Zero Food Loss from the Soil to the Table
Zero Food Loss from the Soil to the Table
Brief summary of the project content
Within the framework of the contracted agriculture model, our SuperFresh brand, operating under Kerevitaş, the leading company in Türkiye's frozen food and margarine market, we are realizing the “Superfresh Zero Food Loss from the Soil to the Table” business model. With this business model, we increase agricultural productivity by raising awareness of our farmers about sustainable agricultural practices, while at the same time reducing our environmental impact. Within the scope of the model in which we provide a purchase guarantee for agricultural products, we ensure the producer economically, and we encourage planned production by determining the production amount and price in advance. Thus, producers are not affected by periodic price fluctuations.
In addition, we aim to reduce waste by establishing a cyclical system, while reducing the need for new raw materials. A large part of the food waste generated in production is reused in the livestock sector, while the rest is reused to obtain energy in biogas plants. Since SuperFresh frozen and canned products are ready-made products with a long life, we also help consumers reduce food waste. Thus, with Superfresh products we prevent food losses from the soil to the table.
Some of the Sustainable Development Goals with our Zero Food Loss from the Soil to the Table business model;
- 2. Ending Hunger: Ending hunger, achieving food security and good nutrition, and supporting sustainable agriculture;
- 8. Decent Work and Economic Growth: Promoting stable, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all; supporting agriculture;
- 12. Responsible Production and Consumption: Ensuring sustainable production and consumption patterns;
- 15. Terrestrial Life: Protecting and improving terrestrial ecosystems and supporting their sustainable use; ensuring sustainable forest management, combating desertification; stopping and reversing land degradation; contributing preventing the loss of biodiversity.
Results of the project
We raise awareness of our farmers about sustainable agricultural practices in the "Zero Food Loss from the Soil to the Table" business model of our SuperFresh brand, which is part of Kerevitaş. We provide regular consultancy to all farmers from whom we purchase raw materials in order to increase their knowledge about agricultural production. In 2021, we provided consultancy to 169 farmers on sustainable agricultural practices, thus continuing to support our farmers' quality and efficient production opportunities. We also provide certified seeds, fertilizers and pesticides to contracted farmers within the scope of contract agriculture. In 2021, we planted 6,350 decares of contracted peas and green beans. Thanks to the Rhizobium Leguminosarum bacteria of peas and Rhizobium Phaseoli of green beans, it was ensured that the soil structure is regulated by binding the free nitrogen of the air to the soil and that 50% less pure nitrogen fertilizer is used for the plant to be planted after it. Sweet corn, grain corn, silage corn, cauliflower, broccoli and brussels sprouts were planted after 6,350 decares of peas and green beans planted under contract. By using 15 kg less pure nitrogen per decare in this 6.350 decare area, the producer has saved 15x11TL=165 TL/decare and a total of 165 TL X 6.350=1.05 million TL.
In 2021, we irrigated 12,533 (93.3%) decares of 13.438 decares of corn land with drip irrigation system and obtained 14,519 tons of product from this area. We paid an additional 29.040 TL premium to our farmers, as they used the drip irrigation system to produce these 14,519 tons of products. We saved 3.71 million tons of water by using 6.32 million tons of water instead of 10.3 million tons of water with drip irrigation. In addition, thanks to this method, our farmers saved 808 thousand TL in energy, while gaining 261 kg more products from the area and a total profit of 3.7 million TL.
In addition to water management in our operations, we also attach great importance to reducing water consumption in the supply chain, where the largest consumption occurs. By using and promoting drip irrigation system in agricultural areas, we reduce both energy consumption and water consumption. With the drip irrigation method, we save 37% water and 30% energy compared to sprinkler irrigation. In the last three years, we have reached a rate of 93.3% by expanding drip irrigation in corn fields. This year, we achieved a material saving of 808 thousand TL and savings of 1.72 million kWh with a water saving of 3.71 million tons.
A large part of the food waste generated in production is reused in the livestock sector, while the rest is reused to obtain energy in biogas plants. In 2021, we used 22,100 tons of potato, corn, bean, and spinach residues from our Emirdağ factory as animal feed. This way, we met the nutritional needs of 3,442 cattle annually.
Is it still ongoing or has it been merged with another project?
Our sustainability works in scope of our "Zero Food Loss from the Soil to the Table" business model of our SuperFresh brand, which is part of Kerevitaş, still continue. We continue to support our country's farmers, and therefore our economy, by preventing losses through farmer trainings to the final consumer, as well as by regenerating resources in a cyclical system.