Page 11 - NPN November22

New tool for carbon choices
LAUNCHED at the projects, including soil important to work out
2022 Australian Farm Institute Roundtable, ‘Cultivating ESG Capa- bility’, in Canberra, a new online tool offers a practical resource for landowners and prima- ry producers to navigate the tricky landscape of carbon choices.
carbon and native vegeta- tion management.”
which one best fits your business’s goals, capabil- ities, strategic plans and riskappetite.”
The Carbon Opportu- nity Decision Support Tool forms part of Ag- riFutures Australia’s $2 million investment in carbon initiatives, de- signed to address key knowledge gaps and build understanding of carbon management, how farmers, growers and supply chain busi- nesses can participate in carbon projects.
The tool explains which carbon opportuni- ties may be available for a producer and encour- ages users to consider the potential benefits and costs of different carbon projects for their farming businesses.
“Carbon markets are a useful tool in promoting and rewarding sequestra- tion, but they are not the only option,” Mr Heath said.
THE golden arches are setting their own welfare commitments for suppli- ers to follow by 2024.
commitment such as the These trials compare ly transition its supply
AgriFutures Australia managing director John Harvey said the invest- ment aims to build pro- ducer capability to better understand the opportu- nities and risks in the increasingly complex but vital carbon space.
Ms Helms said it’s a global group of scientific and sustainability advi- sors.
Establish third-party audits to ensure suppliers comply with McDonald’s improved chicken wel- fare standards.
“Carbon is complex – understanding pathways is critical to success and AgriFutures has an im- portant role in connect- ing rural industries to the latest insights so they can make informed decisions about their future,” Mr Harvey said.
AgriFutures Austral- ia’s carbon program has a strong producer and grower focus on build- ing carbon knowledge, with projects set to de- liver practical benefits throughout the agricul- tural supply chain.
McDonald’s identified 15 key welfare indicators and related targets, and committed to report on farm-level care across its largest markets.
Smart Broiler project
Conduct a study to measure the feasibility of extending commitments to remaining global mar- kets.
“Investing in carbon re- search, development and extension is our commit- ment to providing new knowledge and support- ing farmers to better un- derstand the benefits and risks of carbon farming
AFI executive director Richard Heath said that with a lot of ‘noise’ about carbon opportunities, the key message of the tool is to know your options and make good choices.
“AgriFutures Australia is proud to be investing in a forward-thinking program of research that will help create a more sustainable future for the Australian agricultural sector,” Mr Harvey said.
Using a science-led and outcome-based approach, McDonald’s developed eight commitments con- cerning chicken animal welfare.
She said the company is collecting data from its suppliers to create a wel- fare database as well as other databases following metrics such as antibiotic use.
Commercial trials
The company commit- ted $2 million to support the identification and advancement of on-farm chicken health and wel- fare monitoring technolo- gies.
Ms Helms said McDon- ald’s is always looking at the feasibility of imple- menting these commit- ments across its global supply chain.
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The Carbon Oppor- tunity Decision Sup- port Tool, developed by the Australian Farm Institute, guides users through questions relat- ing to risk appetite and their business goals.
Supporting Australian farmers and farm busi- nesses to remain compet- itive in the context of the growing environmental, social and governance conversation was one of the driving forces behind the tool’s development.
Using a science-led and outcome-based approach, McDonald’s developed eight commitments concerning chicken animal welfare.
McDonald’s chicken welfare commitments for 2024
Opportunities covered in the tool include par- ticipation in the Austral- ian Government’s Emis- sion Reduction Fund or private carbon markets, access to sustainability linked loans and carbon neutral certification, as well as productivity gains.
“With sustainabil- ity reporting becoming mainstream, farmers will need to understand ‘insetting’ – keeping car- bon credits to balance your own emissions ledger – as well as offset markets.
As part of the Poultry Sustainability and Wel- fare Summit in Atlanta held on October 18-21, sustainable sourcing and animal health and welfare manager for McDonald’s Corporation Janet Helms reviewed the quick-ser- vice restaurant chain’s upcoming commitment to work with its suppliers to achieve certain targets.
The following are the eight commitments devel- oped by McDonald’s. Chicken sustainability advisory council
Ms Helms said the practice is already stand- ard for its European sup- ply chain.
Links are also provided to case studies and com- plementary resources such as the AgriFutures Australia Farmer’s hand- book to on-farm carbon management.
“And whatever you de- cide to do, remember that getting carbon back into your farming system is the ultimate goal.”
Ms Helms appeared on October 20, 2022 at the conference presented by the US Roundtable for Sustainable Poultry and Eggs and the Internation- al Poultry Welfare Alli- ance.
Measurably improve chicken welfare
Ms Helms said the company developed an enrichment and light- ing guide with specific requirements that are re- source-based rather than outcome-based.
These auditors would be on farm, she said, to support the work being done to enhance welfare. Measure feasibility
“As an essential in- gredient for agriculture, reinvesting carbon back into farming systems is a win win,” he said.
It aims to implement them across 70 percent or more of its global supply chain by 2024.
McDonald’s is launch- ing commercial trials to measure the influence of lighting, space allowance and genetics on poultry performance.
The project is a collabo- rative effort with funding from the US Department of Agriculture which aims to accelerate prom- ising welfare technology. Controlled atmospheric stunning
One day, rather than 70 percent compliance, it could reach 95 or even 100 percent.
“There are plenty of pathways for this, so it’s
The global food giant isoneofafewwhohave not taken up a welfare
McDonalds will ful-
Right now, it’s focus- ing on the future of the supply chain in Africa, South America and the Asian Pacific region.
Global Animal Partner- ship’s standards.
different aspects of broil- er welfare and sustain- ability, so the company knows how these factors affect its supply chain. Enrichment and light- ing
chain to the CAS method in the US and Canada by 2024.
The chain launched a global chicken sustain- ability advisory council to create an action plan to support its commitments.
McDonalds is promot- ing natural behaviours such as pecking, perching and dustbathing, with 100 percent access to floor lit- ter and ample light in its supply chain.
Third-party audits