SIZA is committed to fostering sustainable and ethical agricultural practices in South Africa. To support this mission, the SIZA Digital Recordkeeping Programme was launched in 2022, aiding producers, packhouses, and processing facilities in tracking their production inputs and outputs.
One of the most valuable features of the programme has been the partnership between the SIZA Digital Recordkeeping Programme and Confronting Climate Change (CCC). This collaboration between the two platforms allows members to capture their monthly inputs and outputs using the SIZA Digital Recordkeeping Programme, and for the annualised data to be sent to Confronting Climate Change’s platform in order for a Carbon Footprint calculation to be conducted.
To date, 274 members representing over 550 sites have made use of the SIZA Digital Recordkeeping Programme. Approximately 50 members have leveraged the integration between SIZA and CCC’s platforms to request and perform Carbon Footprint calculations using the data captured by SIZA. Additionally, SIZA offers a complimentary data capturing service, allowing members to submit their data to the SIZA office, which then uploads it to MySIZA on their behalf.
The integration between the platforms takes the monthly information that is entered into the SIZA Digital Recordkeeping Programme and converts it to annual figures in the units and format needed by CCC’s platform. One crucial aspect of the data transfer between the two platforms which producers, packhouses, and processing facilities should keep in mind, is that the number of sites that data is captured for on SIZA will influence the number of carbon footprints, and therefore licenses, that will need to be purchased from CCC. Therefore, we recommend that all businesses with multiple sites or packhouses/processing facilities reach out to SIZA before setting up their data capturing cycle to ensure that the site setup is done correctly and in the most economical way possible to reduce external costs if needed.
During the Carbon Footprint Calculation process, if information needs to be adjusted on CCC for any reason, this adjusted data is sent back to MySIZA once the Carbon Footprint calculation is completed so that the information on both platforms can be an accurate reflection. One of the biggest benefits of using the link between SIZA and CCC to conduct your Carbon Footprint calculation is that the business will receive an annual PDF report on MySIZA, which provides in-depth information on the monthly information that was captured. This report will also include a link to the full CCC carbon footprint report once the calculation has been completed, allowing members to share visibility on their information using the robust data-sharing functionality, which already forms part of the MySIZA platform. Requests for links from importers, exporters, and buyers can be made directly on MySIZA and are separate from the visibility links for Audit and SAQ data.
Additionally, the SIZA members who have completed their carbon footprint calculation, automatically qualify to become a Carbon Hero. Carbon Heroes is an innovative platform that recognises and celebrates organisations committed to calculating and understanding their carbon emissions within the CCC Initiative. By joining Carbon Heroes, SIZA members can showcase their dedication to sustainability and carbon emission reductions. This opportunity is provided at no additional cost to those who complete their carbon footprint calculation using the CCC carbon calculator. To view the current Carbon Heroes in the fruit industry please visit www.carbonheroes.co.za.
Due to varying market requirements and fluctuations in the seasonality of different commodities, some commodity groups, such as Citrus and Berries, have come out ahead with the biggest representation of carbon footprint calculations being requested and conducted using the API link between SIZA and CCC to date.
As more and more members of the programme complete their capturing for a 12-month cycle and over multiple years, we will be able to draw data to indicate whether SIZA members are reducing their average carbon emissions over time.
Measuring carbon emissions is integral to responsible business practices. By capturing and analysing data, businesses can assess their environmental footprint, thereby gaining insights that drive positive change. Evaluating this data provides a clear understanding of the business’s direct impact on the environment. It also helps in predicting future resource needs and expenditures, enabling cost savings while fulfilling their commitment to public health and environmental stewardship. This approach not only supports sustainable operations but also aligns with regulatory requirements and enhances corporate reputation in the context of environmental responsibility.
For more information about the SIZA Digital Recordkeeping Programme, the partnership with CCC, or to register for the programme, please email Carmen Botes (carmen@siza.co.za) or phone the SIZA office on 021 852 8184. Alternatively, to contact CCC, please send an email to support@bluenorth.co.za or phone 063 688 5593.