Cellar combats climate change

Proprietor Michael Back points out the Carbon Standard sticker on the Backsberg wine.

Michael Back, the proprietor, is passionate about the environment and says, "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 to mitigate against them for the benefit of the next generation".

His forward thinking has already rescued several plant species from extinction by reserving 10% of his land for non-development and preservation of the endangered fynbos biome.

The estate has completed a comprehensive carbon audit initiated to understand the carbon emission consequences of its farming and wine making activities. The carbon audit reviewed all activities from overall energy consumption, to carbon dioxide emitted during fermentation. The level of detail considered in the audit allows the estate to deliver a range of carbon-neutral fruit and wine to clients, both domestically and internationally.

Reducing the footprint

The carbon standard applied at the estate follows the Kyoto Protocol on green house gas emissions. The scientific nature of the carbon audit allows the estate to understand the magnitude of the sequestration solutions it needs to seek and develop, in order to reduce its carbon footprint and maintain a status of carbon neutrality going forward.

The sequestration solutions developed by the estate will involve a greening program within the nearby village of Klapmuts. This program will be managed by the internationally respected Jeunesse Park, CEO of Food and Trees for Africa, the non-profit national greening organisation driving the Carbon Standard offset program in South Africa. This collaboration will see Backsberg use the Food and Trees for Africa Carbon Standard logo.

"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 carbon based society," says Park. She was awarded an International Chevron Conservation Award in California in October last year for her efforts to improve the quality of life for disadvantaged South Africans through natural resource improvements. Since the start of the Public Benefit Organisation 17 years ago, Food and Trees for Africa has distributed over 2,5 million trees throughout South Africa.

The estate sees tree planting as part of a package of solutions to climate change and is currently either applying or reviewing a number of these solutions. This "package" includes conversion to bio fuel, setting aside land for development of additional biomass, reviewing packaging (especially in terms of glass weight) and the development of methane digester technology.

For more information visit www.backsberg.co.za or call + 27 21 875 5141.