Responsible purchase of all major raw materials
Over recent years, a great deal of energy has gone into initiatives aimed at responsible soya and palm oil. Agrifirm is now taking the next step in its ‘responsible raw materials policy' by tackling proactively all the major raw materials from Agrifirm Feed. To do this, the issues at work in production areas are being charted along with the suppliers in order to implement, where necessary, measures that are feasible and that also have a major impact.
Agrifirm makes contribution to responsible food production
Agrifirm aims to make a contribution to feeding the world´s population, which will probably have increased to more than 9 billion people by 2050. This growing global population will inevitably lead to increased demand for food, and thus exert rising pressure on the use of raw materials, water and nature. Agrifirm intends to accept its responsibility by making responsible choices in a transparent way on raw materials, suppliers and sourcing regions.
Vision tested with chain partners
Agrifirm attaches great value to having the new method for arriving at a responsible purchase policy for the entire raw materials package being able to count on support from the chain and society. Over recent months it has initiated discussions with a number of suppliers, and on 2 December last year there was a session with social organizations and chain partners (including Solidaridad, IUCN, Rainforest Alliance, FrieslandCampina, Unilever and an expert in the field of agro-commodities).
All parties see this approach as a logical next step in the direction of the responsible purchase of all raw materials. Agrifirm will continue in dialogue with these and other partners on determining priorities in production regions and on achieving the objectives over the years ahead.
The methodology being applied and the objectives being aimed at over the years ahead may be found on our website.
Goals for the years ahead
In 2015 Agrifirm conducted pilot projects with three of the larger agro commodities: maize, wheat and rapeseed meal. The regional analyses for these raw materials were concluded in 2016, and the priorities in these areas were laid down in collaboration with the suppliers. The intention is to have the negotiations with suppliers concluded for at least 80 percent of these raw materials by volume in 2017/2018. In addition, Agrifirm will organize stakeholder sessions on specific risks in the regions concerned.
