Recently, Simplot highlighted its Core Value of Respect for Resources during a tour showcasing The Lake Winnipeg Basin Project in Manitoba, Canada. This sustainable water management project is a pilot initiative Simplot launched in 2022 in partnership with the Potato Sustainability Alliance (PSA) and four large-scale Manitoba potato farms. These farms supply Simplot’s Portage la Prairie potato processing plant.
The tour highlighted how Simplot is working with farmers, environmental groups, and community stakeholders to implement innovative water stewardship practices. It also helped attendees better understand the Project’s effort to support and expand sustainable farming practices.
Tour attendees represented a variety of interests. Participants included Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, the Government of Manitoba, Indigenous communities, conservation organizations, and agricultural associations.
The core of the day comprised visits to three of the four cooperating farms to see sustainability in action. The guests got a special hands-on opportunity to view the type of practices implemented on the farms, from precision irrigation systems to habitat protection efforts. The tour also presented an opportunity for the project to forge new partnerships with organizations working in the sustainable agriculture and water stewardship fields.
“Our project consultant found that the participating farms create significantly more value for a number of stakeholders with sustainable practices than if they continued with the status quo,” pointed out Simplot Agronomy Raw Development Manager Scott Graham (below), who is based in Portage and has been involved with the project from the beginning. “The annual value of outcomes increased with the implementation of water stewardship practices.”
“Water is one of our most critical resources, and we have a responsibility to use it wisely,” he continued. “This project demonstrates how sustainable farming can protect the environment, support communities, and deliver value for future generations.”
