CAMPBELL RIVER, BC – The FAIRR Initiative released their 2023/2024 Coller FAIRR Protein Producer Index. Seven of the top 10 producers were salmon farmers, with B.C. companies Mowi and Grieg Seafood ranked first and third.
The Coller FAIRR Protein Producer Index assessed 60 of the largest publicly traded global meat, dairy and aquaculture companies on social and governance themes aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Other B.C.-based salmon producers are privately held companies and, therefore, not eligible for inclusion in the index; however, this is a strong indicator of how the salmon farming industry as a whole aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“Raising healthy food while minimizing our impact on the environment in a safe workspace is our top priority,” says Diane Morrison, Managing Director of Mowi Canada West. “Mowi ranking number one for five years in a row is an important endorsement of our commitment.”
The index assessed 10 risk and opportunity factors: greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation & biodiversity loss, water use & scarcity, waste & pollution, antibiotic use, animal welfare, working conditions, food safety, sustainability governance, and alternative proteins.
“As salmon farmers, we are environmentalists. We truly care about respecting wild salmon and the environment we work in,” says Jennifer Woodland, Managing Director of Grieg Seafood BC. “Our employees live on the water while working on the farm; it’s home.”
Aquaculture supplies about 50 percent of global seafood consumption; food production will need to increase by about 60 percent as our global population is expected to reach over 9 billion by 2050. According to the United Nations FAO, wild-caught fish cannot meet demand as fish consumption is growing twice the global population growth rate.
“Salmon farming plays a key role in a healthy and responsible food system globally and domestically. Nearly 90 percent of Canadians regularly eat seafood, with 45.8 percent coming from British Columbia,” says Brian Kingzett, Executive Director of the BC Salmon Farmers Association. “Within Canada, farm-raised salmon is the most popular seafood choice, and the demand for seafood is only rising. We need to support the growth of sustainable seafood production, including salmon farming.”
ABOUT THE BC SALMON FARMERS ASSOCIATION
BC salmon farmers are committed to reconciliation, and all farms operating in BC are currently done in agreement, negotiation, or established partnerships with First Nations in whose territories we operate. These agreements are founded upon recognizing First Nations’ right to exercise jurisdiction over the land, resources, and waters within their territories.
Farm-raised salmon is BC’s highest-valued seafood product and the province’s top agricultural export, generating over $1.2 billion for the provincial economy and creating thousands of jobs. Additionally, farm-raised salmon provides a nutritious and sustainably produced protein with a low carbon footprint that contributes to Canada’s food security and Blue Economy.
The BC Salmon Farmers Association represents over 60 businesses and organizations throughout the value chain of finfish aquaculture in BC. Our members account for over 95% of the annual provincial harvest of farm-raised salmon in British Columbia.
For more information, visit bcsalmonfarmers.ca.
ABOUT THE FAIRR INITIATIVE
Established by the Jeremy Coller Foundation in 2015, the FAIRR Initiative is a collaborative investor network that raises awareness of the environmental, social and governance (ESG) risks and opportunities in the global food sector.
For more information, visit www.fairr.org
MEDIA CONTACT
Michelle Franze
Manager of Communications, Partnerships and Community
michelle@bcsalmonfarmers.ca
604-202-4417