Cargill’s aqua nutrition business published its 2020 sustainability report that shares sustainability progress from across the company’s aqua nutrition business, including salmon, shrimp and other species. 

The year’s report highlights Cargill’s focus on building partnerships and collaborations that help fuel a global transformation through ocean stewardship, including sustainable ingredient sourcing, animal health and welfare, and innovations that help the industry do more with less. These areas are foundational to the SeaFurther™ Sustainability initiative, which the company launched in March 2021. 

Highlights from the 2020 Cargill aqua nutrition sustainability report include: 

• Innovative and efficient feed production: Cargill has realized a 32% reduction in Scope 1&2 GHG emissions per ton feed since 2017 for cold water feeds, exceeding the company’s goal for this part of the business. 
• Reducing carbon emissions: Cargill established a baseline for salmon feeds at 2.67 tCO2 e/t including land use change (Scope 1, 2 and 3 GHG). 
• Responsible sourcing: Cargill sourced 83% of marine ingredients from MarinTrust certified suppliers, and 59% came from sustainably managed fisheries aligned to Marine Stewardship Council (MSC). The company aims to source only from certified sustainably managed fisheries by 2025.  
• Supporting deforestation-free commitments: Across Cargill’s global aquaculture business, the company sourced 65% ProTerra, RTRS or organic certified soy. All Cargill salmon feed continues to be 100% ProTerra, RTRS or organic certified soy. 
• Launching Cargill’s first zero-emission aqua feed mill: Cargill launched a project to construct an energy efficient, electric dryer in our factory at Bergneset, which will replace fossil fuel with hydroelectric power and increase energy efficiency by more than 20%. Construction is ongoing and when completed early in 2022, the new dryer will cut 3,000 tons CO₂ equivalents each year. This builds on the efforts in Chile using only renewable electricity and Scotland using biomass to run the boiler to reduce Scope 1&2 emissions. 
• Doing more with less: In 2020, Cargill’s feed mills in Chile reached a milestone when they achieved their goal of a 50% reduction in GHG emissions in one year, thanks in large part to their switch to renewable energy. 
• Empowering women through the supply chain: One hundred female shrimp producers from Mexico, Central America and Ecuador will receive training thanks to an alliance between Cargill and the Edes Business School of the Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja (UTPL). The program will support the women in the development of their businesses and eliminate obstacles to improve their profitability.  
• Partnering to improve farm welfare standards: Cargill is working with the Global Aquaculture Association (GAA) to develop improved farm welfare standards and bring a new dimension to their certification schemes.  

Cargill’s purpose is to nourish the world in a safe, responsible and sustainable way and aquaculture plays an important role in fulfilling this purpose. Check out the sustainability report here.