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Competitive advantage: Addressing barriers to sustainable supply – conserving pollinators (Sainsburys & Carrefour)

Sainsbury and Syngenta have developed a nationwide project in the UK known as ‘Operation Bumblebee’. The project has already resulted in the enrichment of over 130,000 acres of field in over 500 farms with bumblebee critical pollen and nectar.  As well as increasing the population of bumblebees by potentially many millions, other wildlife – including butterflies, other insects and farmland birds – will also benefit. In addition, as part of "Carrefour’s Quality Lines" supplier specification, fallow land is encouraged to promote the sustainability of bee populations and the biodiversity of wild fauna.

The Co-Operative Food company in the UK recently launched ‘Plan Bee’ – a ten point programme aimed at addressing concerns regarding rapidly declining pollinators.  This plan included prohibition of the use of neonicotinoid-based pesticides on own-brand fresh produce, funding for research to investigate the decline in the honeybee, trialling of a bee-friendly wildflower seed mix on Co-Op Farms, encouragement of beekeepers to establish hives on Co-Op Farms in the UK and a range of awareness raising programmes to engage consumers.

Source: http://www.co-operative.coop; http://www.operationbumblebee.co.uk, excerpt from Carrefour’s Quality Line standards