Major milestone: Kalsec receives rating for sustainably sourced US crops
17 May 2018 --- As a first milestone since joining the SAI (Sustainable Agriculture Initiative) Platform in 2017, Kalsec has worked with its US growers to implement SAI Platform’s FSA 2.0 tool (Farm Sustainability Assessment). The FSA 2.0 tool evaluates sustainable farming practices covering environmental, economic and social aspects and is a widely recognized assessment in the food and beverage industry.
All farms growing Kalsec crops in Texas and Oklahoma have now completed the assessment process and received an FSA Silver level rating. Crops rated as part of this assessment include carrot, chili peppers, paprika, rosemary and beetroot, which are all traceable back to the farm and field.
“Responsible sourcing is an integral part of the Kalsec social responsibility strategy. It is great to see sustainable farming practices recognized in a way we can share with our stakeholders,” says Jim Justice, vice president of corporate responsibility and resource management.
As the first global food value chain initiative for sustainable agriculture, SAI Platform has more than 90 members representing different parts of the value chain, including cooperatives, traders, retailers, processors and brand companies, and addressing all dimensions of sustainable agriculture globally.
The SAI Platform is a member-driven organization that draws on the experience and expertise from its members to ensure that sustainable agriculture establishes itself as the answer to one of today’s significant challenges.
Speaking to FoodIngredientsFirst recently, Dr. Scott Nykaza, CEO of Kalsec said: “We are growing a strong majority of our products on our farms, so we have traceability on the farms all the way through to fork. We are aligned with UN sustainable development goals and make sure people have confidence in our supply chain.”
“Stringent requirements and global food safety systems have to grow because we have made investments in those areas for the future of the food industry,” he notes.
You can read a detailed interview with Nykaza here.
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