We Must Tell the Peanut Sustainability Story BY BOB PARKER President & CEO
Farmers have long been concerned with caring for the land. You want to leave your farm to future generations, so investing in conservation research and sustainable practices means investing in your future and your children’s. Additionally, good sustainability practices often result in lower-input costs and more profitable returns. As an industry, we have an opportunity to be a part of the sustainability solution along with an obligation to find ways to be even more environmentally friendly. Consumers want to know where their products come from and what effects they have on the environment. Peanuts have an incredible and evolving sustainability story, and we must tell it. We know consumers believe brands have as much responsibility as the government for sustainability and want to know more about the sustainability of products they buy. As the peanut industry explores innovative ways to leave a positive impact on the environment, bringing consumers along on the journey is critical. We must show, with facts and data, how consuming peanuts and peanut butter contributes to a healthier environment.
Peanut farmers are making continuous improvements in water conservation, chemical reduction and land resource management. Compared to other major nuts, peanuts have one of the smallest carbon footprints and, by far, the lowest water usage. Recently, the American Peanut Council launched an initiative called “Sustainable U.S. Peanuts,” which will set standards for sustainably grown peanuts. The National Peanut Board (NPB) voted to support and provide funding for this initiative, which will help brands and retailers provide facts to consumers about the sustainability of peanuts. NPB encourages growers to consider participating in the sustainability initiative. With this important information, we will not only tell our sustainability story but also provide documented evidence of the sustainability of peanuts.
Editor's Note: In PQ 44’s CEO column, we published a water usage chart with new data that had not yet been approved for release. The data has since been approved and can be found on NationalPeanutBoard.org.
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