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By Justin Goulet

McCain Foods commits to improving climate footprint through regenerative agriculture process

Jun 7, 2021 | 10:18 AM

FLORENCEVILLE, NB – By the end of this decade, every potato that becomes McCain Superfries, Bistro fries, potato patties, Smiles, Tasti Taters or homefries will be from a farm that’s using regenerative agricultural practices.

Regenerative agriculture is a farming technology that promotes biodiversity and more plant cover on fields in order to increase water efficiency, capture more carbon, and create greater immunity against droughts and floods.

As part of the release of the 2020 Global Sustainability report, Together, Towards Planet-Friendly Food, McCain is pledging to implement regenerative agricultural practices across 100 per cent of its potato acreage, which represents 370,000 acres worldwide, by 2030.

McCain’s CEO Max Koeune said that, “the pandemic has put a spotlight squarely on the precarious nature of our global food system, but the largest challenges we face are related to climate change.”

“It’s estimated that a quarter of man-made carbon emissions come from the production of food, and if we have to grow more food to feed more people, that will only intensify. If we don’t transform the way we grow food, the whole system is at risk of suffering irreparable damage.”

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McCain’s annual report on global sustainability tracks the progress of commitments made in its initial report issued last year and makes a series of new promises to help the company move closer to its climate objectives.

Charlie Angelakos, vice-present of Global External Affairs and Sustainability for McCain, said “with additional commitments between now and 2030, we are proud to play a role in combatting climate change and discovering a more sustainable way to farm.”

Among the commitments in this year’s update beyond its regenerative agriculture pledge are:

• Opening three Farms of the Future in different growing regions around the world by 2025.
• Reducing carbon emissions from potato farming, storage and freight by 25 per cent by 2030.
• Reducing carbon emissions from all operations by 50 per cent by 2030.
• Moving to 100 per cent renewable electricity by 2030.
• Using 100 per cent of every potato harvested.
• Sending zero waste to landfills by 2025.
• Removing palm oil from all McCain branded products by 2025.
• Making 100 per cent of packaging recyclable, reusable or compostable by 2025.
• Donating 200 million meals to global foodbanks and NGOs by 2025.

The company has also tracked its progress against commitments it made in its inaugural Global Sustainability Report last year, including:

• A six per cent reduction in absolute carbon emissions across the company’s global operations.
• A two per cent decrease in water use in water-stressed regions.
• A five per cent increase in use of renewable electricity.
• Donating 53 million meals — an estimated 16,000 tonnes of food — to food banks and NGOs worldwide throughout 2020.

McCain plans to implement regenerative agricultural practices on its three Farms of the Future, the firs of which is now operational in Florenceville, New Brunswick. Max Koeune added that McCain’s belief in regenerative agriculture goes back to the company’s roots as a farm business.

“As a global leader in food production, McCain has a responsibility to re-imaging the way we grow a potato in a way that is beneficial for both the planet, and the communities where we operate. We have to act today to make things better for tomorrow.”

The 2020 Global Sustainability report, Together, Towards Planet-Friendly Food can be read here.