Our environmental footprint

(103-1) For Wakate, respect for the environment and responsible use of natural resources are part of our premises focus on protecting and preserving biodiversity through good agricultural practices which allow the maintenance ecosystems and, at the same time, provide integrated development of our production activities.

This is why we put into effect actions to protect, preserve, and provide integrated management of environmental impacts. These actions will ensure that the company will endure over time, taking into account the expectations of our stakeholders and the timely management of risks.

(103-2) As part of our environmental actions, we defined guidelines which show the objectives we want to achieve in the medium and long term, and we implemented responsible actions to decrease our environmental impact. We are committed to the protection and restoration of the habitat to have better environmental conditions in those territories where we operate, and to develop the business in an integrated manner.

To achieve the reduction of impacts, we carry out responsible actions, such as measuring the carbon footprint, from which plans and strategies are derived in the short and medium term; the care of water sources, the use of renewable energies and the proper management of waste.

Biodiversity

Water management

Energy management

Emissions management and climate change

Waste management

(103-3) Our environmental commitment is in force and we continue to comply with the requirements of the legal environmental authorities. We renew or permits for discharges and concessions. We create awareness among our employees about the efficient use of water, the protection of fauna, the proper waste separation and disposal.

Biodiversity (304-3)

747.3
hectares dedicated to conservation.

38%
of the total farm area

19.712
trees planted

Our Operations are located in ecosystems that include low, dense, floodplain forests, riparian forests, and fragmented forests. Due to their rich biodiversity they must be preserved to guarantee the sustainability of the territories and, therefore, of the organization that uses these ecosystems.

We are committed to raising the level of knowledge, conservation, and enrichment of these natural habitats.

Some the species we planted to protect the ecosystems are: Weinmannia tormentosa, yellow guaiacum, Cedar, native Bayberry, Dragon tree, oak, tibouchina lepidota, Chagual, Mimosa, Bucaro, carbonaria, and willow, among others.

There have been sightings animal sightings and forms. The species we have seen are hawks, stone curlews, owls, hummingbirds, turkeys, wolfhounds, coypus, possums, armadillos, hares.

To continue our plan for reforestation and embellishment inside and outside our farms, we have built small nurseries to help propagate plant material.

Water management(303-1) (303-3)

We careful control of water resources, we ensure the longterm survival of the business and the availability of water for those stakeholders located near our operations.

Through our water management strategy, we contribute to the preservation of the quantity, quality and availability of this valuable resource for the ecosystem, as well as for neighboring communities.

3
permits granted for using surface water.

0
deep wells.

0,26 m3
volume of the concession granted.

0 m3
taken from underground sources.

Energy management(305-1) (305-2) (305-4) (302-1) (302-3) (302-4)

Responsible energy use is a fundamental pillar for Wakate. We are constantly working with equity efficiency processes trying to use less energy and improve costs. We manage strategies to reduce risks and take advantage of opportunities derived from the availability of energy and its proper use.

9.807.730 kw/h
energy consumption

Gestión de emisiones y cambio climático

Carbon footprint

One of our challenges is to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions.

Carbon footprint methodology

Scope 1 and Scope 2 carbon footprint emmissions include measurements of the following sources of emmissions:

Fuel use (diesel, gasoline, propane gas, marine diesel, jet fuel).
Use of refrigeration gases (R404A, R134A, R410A, R141B, R123).
Use of conventional electricity.
Use of fuel oils.
Use of fire extinguishers.
Use of organic and synthetic fertilizers.
Decomposing organic materials in septic tanks.

382.491 Ton CO2 eq
Scope 1: 1,681
Scope 2: 380.810

The commitment to maintain production processes that are protect the environment, in which the gasses emitted directly, for example, by using fossil fuels in the organization’s equipment or vehicles, and those who work for us, or from loss of refrigeration gases, or chemical reactions in the organization’s production processes, carried out using technology and selecting lower emission imputs, attempting to harmonize and synchronize the value generation activities with the raison d’être of the business and the environment.

Our vision of reducing our carbon footprint focuses on the following activities:

Reducing the use of synthetic fertilizers that produce higher emissions, and increase the amount of organic fertilizers, considering that they have less impact on greenhouse gas emissions.

Reduced the use of refrigerant gases which have higher impact on the footprint and start using friendlier gases in terms of tons of CO2 equivalents.

Lower the use of electricity – set up efficient processes to save energy, and increase the amount of energy obtained from sources that have lower greenhouse gas emissions.

Climate Change (201-2)

In 2020, we started the identification of risks we needed to claim a change so we could manage them. We started this analysis based on a study of scenarios for climate change published by IDEAM. The study estimated an increase in average temperature of around 0.13°C per decade for the period 1971 – 2000, and presented scenarios were climate change which project that the average air temperature in the country will increase compared to the. In reference as follows: 1.4°C for the period 2011-2040, 2.4°C for the period 2041-2070 and 3.2°C for the period 2071-2100.

According to this study, the agricultural sector would be vulnerable, especially due to the increase in desertification. However, agricultural production not only depends on the climates – weather relationship but also on the relationship between climate and pests, climate and diseases, and the influence of climate on agricultural practices.

The impact of climate change on agriculture and human well-being include:

1. Biological effects on crop yields.
2. The consequences of their impact on results (including prices, production, and consumption).
3. Impacts on per capita consumption of calories, and child malnutrition.

Biophysical changes produced by climate change on agriculture lead to changes in production and prices that are reflected in the economic system as farmers and other market participants make their own adjustments, changing their mix of crops, use of inputs, production levels, food demand, food consumption, and trade.

It is estimated that the Urabá and Caldas regions will be among the affected areas.

Some of the expected impacts are:

Changes in behavior: these changes referred to changes in the reduction capacity of the soil, due to the change in thermal floors.
Shoreline erosion: it is expected that the shoreline erosion processes will increase due to the rise in sea level.
Degrees of the cultural productivity and loss of biodiversity.

Based on this analysis, we are designing a strategy that will enable us to identify risks and opportunities related to climate change, and set up adaptation and mitigation plans.

SUSTAINABILITY CHALLENGES AND GOALS 2021

Biodiversity

We carried out reforestation programs in water recharge areas, easements, and forest margins contribute to offsetting the carbon footprint and climate change.In this way, we will plant 26,000 trees out of the 40,000 projected in the Caldas region in 2021.
By implementing 4000 beehives we will be implementing an apiculture project intended for pollination, and as a strategy for the circular economy of the business.

Emissions management and climate change

Continue measuring our carbon footprint and design programs to reduce emissions.
Continue to increase mechanical weed control to decrease the use of agricultural chemicals through the fumiduct.

Water management

Give continuity to the reforestation plan in the protection strips of the water sources, present in our crops.