Elders Executive General Manager Strategy, Sustainability & Innovation, Anna Bennett, has been announced this week as one of the 50 most influential environmental, social and corporate governance professionals working at ASX-listed companies, by trade publication FS Sustainability in the 2024 ESG Power50 guide.
Anna Bennett, Elders Executive General Manager Strategy, Sustainability & Innovation.
The ESG Power50 comprises individuals that hail from diverse industries, each wielding significant influence in their respective spheres.
This year’s Power50 entrants are addressing ESG challenges that need urgent attention. Climate change mitigation remains paramount, with emphasis on renewable energy adoption and carbon neutrality targets.
Sustainability has been a key strategic priority for Elders some time now, with the first Sustainability Report released in 2021. Ms Bennett said the company has made considerable progress since the release of the first report.
“Elders is a diverse business with often complex supply chains and a broad range of stakeholders, so establishing a framework that accurately allows us to track and report on the company’s ESG progress has been paramount,” said Ms Bennett.
“It’s important for us to demonstrate to investors that Elders and Australian producers at large are leading the way globally in terms of sustainable agricultural production. We are also trying to set a precedent for agricultural businesses, small and large, to demonstrate that sustainability is practicable, important, and in many cases, necessary to remain commercially viable,” she said.
“Australian farmers are inherently sustainable. It’s in their best interest to manage natural capital and invest in practices that will allow future generations to produce food and fibre for decades to come.
“Our most recent research shows that 98% of growers already use at least one sustainable farming practice focused on soil health and/or water management, and almost half intend to enhance the environmental sustainability of their farm in the next five years.
“The drive and intent for agriculture to be increasingly sustainable is obvious. Elders exists to help provide advice and services that help producers achieve their own sustainability ambitions, and ultimately ensure that our sector is considered world class in ESG outcomes.”
For more information on the Power50 visit https://www.fssustainability.com.au/esgpower50