SUSTAINABILITY
From business meetings over lunch to picnics in the park, food is a part of daily life for everyone. Since the beginnings of agriculture around 12,000 years ago, food production has shaped the world significantly.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change estimates that greenhouse gas emissions from food account for up to 37 % of global total emissions each year. This is alongside using almost half of the world’ s habitable land and a significant amount of freshwater according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation. To prevent irreparable damage to the environment, and keep food on people’ s tables, something has to change.
“ The future of agriculture will be rooted in resilience, regeneration and innovation,” says Caitlin Leibert, Vice President of Sustainability at Whole Foods Market.“ As climate change accelerates, we need a stronger emphasis on soil health, carbon sequestration and biodiversity to protect farmland and food security.”
“It’ s critical we have farming solutions at the table that take both people and the planet into account”
CAITLIN LEIBERT, VICE PRESIDENT OF SUSTAINABILITY, WHOLE FOODS MARKET
Whole Foods Market’ s role in agriculture Agriculture, Caitlin says, is the foundation of Whole Foods Market’ s business and at the heart of its commitment to providing high quality, responsibly sourced food to its customers.
“ We know the way that food is grown and raised matters,” she explains.“ Our customers also care deeply about where their food comes from and increasingly seek products that align with their values.”
More than 170 million customers use Whole Foods Market stores every year across the US, Canada and UK
68 August 2025