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Large-scale sustainability entirely achievable, Smithfield exec says
Story Date: 4/18/2012
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Source: Michael Fielding, MEATINGPLACE, 4/17/12
The challenge of sustainability is no clearer than in food production, and between the responsibility to feed ever-increasing world population as well as address misinformation in the public discourse about modern agriculture, it all starts at the top. And that’s not just lip service, says Stewart Leeth, assistant vice president, environmental and corporate affairs and senior regulatory counsel, for Smithfield Foods, Inc. During his presentation at the Protein Innovation Summit Monday afternoon, Leeth proved to the diverse group of processors, foodservice operators and chefs that big processors have a place in the ever-evolving world of corporate sustainability.
He met up with Meatingplace afterward to offer brief insights into how the company’s key business priorities have stimulated sustainable practices and environmental benefits.
Meatingplace: What is your personal definition of sustainability?
LEETH: I don’t have a personal definition. Lots of people have different definitions of sustainability. We just kind of do it. We’ve identified the important issues for the industry. Everybody talks about the environment, but people are surprised that food safety and quality are on there.
Meatingplace: Does being a publicly traded company allow you to communicate Smithfield’s sustainability efforts more easily to consumers?
LEETH: The sustainability report is all voluntary, but being a publicly traded company contributes to that. The driver for us is Larry Pope (CEO) and Dennis Treacy (chief sustainability officer). They make it easy. Senior management has to understand and believe in it. They don’t have to necessarily drive it, but they have to believe in it.
Meatingplace: Considering that we are three generations removed from the farm, what is the most successful way to bridge the urban/rural disconnect?
LEETH: Every year fewer and fewer people have a direct connection to the food production system. Most of the huge population growth will be in urban areas. That gap of misunderstanding occurs when the misinformation campaign profits. We’re trying to take the mystery out of what we do.
For more stories, go to http://www.meatingplace.com/.
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