WinField United South Africa (WUSA), a leading provider of agricultural solutions and part of Land O’Lakes Inc., is making significant strides toward sustainability. With an overview on crop protection, plant nutrition, digital farming solutions, and advanced research, the recently released WUSA 2023 Sustainability Report highlights a comprehensive approach to environmental stewardship, safeguarding crops, protecting beneficial insects, and driving product innovation.
“Our vision is to enable sustainable practices that balance environmental responsibility with economic growth, creating value across our operations”, writes Tim Leviny, Senior Vice President, International & Global Dairy Ingredients, Land O’Lakes, Inc., in the foreword.
Tackling Carbon Footprint: Waste, Water, and Energy
WUSA’s carbon footprint initiatives cover waste management, water conservation, and energy efficiency. Understanding and managing carbon footprint is a critical component of any sustainability strategy.
Waste management saw over 653 tonnes of waste recycled in 2023, including 1,039 tonnes of plastic product packaging, via partnerships with industry bodies such as CropLife SA. By implementing renewable energy solutions and monitoring energy consumption, the aim is to reduce environmental impact and contribute to a more sustainable future. Water conservation was enhanced through drip irrigation, soil moisture sensors, and rainwater harvesting, improving overall water efficiency.
Climate-Smart Agriculture
WUSA’s involvement in climate-smart agriculture provides growers with vital tools to tackle climate change. The installation of a network of weather stations and soil probes help growers optimise irrigation and improve crop yields with real-time data. Additionally, WUSA offers dedicated climate-smart agriculture training, with a focus on improving resilience to drought and extreme weather.
Safeguarding Crops and Beneficial Insects
WUSA views crop scouting of utmost importance for early pest detection, allowing growers to respond with precision strategies. Protecting beneficial insects like pollinators is another key aspect of WUSA’s strategy, and by offering programmes and products to underline integrated pest management (IPM) and biological solutions, WUSA helps maintain biodiversity and ecosystem health.
Biological Solutions and Product Innovation
The biological strategy is designed to enhance profitability by ensuring market access, optimal yield and quality. This approach integrates key inputs such as cultivar selection, farming practices, soil conditioning, crop physiology, crop manipulation, nutrition, irrigation and crop protection. By focusing on these critical areas, it supports a sustainable and diverse agricultural ecosystem.
The company is proactively phasing out carcinogenic, mutagenic, and reprotoxic (CMR) products and replacing them with sustainable alternatives. Product innovation is exemplified by MasterLock®, an adjuvant that improves the effectiveness of crop protection products by enhancing spray coverage and reducing chemical drift, aligning with both regulatory standards and eco-friendly practices.
Research and Innovation
WUSA leads agricultural research and Curativo’s research and innovation trial farms are essential in developing and testing new agricultural solutions. They focus on enhancing crop protection, sustainability and providing scientifically backed best practices for the agricultural industry. By offering proven solutions for pest and disease management, Curativo ensures sustainable and safe food production, benefiting the entire agricultural community.
Social Responsibility and Community Impact
Beyond agricultural initiatives, WUSA supports educational programs and community projects, partnering with organisations like the Click and Startwell Foundations. The annual Back-to-School campaign and cancer research fundraising showcase WUSA’s strong commitment to community welfare.
Looking forward, WUSA continues to set ambitious sustainability targets, focusing on innovation, education, and community engagement to build a resilient agricultural sector in South Africa. But the journey is far from over. WUSA is committed to pushing boundaries, innovating, and working with stakeholders to make real change happen.
MasterLock® (WARNING; Active ingredient: Modified vegetable oil & other ingredients 889g/ℓ; Reg. No. L 10496 Act No. 36 of 1947); Registration Holder: WinField Solutions Registration Holdings (Pty) Ltd. Co.)