Western Cape Minister for Agriculture Visits First Carbon Neutral Wine Estate

The Minister for Agriculture in the Western Cape, Cobus Dowry will visit Backsberg Wine Estate this afternoon at 16h00 to observe the activities on Backsberg which is the first Wine Estate in South Africa to obtain Carbon Neutral status.

Backsberg with a combined tract record of fine wines and environmental care now becomes the first wine producer in SA to gain carbon neutral status.

The prime cause of climate change has been identified as man made gases, primarily carbon dioxide The so called green house gases.

Backsberg has done an extensive audit of the green house gas emissions consequences of its farming and wine producing activities. The audit reviewed activities ranging from energy inputs (that is both electricity and fuel) on site, the consequences of carbon dioxide released during fermentation and the carbon dioxide consequences of delivery of materials from suppliers to the delivery of wine throughout the world. The Backsberg carbon audit thus allows Backsberg to deliver a range of wines and fruit to clients both locally and internationally that are carbon neutral.

Accreditation as a carbon neutral estate is through the not for profit greening organisation Food and Trees for Africa. CEO of Food and Trees for Africa Jeunesse Parks was recently awarded the Chevron award for environmental management for facilitating the planting of over 2000000 trees in SA.

By displaying the Carbon Standard logo on their wines, Backsberg hopes to increase awareness of the need to address climate change. In addition Backsberg will afford consumers the opportunity to choose between "green", not so green and or not green products.

"We believe that Carbon Neutral accreditation provides a practical tool for creating awareness around greenhouse gasses, quantifies any future reduction projects while making a meaningful difference in local communities throughout South Africa," says Harmke Immink, an environmental engineer specialising in environmental life cycle assessments and carbon footprints, who conducted the Backsberg audit.

Describing Backsberg as a forerunner in reducing its impact on the environment, Immink calculated that some 3 442 trees had been planted on the estate over the last 10 years. This tree planting programme will continue in partnership with Food and Trees for Africa as part of the Carbon Neutral initiative.

"Trees are the most efficient and simple means for us to store carbon, providing us with the air we breathe and absorbing the carbon dioxide we exhale and that is emitted in large quantities by our fossil fuel based society," says Jeunesse Park, CEO of Food and Trees for Africa, the Public Benefit Organisation driving the carbon neutral programme in South Africa. Since the start of their programme, over 2000000 trees have been planted throughout South Africa.

Whilst tree planting is crucial to the absorption of greenhouse gas emissions, it is equally important to develop more conservation oriented practices by becoming more energy efficient for long term sustainability.

Planting trees as as will be done in the carbon sequestration greening program to be adopted by Backsberg in conjunction with FTTA in Klapmuts is only part of the long term solutions. It is critical that we look at other areas of conservation. It is critical that we take out the greed factor in our lives and modiy out life styles and manner of conduction our businesses if we are to halt the process of climate change. The "modification" will not hurt. Turn the lights out, drive a little less, change to biofuel, plant an extra tree in your garden. On the crass level support companies like Backsberg who are attempting to make a difference. You can drink our wines and eat our fruit with a clear conscience laughed Back.

The site will stay undisturbed to minimise the loss of threatened natural habitat, Backsberg, employs a full-time environmentalist on the estate and strives to apply stringent conservation practices throughout every facet of farming and wine production. In addition to land conservation and planting more trees, Backsberg's environmental initiatives include the use of biodiesel (recycled vegetable oil) in all their vehicles, generating renewable energy (solar and wind power) and reducing their overall energy demand (timers, energy efficient light bulbs and use of skylights).

Proprietor Michael Back who joined the family business in 1976, is passionate about the environment believing that each generation is the custodian of the land for a limited period of time only.

"Care for the environment means care and concern for succeeding generations. As custodians of the land, it is our duty to understand and recognise potential threats and mitigate against them for the benefit of the next generation," says Back whose forward thinking has already rescued several plant species from extinction by reserving 10% of his land for non-development and preservation of endangered Fynbos.

"What we have learned over the year that we have worked on the Carbon Neutral project is that changing our practices to become more environmentally careful, has cost little to date and we see opportunities to achieve substantial savings over time," added Back.

Contact details for further information:

John Spiers, CEO of Backsberg Estate Cellars
Tel: 021 875 5141
Email: john@backsberg.co.za
Website: www.backsberg.co.za

Jeunesse Park, CEO of Food and Trees for Africa
Tel: 011-784 6399
Email:sophie@trees.org.za
Website: www.trees.co.za

Harmke Immink, Environmental Engineer and Carbon Neutral auditor
Tel: 083 2281781
Email: immink@mweb.co.za

Alie van Jaarsveld
Spokesperson
Ministry of Agriculture: Western Cape
Tel: 021 483 4930
Fax: 021 483 3890
Cell: 084 604 6701
Email: avjaarsv@pgwc.gov.za

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www.westerncape.gov.za