Why We Invest in Wind Energy for Our Offshore Logistics Operations

Fresh Del Monte Produce depends on reliable logistics to move fresh fruit and vegetables from farms to markets while protecting quality, food safety and shelf life. Maritime transport is central to that network, connecting agricultural regions with distribution centres, ports and retailers across long distances. Wind energy gives us a practical way to reduce the emissions associated with this movement while strengthening the resilience of our operations.

Our approach includes renewable electricity from wind projects, cleaner port services and emerging technologies that use wind directly to support vessel propulsion. These measures complement improvements in farming, refrigeration, packaging and route planning. For an Australian audience, the relevance is clear: produce may travel through major gateways such as Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Fremantle before reaching supermarkets, restaurants and homes.

Why Wind Belongs in Logistics Strategy

Shipping is an efficient way to transport large volumes of produce, yet it still relies heavily on marine fuels. Fuel consumption affects greenhouse gas emissions, operating costs and exposure to volatile energy markets. Investing in wind power helps address these pressures at several points, from the electricity used in port facilities to the energy supplied to refrigerated containers and logistics offices.

Wind also aligns with the long-term direction of the maritime sector. The International Maritime Organization’s greenhouse gas strategy is encouraging shipowners, cargo owners and ports to lower lifecycle emissions. Renewable electricity can support shore power and cold-chain infrastructure, while wind-assisted propulsion technologies—such as rotor sails, rigid wings and towing kites—can reduce engine load on suitable routes.

For Fresh Del Monte, this is a supply-chain decision rather than a standalone energy project. A lower-carbon voyage has greater value when it is paired with efficient vessels, high container utilisation, careful temperature management and reduced waiting time at terminals. Each improvement helps preserve product quality while limiting the resources required to deliver it.

Turning Wind Into Operational Value

The first pathway is the purchase or long-term contracting of electricity generated by onshore and offshore wind farms. Power purchase agreements can provide more predictable renewable electricity for warehouses, offices, charging equipment and port-adjacent operations. Where available, verified renewable energy certificates can help document the origin and environmental attributes of that electricity.

The second pathway is direct wind assistance at sea. A vessel equipped with rotor sails or other aerodynamic systems can draw on favourable wind conditions, allowing its main engine to operate at lower power. The technology does not replace engines or eliminate the need for careful navigation. Its value comes from reducing fuel use over time, especially on routes with consistent winds and sufficient deck space.

Digital monitoring is essential to making these investments credible. Fuel consumption, distance travelled, cargo carried, weather conditions and engine performance can be compared before and after a technology is introduced. This allows teams to identify real operational gains rather than relying on theoretical savings. It also supports transparent reporting across our sustainability programme.

A Practical Fit For Australian Trade Routes

Australia’s geography makes efficient maritime logistics especially important. Fresh produce may need to cover significant distances between farms, ports and inland distribution centres, while remote and regional communities depend on dependable deliveries. The country’s major container ports handle diverse cargo flows, and the surrounding coastal waters can offer useful wind resources for selected voyages.

Local energy policy is also creating a stronger business case for renewable power. Australia’s Safeguard Mechanism places emissions obligations on large industrial facilities, while the Renewable Energy Target and state-based renewable programmes have helped expand clean electricity. Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia are developing different combinations of wind, solar, storage and transmission infrastructure, creating regional opportunities for lower-emissions logistics.

Everyday purchasing habits add another consideration. Australians expect fresh bananas, pineapples, avocados and other produce to be available throughout the year, even when local seasons vary. Retailers need dependable cold-chain performance, and consumers increasingly pay attention to climate impacts and responsible sourcing. Wind-powered electricity and more efficient ocean transport can help meet these expectations without compromising freshness.

Cutting Emissions Across The Cold Chain

Refrigerated containers require continuous power during loading, sea transport, port handling and inland distribution. Supplying this electricity from renewable wind generation can lower emissions without changing the temperature standards that protect food quality. Efficient refrigeration units, insulation, remote monitoring and reduced dwell times strengthen the result.

Ports can contribute through electrical connections for berthed vessels, renewable-powered cranes and cargo-handling equipment, and low-emissions truck access. These measures are relevant in busy Australian gateways where congestion, urban air quality and noise affect nearby communities. Coordinating with terminal operators and freight partners is therefore as important as improving the vessels themselves.

Wind investment also supports a broader carbon-management hierarchy. Avoiding unnecessary journeys, improving demand forecasts and consolidating loads should come first. Cleaner fuels, vessel efficiency and renewable electricity then reduce emissions that remain. This balanced approach recognises that the most sustainable shipment is one that is well planned, safely handled and powered with the lowest practical level of carbon intensity.

Connecting Energy, Water And Resilience

Climate action is connected across our agricultural and logistics systems. Renewable energy can reduce operational emissions, while efficient water use helps farms adapt to changing rainfall, drought and heat. Our experience in resource stewardship includes a Mediterranean water update, where irrigation efficiency is treated as a measurable operational priority rather than a distant environmental ambition.

This connection matters in Australia, where prolonged drought, intense rainfall and water restrictions can affect farms, communities and transport networks in the same year. The Murray-Darling Basin demonstrates how carefully water resources must be managed, while northern Queensland growers face different risks linked to cyclones, flooding and changing rainfall patterns. Energy resilience can help maintain pumping, refrigeration and communications when conditions disrupt normal supply.

Our water stewardship work in Peru offers another example of how local action supports global resilience. The Peru stewardship report describes progress in a region where responsible water management is closely connected to agricultural continuity and community needs. Wind energy belongs within this same framework: it reduces dependence on fossil fuels and can diversify the energy sources that keep essential operations running.

Governing Progress With Care

Wind energy must be implemented with high standards for safety, labour, biodiversity and community engagement. Offshore projects can affect marine habitats, fishing activity, navigation and coastal views, while onshore wind farms require careful attention to land use, wildlife and local consultation. Responsible investment means assessing these impacts before contracts are signed and monitoring them throughout a project’s life.

For maritime operations, safety remains the starting point. Wind-assisted equipment must be compatible with bridge visibility, cargo handling, emergency procedures and port restrictions. Crew training, maintenance systems and independent verification help ensure that lower-emissions technology supports safe navigation rather than creating new operational risks.

Performance should be measured through clear indicators: renewable electricity purchased, fuel avoided, emissions intensity per tonne-kilometre, shore-power usage, vessel efficiency and the quality of supplier data. These figures can be considered alongside water use, waste, protected-land monitoring and community programmes. A credible sustainability strategy reports progress honestly, including where technologies are still being tested or where infrastructure limits the pace of change.

Wind energy is a long-term investment in a more resilient produce supply chain. It can lower the carbon intensity of offshore logistics, support cleaner ports and reduce exposure to fossil-fuel volatility while fitting the realities of Australian trade, regulation and consumer expectations. What readers should remember is that wind works best as part of a connected system: efficient farms, responsible sourcing, reliable cold chains and transparent measurement moving fresh food with less environmental impact.