Cargill introduces programme for food starch sustainability in Europe

Global food company Cargill has launched the Waxy Corn Promise programme in order to ensure a long-term sustainable crop supply for food starch.

The programme has been designed to continuously support farmers to improve practices and reduce their impact on the environment.

Cargill sustainability manager Dawn Emerson said: “The Waxy Corn Promise was developed with the support of our agricultural crop suppliers and an agronomy consultancy to ensure that we make real sustainability impact.

“It is tailored specifically to the waxy corn crop and the growing regions, recognising the good work that farmers do already and providing improvement actions to help them become more sustainable year-on-year.”

Cargill will collaborate with its supplier partners to annually implement and review the action plans at each farm.

The sustainable agriculture initiative platform (SAI Platform) benchmarked the programme at the silver level, noting that it will meet consumer demand for more environmentally-friendly ingredients.

Cargill Europe Texturisers and Specialities director Judd Hoffman said: “We are committed to making an impact and raising sustainability standards across our supply chains.

“Waxy corn is a specific type of corn used to produce starches serving as ingredients in many food products and the Waxy Corn Promise provides credible claims, helping our customers achieve their sustainability targets.”