Western Australian Free-Range Pork Supplier, Milne AgriGroup, has partnered with Coles to produce a RSPCA approved carbon neutral range of pork. The range will be sold under the Coles Finest label and will be available nationally. To bring this project to fruition, from inception to launch, has been a huge achievement – one that we are extremely proud to be a part of.
Milne AgriGroup has been supplying free-range pork to Coles for over 10 years. Our position as a market leader in free-range animal farming provided the perfect opportunity to explore carbon neutral pork. The process involved working with our farm partners and suppliers to measure emissions and enable the carbon footprint to be calculated from farm paddock all the way through to supermarket shelf.
To be successful in any ground-breaking program such as this, the project required the right partners. Coles recognised Milne AgriGroup’s position at the forefront of sustainability with their farming operations, which made them the perfect partner to work with on this project. The two companies share a commitment to progressing sustainable animal production in Australia. The process has taken an enormous, combined effort and commitment over the past 12 months, to bring the initiative to life and reach the stage of launching the carbon neutral range to consumers.
Milne General Manager – Farm Operations, David Plant, is thrilled to be part of the initiative towards sustainable farming. The project has been part of Milne’s ongoing commitment to animal welfare and reducing its carbon footprint. The carbon neutral certification further complements Milne AgriGroup’s free-range farms, which are certified by the RSPCA Approved Farming Scheme and meet the standard for accredited free-range operations. These certifications, which ensure higher welfare farming practices, mean that the animals are managed in accordance with the RSPCA Approved Standards for outdoor pigs.
After the long and arduous process to achieve carbon neutral certification, David explains that Milne are always looking at ways to be more sustainable. ‘We’ve invested in renewable energy sources across our farms, such as solar panels, which means all our farms operate completely off grid.’ In conjunction with Milne Feeds nutrition and milling division, a lower emission diet has been developed and formulated to assist the project, whilst the pigs are managed in rotation with crop production, allowing for the manure to be used as fertilizer for the crops.
Milne AgriGroup farm partner, Michael Flavel, explains that the pigs are raised in the Southwest region, where they enjoy the cooler climate. The farming model allows the pigs to live in a natural habitat where they can dig, rummage around, and make nests in the straw. Solar energy provides all the power needed to run the pig operation, reducing each farm’s reliance on electricity. The crop rotation model means that the paddocks are rested from pig production. Making use of every resource available, used bedding is repurposed as fertilizer for the crops, removing the need for artificial fertilisers to be used in the cropping operation.
This latest achievement is a real highlight for Milne AgriGroup and our farming partners. We’re extremely proud of the free-range model that’s been developed, and it has been very rewarding to see how it has evolved over time to now become carbon neutral. The team are excited by the company’s focus on sustainability, environmental management and welfare in the farming model. It has been a hugely satisfying experience to work with our farmer partners to achieve this goal. For Milne AgriGroup farming partner, Michael Flavel, sustainable farming is particularly important. He aims to leave the land in a better place to provide for future generations.
Footnote:
What does carbon neutral mean? To become carbon neutral, organisations calculate the greenhouse gas emissions generated by their activity, such as fuel, fertiliser or electricity use. They reduce these emissions where possible by investing in new technology or changing the way they operate. Any remaining emissions must be 'cancelled out' by purchasing carbon offsets generated from activities that prevent, reduce or remove greenhouse gas emissions from being released into the atmosphere. When the offsets purchased equal the emissions produced then the product, service or organisation is considered carbon neutral. The Coles Finest Carbon Neutral Free Range pork products are independently certified to the criteria of the Australian Government’s ‘Climate Active’ Carbon Neutral Standards for Products & Services.
