Environmental sustainability is essential to farming as it ensures the long-term health and productivity of agricultural ecosystems. Farming with nature, rather than against it, helps maintain soil fertility, conserve water, and reduce the need for chemical inputs, which can harm both the environment and human health. Sustainable practices, such as crop rotation, organic farming, and using natural predators for pest control, foster biodiversity and resilience in the face of climate change. By prioritising environmental sustainability, farmers can secure food supplies for future generations while protecting the planet’s natural resources.
Farming with nature focuses on four key areas: water, soil, energy and waste, and farm ecosystems and biodiversity.
Efficient water use and protection ensure that our water resources do not deplete. Soil health is improved with crop rotation and cover cropping, making the land more fertile and resilient. Using renewable energy, reducing plastics, and managing waste properly helps reduce environmental harm. Encouraging biodiversity with diverse crops and natural habitats supports healthy ecosystems and makes farms more resilient. By adopting these sustainable practices, we can ensure farming remains productive and eco-friendly for future generations.
The question is, why are sustainable practices so important to buyers that they have compliance requirements?
Sustainable practices are guided by environmental regulations and acts (e.g., NEMA, NEMBA, NWA) that align with local and global regulations. They are crucial to buyers because they address environmental concerns, meet consumer expectations, mitigate risks, serve as proof of compliance with regulations, enhance brand reputation, drive innovation, and ensure long-term business resilience and profitability.
Sustainability practices are essential for ensuring that everyone around the globe has a healthy environment to nurture, care for, and live in. This makes sustainability not just a South African requirement or problem but a global imperative that demands collective action and adherence from all nations.
How does this compare to food safety? Food safety is governed by stringent regulations and standards (e.g., HACCP – Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points, FDA regulations, EU food safety regulations) to prevent foodborne illnesses and ensure the safety and quality of food products.
Sustainable practices and food safety are not duplicative but complementary pillars of responsible agriculture and production. Even though it seems that certain areas are duplicated or there are some complementary goals, sustainability and food safety practices have distinct focuses and standards that cannot be compared or substituted.