Sainsbury’s has announced a new approach to the way it sources key crops and ingredients, such as tea and coffee.
The retailer will seek to empower its farmers to build more resilient businesses and improve the quality of life of their communities in the face of increasing environmental and economic challenges.
The plan includes the roll-out of new Sustainability Standards across key crops and ingredients, the pilot of a new sustainable sourcing approach for tea farmers and the set-up of an expert advisory board.
The tea pilot will seek to empower farmers by providing a minimum price and social premium, in addition to the guarantee of a long-term relationship, the provision of expert advice, training and information to help secure their future livelihoods.
The plan will be underpinned by close collaboration with expert advisors, and its progress monitored through independent audits.
One of their imminent applications is with tea farmers in Africa as part of a pilot that will provide tea farmers with a guaranteed minimum price for their crop along with a social premium.
Practical support programmes, called Sainsbury’s Foundation programmes, will be funded through the Social Premium, and be directly linked to farmers strategic action plans.
Example programmes could include training in the latest agricultural techniques, to advice on reducing energy costs to improved health and education facilities for farming communities.
