24 Jul 2012

Alliance expands greenhouse measuring programme

12:52 pm on 24 July 2012

Alliance Group is expanding a green-house gas monitoring programme to all of its suppliers after a successful trial.

The meat co-operative introduced the web-based Hoofprint programme late last year and tested it with farmers supplying meat for Sainsbury's supermarket chain in the UK.

It's a software system that farmers can use to measure and monitor agricultural greenhouse gases associated with beef and lamb production on their farms and improve their productivity.

Livestock general manager, Murray Behrent says Hoofprint was a response to the food miles debate and the growing focus in overseas markets on the carbon footprint of products.

He says there's been a good uptake amongst farmers.

Mr Behrent says the Hoofprint programme will be expanded this year to include wool and venison and will also be provided for British farmers as a comparison.

Alliance has also reduced greenhouse gas emissions from energy use at its processing plants by more than a quarter since 2000. Coal use has been reduced by almost a third.