The extended partnership between Cargill and WRI will result in the enhancement of tools such as Global Forest Watch and Water Management Toolkit
Cargill Lake Office in Minnetonka, Minnesota. (Credit: Wikipedia.org/BobakHa'Eri.)
US-based grain trader Cargill has partnered with World Resources Institute (WRI) for developing and improving tools to advance sustainable agriculture and business operations.
The tools and best practices include the development of two programmes including Global Forest Watch and a new Water Management Toolkit. Cargill also contributed $2m to extend its partnership with WRI.
The two organisations are co-developing scientifically-based methodologies that can enable companies to set targets based on water issues specific to their operations and agricultural value chains.
The organisations aim to leverage their learnings and best practices and strategy and share it with other businesses and organisations.
The new Water Management Toolkit will include a water strategy guide along with data from Aqueduct Water Risk Atlas and the Aqueduct Food tool, which can be used by businesses across several industries to prioritize action in their operations and supply chains.
Water Management Toolkit will help Cargill to promote sustainable use of water
The model is also expected to allow Cargill to address shared water challenges and promote sustainable water use within the industry.
Cargill water director Truke Smoor said: “Water is a key priority for Cargill because it is such a critical input to agriculture. We believe we have an important leadership role in working with partners, like WRI, and across our value chain to accelerate sustainable water solutions that protect water quality and quantity and promote access to clean water.”
The two companies also plan to improve Global Forest Watch which was launched in 2014. It is a compilation of maps created with satellite data, cloud computing and human inputs. It will help businesses understand and monitor deforestation in near real-time.
Since its launch, it is claimed to have been visited by 2.5 million individuals the website. Cargill is also a user of Global Forest Watch Pro, using its data and products to monitor its coca supply chain.
The American grain trader claims to have assessed forest cover change in more than 153,000 cocoa farms covering more than 385,000 hectares of cocoa farm area in Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana, which are the two largest suppliers under its total direct sourcing networks.
With Cargill’s contribution, WRI aims to add new data to the existing maps and offer on-the-ground user support for enhanced Global Forest Watch Pro.
WRI food, forests, water and the ocean vice president Craig Hanson said: “WRI creates industry-leading tools that businesses rely on to set and execute ambitious, science-based sustainability strategies.
“As a business that works towards a more sustainable operation each day, we find Cargill’s experience to be invaluable. Cargill’s grant will enable many more businesses to have access to the tools and resources they need to manage and improve their own sustainability programs.”
Furthermore, Cargill is also supporting WRI in developing new protocols to reduce food loss and waste and measure greenhouse gas emissions for land-use change, which is expected to bring long-term value to operations of business across the globe.