Smithfield Foods Inc. announced it will conduct a comprehensive watershed and water-use analysis across its vertically integrated operations to increase the company's water use efficiencies and ensure sustainable sourcing and practices companywide. As part of the initiative, Smithfield will also adopt internationally recognized water stewardship standards by 2025 to support its long-term water management goals.
The exhaustive water conservation effort will refresh prior water assessments and inform updated strategies related to water usage, quality and supply availability on all company-owned and contract hog farms, in manufacturing facilities and across grain supplier operations beginning with Smithfield's domestic portfolio. Assessments will foster sustainable water use and access to local water sources, inform site-specific performance and conservation targets and reduce the risk of future sourcing issues.