Food production is a major contributor to climate change and biodiversity loss. Coping with the increasing intensity and frequency of extreme weather events—both droughts and torrential rains— food production is among the industries most affected by these ecological crises. Globally, the economic, social, and regulatory pressure on the agriculture system is intense. In Germany for example, according to data from Boston Consultancy Group, “agriculture contributes 12.5 percent of the country’s total Scope 1 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions” whilst “regulators are imposing limits on GHG emissions and requiring changes in land use, and consumers are demanding healthier, cheaper food”.

At HelloFresh, we're committed to not only delivering delicious meals to our customers’ doorstep but also to contributing to a more sustainable food system. We excel at reducing the negative effects of food waste, both on a consumer as well as on the distribution level.
The overall carbon footprint of the ingredients we use varies significantly based on factors such as the farming practices, the land use change, animal diet and our suppliers' energy sources. One key thing we're doing is embrace carbon insetting in our food production, which drives incremental decarbonization in our supply chain. One aspect of this is the promotion of regenerative agriculture initiatives. 

A first step towards Regenerative Agriculture

Photo-Credit: Herrmann Kräuter

As part of HelloFresh’s decarbonization strategy, we are already investing in innovating packaging as well as in renewable energy and electrified last mile solutions. But lowering our ingredients’ carbon footprint is our biggest challenge in the long run - according to our life cycle assessment they are the biggest contributor to our overall emissions. We're now excited to be working with one of our suppliers to promote regenerative agriculture practices in fresh produce. By investing in these practices, we are aiming to reduce our carbon footprint while supporting farmers and the environment. 

For that we partnered up with Climate Farmers, a company that  supports farmers in their transition to regenerative agriculture through a combination of advisory and outcome measurement services. Together with them we are launching a pilot project with one of our suppliers to scale regenerative practices in their food production. “Herrmann Kräuter, our partner of over 10 years and a leading supplier of fresh herbs for HelloFresh, will implement regenerative agriculture practices on their farms across more than five hectares of farmland. These impactful farming methods not only improve soil health, water retention, and biodiversity, but also strengthen long-term crop resilience.” says Tilman Eichstädt, COO Upstream at HelloFresh. 

Benefits of regenerative farming

Regenerative agriculture has gained momentum as a holistic solution to address climate challenges, reverse biodiversity loss and enhance soil health. By adopting practices like cover cropping, crop rotation, and reduced tillage, farmers can restore the health of their land and mitigate the impacts of climate change. Healthy soil is essential for sustainable agriculture: Regenerative managementcan help to improve soil structure, nutrient content, and water-holding capacity. Regenerative farms are also more resilient to extreme weather events like droughts and floods, making food production more resilient to climate change.

“Regenerative farmers simply work with nature rather than against it. It all starts and ends with our soil. We believe that regenerative agriculture at scale could be a way to tackle global warming. We are only at the beginning and now is as good a time as any to start rethinking how we produce food”, adds Tilman Eichstädt.  

Multiple studies have found that the magnitude of the benefits of regenerative agriculture depends on the scale of adoption and the combination of practices used, but the overall consensus is that regenerative methods are a powerful tool for climate mitigation in the agricultural sector. Regenerative agriculture offers substantial potential for both increasing soil carbon sequestration and reducing GHG emissions from agriculture: 

Worldwide, soils could potentially capture up to 3.4 gigatons of carbon annually, which is sufficient to bridge the current ‘emissions gap’. Climate experts project that by 2050, regenerative annual cropping is projected to expand from roughly 11 million hectares today to between 220 and 320 million hectares. This growth could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 15–23 gigatons of CO₂ equivalent.

There are also financial benefits for farmers: Beyond the long list of ecological benefits, regenerative agriculture is intrinsically good for business. A BCG study found that regenerative farming could be up to 60 percent more profitable than other farming methods after six years. The BCG Study also shows that shifting to regenerative agriculture would also have substantial socio-ecological benefits for society overall, improving environmental quality on several fronts and enhancing the nutritional value of the food. Projects like HelloFresh’s pilot with Herrmann Kräuter and Climate Farmers can help farmers to transition to regenerative farming methods for long-term success.