March 1, 2021

 

HKScan first in the world to calculate water footprint of broiler production using AWARE method

 

 

HKScan has employed AWARE, a new calculation method that calculates water footprint, taking into account the impact of a product on regional water scarcity.

 

"The water footprint is an indicator that helps describe the water use impacts in food production," HKScan explained in a press release. "The AWARE method assesses water scarcity impacts. Water use is measured in relation to the water availability in the production region, which makes it possible to compare the impacts of water use in different regions. In practice, the production of the same food product in water-stressed regions results in a higher water footprint.

 

"On the other hand, the use of the same amount of water in a water-abundant region leads to lower water footprints."

 

As a matter of fact, HKScan was the first in the world to introduce the AWARE method in the calculation of water footprint in poultry production. According to a recent result, the water footprint of Kariniemen's pilot farm chickens was 0.58 m3 AWARE/ carcass weight (kg). Most of the life cycle impacts of the water footprint are formed in the feed chain. The water footprint was calculated using the 2019 figures of broiler production.

 

AWARE has been included in the calculation guidelines of the European Union's Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) to assess the product-specific water scarcity impact.

 

"It is characteristic of the water scarcity impact that the variation in the results within a product group is much larger than, for example, in the carbon footprint. From a consumer's perspective, it is very good that companies are examining the water scarcity impacts of their production chains even though there are hardly any benchmarks yet. Knowing your own chain is the first step on the road to development, " said Kirsi Usva, a researcher at the Natural Resources Institute Finland who conducted the calculation.

 

"At HKScan, responsibility means genuine action throughout the value chain. It is a key part of the strategy and continuous improvement. Environmental footprints are important indicators for identifying and reducing environmental impacts," the company said.

 

"As far as we know, we are the first company in the world to introduce the AWARE water footprint methodology in the water footprint calculation of poultry production. In the HKScan's market areas, there are clean and abundant water resources enabling sustainable primary production. Our great advantage is that there is no need to artificially irrigate the fields. Domestic meat is a responsible choice also in terms of the water footprint," said Ulf Jahnsson, HKScan's vice president of strategic development (primary production).

 

Jahnsson added that the HKScan Agrofood Ecosystem network promotes the resource efficiency of field farming.

 

"Carbon and water footprints are reduced by raising the yield level of the field. We do this work together with our contract farmers and partners," Jahnsson said.

 

- HKScan