Sustainable Agriculture Initiatives: Freshippo's Zero-Carbon Honey and Desert Pumpkin Farming Lead Climate Change Solutions
Freshippo, the advanced grocery arm of Alibaba Group, demonstrated the role of technology in empowering farmers to combat climate change during COP28. Technology can play a crucial role in aiding farmers by enhancing seed selection, plant protection, and optimizing the processes of harvesting and food transportation to address the challenges posed by climate change.
Shen Li, co-founder and head of sustainable development at Freshippo, emphasized the collective responsibility of global agriculture practitioners to address climate resilience in the agricultural sector. Speaking at the sidelines of COP28, Shen highlighted the significant impact of climate change on agriculture and stressed the need for innovative solutions.
In response to the urgent challenges faced by farmers during climate-related disasters, Freshippo has been quick to provide assistance, minimizing losses for farmers. For instance, when a hailstorm struck peach farms in Beijing in 2022, resulting in substantial losses, Freshippo creatively addressed the issue by categorizing visually damaged peaches as "hail-damaged peaches" and processing them into freeze-dried peach crisps. This initiative not only reduced waste by 200 kilograms per mu but also boosted the income of peach farmers by RMB1,200 ($168) per mu.
Freshippo's commitment to environmental sustainability extends beyond farming practices. They showcased a zero-carbon honey project, initiated in collaboration with the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW). This project, launched in March, involves training villagers in the Xishuangbanna region of Yunnan Province, China, to keep bees, collect honey, and sell it. The aim is to reduce the impact on Asian elephants caused by rubber-cutting activities in the mountains, thereby minimizing conflicts between humans and elephants.
Fu Xiaotian, the China Food and Natural Resources Program Director of the World Resources Institute, expressed the hope of collaborating with Freshippo to promote global initiatives for agricultural climate adaptation. Overall, Freshippo's efforts underscore the importance of leveraging technology and innovative approaches to build climate resilience in agriculture and contribute to environmental sustainability.
The carbon footprint of honey production is completely neutralized through the implementation of solar water heaters, installation of photovoltaic systems, and cultivation of eco-friendly economic crops. Additionally, Freshippo commits to contributing RMB10 from each bottle of honey sold to support the sustainable development of local communities.
Dr. Jimmiel Mandima, Vice President of Global Programs at IFAW, lauded Freshippo's initiative, describing it as the first zero-carbon honey produced in China for the conservation of wild Asian elephants. This effort by Freshippo is seen as a means to foster connections among elephants, local communities, and society at large in addressing climate change.
In an endeavor to combat desertification, Freshippo established a 200-mu organic base in the Ulan Buh Desert in Inner Mongolia. The base, which yielded 400,000 pumpkins last year, has expanded to 1,000 mu this year. Each pumpkin's growth aids in preventing water and soil erosion, positively impacting approximately 43 square feet of surrounding soil.
Zhou Fei, Chief Programme Officer at WWF-China, emphasized the crucial role of the agriculture industry in carbon reduction, noting that it is the industry most affected by climate change. The cases presented by Freshippo have garnered increased attention, highlighting the industry's adaptability to climate change issues.
To know more on Alibaba’s sustainability efforts, click here.
Shen Li, co-founder and head of sustainable development at Freshippo, emphasized the collective responsibility of global agriculture practitioners to address climate resilience in the agricultural sector. Speaking at the sidelines of COP28, Shen highlighted the significant impact of climate change on agriculture and stressed the need for innovative solutions.
In response to the urgent challenges faced by farmers during climate-related disasters, Freshippo has been quick to provide assistance, minimizing losses for farmers. For instance, when a hailstorm struck peach farms in Beijing in 2022, resulting in substantial losses, Freshippo creatively addressed the issue by categorizing visually damaged peaches as "hail-damaged peaches" and processing them into freeze-dried peach crisps. This initiative not only reduced waste by 200 kilograms per mu but also boosted the income of peach farmers by RMB1,200 ($168) per mu.
Freshippo's commitment to environmental sustainability extends beyond farming practices. They showcased a zero-carbon honey project, initiated in collaboration with the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW). This project, launched in March, involves training villagers in the Xishuangbanna region of Yunnan Province, China, to keep bees, collect honey, and sell it. The aim is to reduce the impact on Asian elephants caused by rubber-cutting activities in the mountains, thereby minimizing conflicts between humans and elephants.
Fu Xiaotian, the China Food and Natural Resources Program Director of the World Resources Institute, expressed the hope of collaborating with Freshippo to promote global initiatives for agricultural climate adaptation. Overall, Freshippo's efforts underscore the importance of leveraging technology and innovative approaches to build climate resilience in agriculture and contribute to environmental sustainability.
The carbon footprint of honey production is completely neutralized through the implementation of solar water heaters, installation of photovoltaic systems, and cultivation of eco-friendly economic crops. Additionally, Freshippo commits to contributing RMB10 from each bottle of honey sold to support the sustainable development of local communities.
Dr. Jimmiel Mandima, Vice President of Global Programs at IFAW, lauded Freshippo's initiative, describing it as the first zero-carbon honey produced in China for the conservation of wild Asian elephants. This effort by Freshippo is seen as a means to foster connections among elephants, local communities, and society at large in addressing climate change.
In an endeavor to combat desertification, Freshippo established a 200-mu organic base in the Ulan Buh Desert in Inner Mongolia. The base, which yielded 400,000 pumpkins last year, has expanded to 1,000 mu this year. Each pumpkin's growth aids in preventing water and soil erosion, positively impacting approximately 43 square feet of surrounding soil.
Zhou Fei, Chief Programme Officer at WWF-China, emphasized the crucial role of the agriculture industry in carbon reduction, noting that it is the industry most affected by climate change. The cases presented by Freshippo have garnered increased attention, highlighting the industry's adaptability to climate change issues.
To know more on Alibaba’s sustainability efforts, click here.
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