PepsiCo 50 in 5 project: Reducing the carbon footprint of potatoes
Working with potato growers to reduce water usage and greenhouse emissions by 50% in 5 years
Background
In 2011, PepsiCo set out to reduce the amount of carbon and water used for growing potatoes for Walkers crisps. The aim was to reduce the overall carbon and water footprint of its potato supply chain in the UK by 50% in 5 years. To achieve this, PepsiCo commissioned ADAS to uncover the emission hotspots in potato production, work with their growers to put remedial actions in place and monitor their progress.
Challenge
To achieve the ambitious target, an important step was to convince farmers to change their practices and utilise new technologies that would allow them to monitor the amount of water being used and assess the amount of carbon emissions being released into the atmosphere.
Method
Initially, PepsiCo used iCrop, a high-tech moisture probe to measure the moisture beneath the soil surface. This enabled growers to better understand their water usage by calculating how much water their crops needed and when. ADAS then introduced the Cool Farm Tool (CFT), a carbon calculator to collect data and identify emission hotspots on farm. Specific carbon management plans were then created with each grower. This enabled them to target their carbon emissions in specific areas and put in place various reduction programs including:
- renewable energy
- energy efficient storage solutions
- switching to more suitable varieties for better yields
- optimising nitrogen applications
- investing in drip irrigation
- installing tractor GPS to track fuel consumption.
Although initially sceptical, farmer motivation improved significantly as the project progressed and the carbon and cost savings for the farm business became evident.
Results
As a result of their endeavour, PepsiCo have achieved their goal of reducing their greenhouse gases and water usage in their potato crop by 50% in 5 years in the UK.
With this success, PepsiCo have begun to expand this technology to other regions and will continue working globally with growers to reduce their environmental impact through the company’s Sustainable Farming Initiative
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