McCain Foods marks sustainability milestones in 2022 report

Toronto-based processor McCain Foods Limited has released its 2022 sustainability report. The analysis outlines how McCain Foods responded to challenges in the last fiscal year posed by climate change, as well as how the company prioritized farming practices that improved soil health and supported farming partners’ transition to more regenerative practices.

“We have made marked improvements through action and collaboration and will continue to embrace climatic challenges as opportunities to innovate and make meaningful change to the food system,” Charlie Angelakos, vice president of global external affairs and sustainability for McCain Foods, said in a news release.

In the report, McCain Foods outlines how it remains focused on innovation in agriculture and collaborates with farmers to accelerate regenerative agriculture practices in its supply chain. One way it does this is by providing technical assistance and financing opportunities to farmers to help tackle the escalating effects of climate change on yields and crop quality. Notably, McCain Foods launched its second Farm of the Future in South Africa, according to the release.

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McCain Foods said it has achieved its water-efficiency target, three years ahead of schedule, improved carbon dioxide emissions reductions and enhanced its usage of renewable electricity companywide. The company also has made contributions to support the communities where it operates through donations and volunteering, according to the release.  

The milestones illustrate steady progress towards McCain Foods’ goal of adopting smart and sustainable farming practices, making its operations more resource-efficient and, ultimately, producing “planet-friendly” food that people enjoy, and building thriving communities where the company operates, according to the release.

“Environmental and social stewardship are part of our DNA at McCain,” Max Koeune, president and CEO of McCain Foods, said in the release. “The escalating climate and nature crises illustrate the fragility of our global food system with wide-reaching impact on consumers, growers, the land and communities. We believe agriculture can and must be transformed to safeguard our future and we are encouraged by the progress we are seeing in our sustainability journey. While much work remains, we are determined to continue to advance on our commitments.”

According to the release, McCain Foods' sustainability report highlights include: 

Smart and sustainable farming

• In 2022 McCain Foods launched Farm of the Future Africa, where it will test regenerative farming in a Southern Hemisphere environment. The first crop of potatoes has been planted at a farm in Lichtenburg, South Africa.

• McCain Foods has implemented its Regenerative Agriculture Framework to support farmers and measure adoption of regenerative farming practices in priority regions; established financing partnerships for regenerative farming in France and Canada; achieved an 8% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions per tonne from potato farming, storage and freight; and improved water-use efficiency by 11% in water-stressed regions.

Resource-efficient operations

• McCain Foods’ use of renewable electricity is now up to 18.5% of its total electricity use with absolute carbon dioxide emissions reduced by 6% from 2017 (Scope 1 and 2) and a 17% reduction in carbon dioxide per tonne of product produced.

• Ninety-eight percent of McCain’s paper packaging and 90% of its plastic packaging is now designed for recycling.

Good food

• In 2022, McCain Foods developed strategic partnerships with plant-forward food producers Strong Roots and The Simple Root while strengthening its partnership with innovative vertical farm GoodLeaf.

• All of McCain Foods' facilities are now GFSI (Global Food Safety Initiative) certified. There has been noted sodium reduction and artificial ingredients removed from key products, and McCain Foods has achieved 100% voluntarily implementation of Nutriscore in France, Belgium and Germany and Health Star Rating in Australia. 

Thriving communities

• In 2022, McCain donated the equivalent of 10.9 million meals to food banks and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), supported more than 1,200 staff in 19 countries in providing 6,432 volunteer hours, and reached 2,921 new beneficiaries through community projects and partnerships.