Woolworths South Africa
Using farm-level assessments to improve fresh-produce procurement information
Climate and nature-related procurement risk: Water scarcity, drought, soil degradation, biodiversity loss, variable crop quality and reduced reliability of fresh produce supplyÂ
Solution pathway: Farm-level sustainability assessments, supplier performance data, regenerative farming standards, water-use monitoring and long-term environmental performance trackingÂ
Business type:Â Large retailer / food and general merchandise businessÂ
Sector: Food retail, fresh produce procurement and agricultural supply chainsÂ
Geography: South Africa
In practice
Fresh produce procurement depends on reliable information about quality, availability and how crops are grown. In South Africa, this is especially important because water scarcity, drought, soil degradation and climate variability can affect both crop performance and long-term supply resilience. If retailers lack clear information on supplier farming practices, they may struggle to identify where water, soil or biodiversity risks could affect product quality and availability.Â
Woolworths South Africa developed Farming for the Future as a supplier-facing programme for fresh produce. The programme uses a holistic, science-based farming approach focused on producing quality food while improving soil health, saving water, reducing dependence on synthetic inputs and protecting biodiversity.Â
A key feature is the use of farm-level assessments and supplier performance data. Rather than treating sustainability as a broad claim, the programme assesses how suppliers manage water, soil, chemicals, biodiversity and other environmental practices. This creates a stronger information base for procurement teams and helps Woolworths understand which suppliers are improving their resilience to drought, water stress and other climate-related pressures.Â
The programme is relevant to this section because it turns farm conditions into procurement-relevant information. Better data on water-use efficiency, soil health and environmental management helps a retailer understand whether suppliers are likely to maintain quality and supply under changing climate conditions.Â
The case is also useful because it shows that clear information is not only about digital traceability systems. It can also come from repeated assessments, long-term supplier data and independent scrutiny of environmental performance. For climate-sensitive products such as fresh produce, this kind of information helps procurement teams identify risks before they appear as shortages, quality problems or price volatility.Â
Why this example was selected
This case study was curated because Farming for the Future has been independently studied and externally recognised as a leading retailer-led sustainability programme. A Coventry University study analysed sixteen years of programme data from Woolworths’ top suppliers, alongside producer surveys, field visits and interviews, and found measurable improvements in environmental management.Â
The programme has also been described in academic and sector sources as helping build a more resilient fresh-produce supply chain in a water-scarce country, with annual farm assessments and strong partnerships with suppliers and WWF South Africa. This makes the case useful for the Business Knowledge Hub because it shows how procurement information can be improved through systematic supplier assessment, not only through one-off audits or supplier declarations.Â
