Maple Leaf Foods Inc

The company mentions that in 2023/2024, it conducted three nature-related risk assessments that included water criteria. One of the assessments utilised the WWF Water and Biodiversity Risk Filters to evaluate the risks associated with its direct operations. The company also engaged the Rainforest Alliance to assess the impacts and risks associated with its value chain and sourced commodities across various nature-related indicators. Additionally, it conducted an assessment of its readiness to address nature-related risks using the Accountability Framework Initiative. The company mentions that through these assessments, they determined that, while none of its operations are in high water stress areas, there is a high risk of declining water quality in the Nelson River and Saskatchewan river basin, Lake Ontario river basin and Lake Erie river basin where several of its operations and sourcing regions are located.

The company mentions that water is not a material risk for them, as they only operate in areas of low water stress. However, it appears that the company only considers water scarcity, not water quality. The company mentions it was not subject to any fines or other penalties for water-related regulatory violations.

The company mentions it is still analysing the findings from the risk assessments to identify its operations and sourced commodities to prioritise. Based on the findings from its biodiversity risk assessment, the company has identified three key priorities, one of which is improving water quality across its Canadian operating and sourcing regions.

The company mentions that the risk assessment it conducted included its value chain. As the risk assessment covered the company´s value chain, it is assumed that this included feed sourcing as well.

The company mentions that local farmers use hog manure as a fertiliser, but it is unclear whether the company´s feed suppliers use it.

The company does not disclose information.

The company does not disclose information.

The company states that wastewater from its operations is pre-treated and discharged to municipal sewer systems for further treatment. It appears that the company performs primary treatment only, but this is unclear from its disclosure. The company discloses that manure is managed in outdoor lagoons until it can be delivered to local farms for use as organic fertiliser. The company does not disclose information about poultry litter. The company does not currently produce biogas from animal waste or manure.

The company does not have water-related targets.

The company discloses that it works with local farmers to recycle manure from the animals raised by the company. 100% of the manure produced by its owned and leased hog farms is applied to fields as fertiliser with a site-specific nutrient management plan developed by a certified agrologist. For the fourth consecutive year, the company has partnered with Nutrien, the world’s largest provider of crop inputs, and a Canadian company, to expand its regenerative agriculture project, which began in 2021. The project incentivises and educates farmers within a defined supply shed where the company sources feed grains, encouraging them to adopt regenerative agriculture practices. Part of the focus is to improve nitrogen management. Since then, the company has scaled the project from 19,000 acres to 250,000 acres. The program involves farmers within the company´s supply chain.

The company does not disclose information.

The company does not disclose information.

The company does not disclose information.

The company provided a response to the investor letter and the engagement questions. The company met with investors within the engagement period. The company did not acknowledge the FAIRR´s assessment and did not provide feedback.