Aug 11, 2023

Sustainability capabilities added into Highland Hub

Highland Ag Solutions is expanding sustainability efforts through integrating the Sustainability Standard from Sustainable Food Group (SFG) into its Highland Hub software platform.

The integration is designed to provide Highland’s customers comprehensive sustainability features and enable them to access a suite of resources that will allow them to track, analyze and optimize sustainability metrics across their operations, according to a news release from the Mulberry, Florida-based provider of software solutions for the fresh produce industry.

“As the global focus on sustainable practices intensifies, businesses across industries are actively seeking ways to reduce their ecological footprint. Highland recognizes this pressing need and aims to support its customers in achieving their sustainability goals,” Highland said in the release.

SFG is a part of the IPM Institute of North America, a non-profit with more than 20 years of experience in implementing sustainability best practices in agriculture and communities. SFG’s Sustainability Standard is a tool for improving measurement, communication, adoption and verification of sustainability best practices across the supply chain, enabling organizations to track performance and pinpoint opportunities for improvement.

For growers, the standard provides a meaningful tool to measure, communicate and improve the adoption of sustainability best practices.

For farming operations and facilities, operations can be audited and certified as an add-on to their food safety audits (for example, PrimusGFS) or as a standalone certification. The objective of the program is to assess and communicate performance on sustainability metrics and inspire continuous improvement of sustainability practices.

For crop management, the program covers a comprehensive set of environmental and social best practices, with a focus on advanced Integrated Pest Management (IPM). It addresses environmental protection, soil health, nutrient and irrigation management, air quality, waste and recycling, water and energy conservation, worker welfare and emergency management.

“We are delighted to collaborate with the Sustainable Food Group and integrate their Sustainability Standard into our software,” Tara Stroud, Highland Hub’s director of customer success for the Highland Hub, said in the release. “This integration further solidifies our commitment to supporting our customers’ sustainability initiatives. By providing them with the tools to measure and enhance their sustainability efforts, we empower them to make a positive impact on the environment while driving efficiency and profitability.”

The Madison, Wisconsin-based IPM Institute is an independent non-profit formed in 1998 to improve sustainability in agriculture and communities, including reducing pesticide use and risks. Over the years, the institute’s focus has expanded to encompass a broad range of agricultural and sustainability issues. In 2014, IPM Institute launched SFG to focus specifically on developing and implementing programs to advance sustainability in food and agriculture.

Highland Ag Solutions’ Highland Hub provides digital technology for food safety, compliance and data management.