Update on IFPA Sustainability Initiatives

October 1, 2024

IFPA Vice President of Sustainability Tamara Muruetagoiena provides this following update on IFPA sustainability initiatives (originally published in an advertorial in The Packer).

What efforts are being made to combat climate change in the produce industry?
The produce industry is already a solution to climate change. By increasing our consumption of fruits & vegetables, we improve our health and the health of the
planet while lowering our carbon footprint.

In the area of Climate Smart Agriculture, the goals are to adapt to climate change, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and sequester carbon in the soil. IFPA is the recipient of one of the U.S. grants for Climate Smart agriculture & forestry. With some financial
incentives, we have enrolled 100 growers around the U.S. to experiment with Climate
Smart practices over a period of four years.

We’ll be collecting the data including how those practices impacted the yield. We are
at the tail end of year one, and we’re getting great feedback from the growers.

What role does regenerative agriculture play in the produce industry?
In 2024, regenerative agriculture has to address our global challenges and must be
seen through a lens of Climate Smart agriculture.

The Sustainability Council and IFPA have collectively worked on a definition that will
serve as a North Star. At the Global Show, we will share with everyone how we define
regenerative agriculture.

What are the latest industry advancements in sustainable packaging?
IFPA has designated a working group to study sustainable packaging. For example, what happens to packaging that’s been discarded. Biodegradable materials and reusable packaging are also being explored. Plastic has been targeted, but we often have reasons why some packaging must be plastic. One endeavor is to improve plastic to make it more recyclable and increase its recycled content.

We see a lot of innovation in compostable PLU stickers. This field can be tricky
because sometimes there’s no infrastructure in place to transform compostable material into compost.

How have sustainability requirements changed in the industry?
Sustainability requirements are increasing exponentially. The last time we counted,
there were 200 sustainability certifications available, and every year 13 new ones are
added. Managing sustainability requirements is complex as the demands from the
market and regulators are intense and all over the place. Some buyers want growers to focus on integrative pest management, while others are focused on energy use. Companies have climate goals, and they are looking for suppliers to align with those goals.

The same problem existed in the field of Food Safety 15 years ago. We need to benchmark standards, so retailers won’t give producers more limited options. At the Consumer Goods Forum, there’s an initiative to benchmark industry standards. I’m a member of the Steering Committee, and we’re working to develop these
standards.

At the Global Show, we will spend a full day covering this topic on October 16th. It’s open to the public, and we look forward to a productive conversation.

Update on IFPA Sustainability Initiatives

Additional Press