The International Fresh Produce Association Australia-New Zealand (IFPA A-NZ) has assembled the exemplars of Australasia’s produce industry, to advance the supply chain’s conversation on sustainability at two key Sustainability Summits in Australia and New Zealand next week.

Delegates from across the fresh produce supply chain including representatives from vertically integrated businesses, growers, exporters, retailers, packaging and certification companies, attended the Sustainability Summits held in Melbourne and Auckland in mid-August.

Top-tier topics in global sustainability including food waste, packaging, regenerative agriculture, trends and innovations, corporate and industry case studies and developing frameworks to mitigate the risks of climate change amid increasing pressure from legislators, customers and consumers were addressed.

Keynote speaker, US-based IFPA vice president of sustainability Tamara Muruetagoiena presented a global sustainability overview including her insights into the factors driving corporate sustainability agendas.

Ms Muruetagoiena said New Zealand is setting the pace in global fresh produce sustainability while the Australian industry is more aware than ever of the urgent need to act on issues such as packaging, food waste, carbon accounting and regenerative agriculture.

“Regulators around the world are responding to consumer demands to remove or reduce single use plastics in fresh produce,” she said.

“In Australia, regulators are coming for price look up (PLU) stickers. It’s our industry’s responsibility to provide better, more sustainable packaging options that balance food safety, food quality and waste.

“Until recently, the global conversation on climate change has focused on fossil fuels but there is an increasing focus on carbon and greenhouse gases. We have to explore the opportunities to become environmentally friendly, and find ways to reduce and manage fertiliser use,” she adds.