Editor’s note: The following is part of a series of reports from The Packer’s Sustainability Insights 2024, which aims to better understand growers’, retailers’ and consumers’ involvement and market behaviors surrounding packaging, labeling, food waste, and sustainability. The annual survey was designed by Trust In Food — Farm Journal’s sustainable ag division — and conducted and analyzed by Farm Journal Marketing and Research Intelligence.
The Packer’s Sustainability Insights 2024 survey reveals that growers value sustainability but often lack documentation for sustainable farming practices.
The web survey of growers, completed between April 10-19, indicated that 78% of those polled consider sustainability is either a top or secondary priority to their operation.
Seventy-eight percent of growers cite cost as their biggest impediment when adopting new sustainability practices, and 60% do not have documentation processes for sustainable farming practices, according to the survey.
Four in 10 growers said they use farm management software (24%) and/or third-party auditors (19%) to track practices.
Soil testing and crop rotation continue to stand out as the top implemented sustainable farming practices, according to the survey.
Looking to the issue of climate goals, 54% of growers think a smaller carbon imprint can slow climate change. Fifty percent said more efficient equipment could achieve that end, according to the survey.
For soil goals, the survey found that two-thirds of growers say minimizing erosion, building nutrients and more precise input application all are “very important.” Seventy-five percent rated reducing pollution from water runoff as highly important to them.
Water availability for the long term is a concern for some growers. Sixty-eight percent of growers surveyed think water access will have a negative impact on their farm in the next three years, compared to 59% holding that view in the 2023 survey.
Sustainable packaging is a pain point for some growers, the survey found, with just one-third of growers saying they have adequate, affordable sustainable packaging options.
In fact, most don’t think sustainable packaging results in a higher price for their farm’s produce. Growers not only think they need more sustainable packaging options, but also need more affordable options available, the survey found.
Sixty-nine percent of growers have no food waste reduction goals for their operation, which is similar to results in the Sustainability Insights 2023 survey.
Soil testing was implemented by 79% of growers, down slightly from 82% in the 2023 survey. Crop rotation was reported by 64% of growers, down from 80% in 2023.
Forty-one percent of growers said they use precision ag tools (sensors, in-field technology) to help them with sustainability practices in the 2024 survey.
Twelve percent of growers said they work to reduce carbon emissions, and 7% of growers indicated they measure their farms’ carbon footprint.
Sustainability practices implemented, according to the 2024 survey, were:
- Soil testing — 79%
- Crop rotation — 64%
- Biological inputs — 41%
- Management improvements — 50%
- Cover crops — 48%
- Conservation practices — 55%
- Reduce conventional pesticides — 41%
- Precision ag systems — 41%
- Manual weed control — 43%
- Sustainable produce packaging — 14%
- Biodiversity, land set-aside — 21%
- Reduce carbon emissions — 12%
- Conversion to alternative energy — 14%
- Measured carbon footprint — 7%
Growers polled gave numerous reasons for implementing sustainable farming practices:
- I want to be a better steward — 53%
- I feel it is the responsible thing to do — 45%
- Improve water quality — 40%
- Helps manage risk — 21%
- Save money — 21%
- Priority for my customers — 16%
- Increases consumer demand — 12%
- Improve human health — 14%
- To address climate change — 10%
- Required by legislation — 9%
- Reduce food waste — 7%
- Reduce landfill waste — 3%
Most growers say cost continues to be a prohibiting factor for implementing new sustainability initiatives. In the Sustainability Insights 2024 survey, growers identified the top sustainability adoption challenges as:
- Cost — 78%
- Equipment and/or technology — 36%
- Time/energy — 33%
- Data — 33%
- Training/knowledge — 29%
- No benefit — 28%
- Hassle/too complex — 28%
- Trusted advisors — 19%
- No or limited demand — 31%
Related: View the entire digital edition of The Packer’s Sustainability Insights 2024
