Aug 21, 2023Updated PSA sustainability program includes new self-assessment tool
The Potato Sustainability Alliance has updated its sustainability program to feature a new framework defining key focus areas and a self-assessment tool.
The program identifies three sustainability pillars driving continuous improvement:
Environmental stewardship reflects a commitment to reducing energy use and greenhouse gas emissions, adopting responsible water management practices and minimizing food waste.
Farm legacy is committed to ensuring that future farmers can profitably grow potatoes in healthy soil while supporting biodiversity.
Safe and nutritious foods emphasizes the growing of safe, affordable and nutritious potatoes through targeted and responsible pesticide use. Growers must follow a self-assessment checklist to complete Syngenta’s globally recognized Sustainable Outcomes in Agriculture standard and will receive sustainability performance insights through the Cropwise Sustainability app.
The program enrollment deadline is Nov. 15.
“Potato growers are working with our alliance partners to advance a sustainable potato industry,” John Mesko, PSA executive director, said in a news release. “We are creating meaningful benchmarks backed by data to help communicate the good things already happening on potato farms, and also to help farmers with their efforts to improve.”
PSA includes more than 550 U.S. and Canadian farmers committed to a potato sustainability vision that meets customer goals, reduces the sustainability reporting burden and showcases the faming community’s accomplishments, according to the organization’s website.
