billion kg of CO2 by 2030.
“With SeaFurther Sustainability we are charting a new bold course, one that makes aquaculture better for our planet,” saidPilar Cruz, president and group leader for Cargill Aqua Nutrition. “Seafood consumption is rising globally. We want to meet that demand; increasing production while decreasing environmental impact. By working closely with farmers to source sustainable ingredients, improve farm productivity and ensure fish welfare, Cargill is redefining aquaculture’s role in helping the world thrive.”
Reducing the climate impact of aquaculture and feed
Cargill’s SeaFurther program will start with salmon farmers, who are focused on the role they play in ocean stewardship and addressing the sustainability of food systems, especially with relation to climate change. While the company is starting with salmon, SeaFurther will expand, adding species, like shrimp in the near future.
“We are excited to see a clear commitment from Cargill that is focused on the needs to reduce the environmental footprint of salmon,”said Stian Amble, Biology and Quality Advisor, Nova Sea. “Delivering more sustainable aquaculture will require the value chain to align on key goals and work together to deliver on them. By agreeing on the value of the changes that are required, we can deliver true transformation to become more sustainable more quickly and at greater scale.”
Through SeaFurther Sustainability, Cargill is setting the goal to reduce the footprint of farmed salmon 30% by 2030. Today, feed represents up to 90% of a salmon’s environmental footprint. To reduce this climate impact and enable salmon farmers to provide consumers with sustainably raised seafood options, SeaFurther is focused on:
- Sourcing — Cargill’s feed is designed to minimise the environmental footprint of aquaculture. It will work closely with suppliers to grow responsibly-sourced ingredients and supply chains while finding ways to reuse by-products, like fish trimmings that would normally be discarded, whenever we can. Together, we strive to identify and source novel ingredients that create even more sustainable feed, helping our customers and partners achieve our shared sustainability goals – and meet global consumer demand.
- Maximising — Cargill knows aqua sustainability happens at the farmer level. Utilising its extensive aquaculture feed experience, Cargill helps farmers do more with less to increase efficiency and maximise production while decreasing their impact on the planet.
- Caring — Consumers want to know how their protein was raised and animal welfare must be at the center of any sustainability program. SeaFurther intends to safeguard farmed fish through nutrition solutions that protect and promote animal health, reducing the use of resources and the impact on the ocean at large.
SeaFurther joins a fleet of Cargill’s strategic partnerships, investments, research and technologies aimed at protecting oceans. Cargill is leading the way in reducing the environmental impact of global bulk shipping in line with the International Maritime Organization’s target to reduce decarbonize shipping by at least 50% by 2050. Since the end of 2019, Cargill has installed around USD3 million worth of energy saving equipment onboard some of its long-term time charter vessels. Cargill is also a strategic partner of ZeroNorth, a tech start-up that provides digital tools that improve vessel performance and reduce fuel consumption. In 2020, Cargill partnered with BAR Technologies to bring their WindWings – large, solid wing sails that measure up to 45 meters in height – to the deck of bulk cargo ships to harness the power of the wind and reduce CO2 emissions by as much as 30%
“Cargill has an opportunity to drive real, positive climate impact for people and the planet,” said Cruz. “With our global footprint and view across supply chains, sustainable oceans and sustainable seafood can become a reality if we are all in, partnering with farmers, working across the industry and pulling in the same direction.”
