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IN COOPERATION WITHSUSTAINABLE CHAINS
link to success
CorporATE SUSTAINABILITy rEporT 2015
3Agrifirm Corporate Sustainability Report 20152
Facts and Figures
> Cooperative with approximately 17,250 members.
> Executive Board: 2 members.
> Supervisory Board: 8 members.
> Net revenue: € 2,385 million.
> Operating result
(exclusive of exceptional charges): € 48.0 million.
> Net result: €76.2 million.
> Number of employees: 3,570
> Number of FTEs: 3,179
Sales volume (x 1,000 tonnes) 2015
Compound feeds 4,256
Co-products 2,306
Premixes & concentrates 494
Cereals, potatoes, onions and carrots 489
Fertilisers 394
Organic fertilisers 561
Crop protection products (€ millions) 126.9
Corporate Sustainability Report 2015
The Corporate Sustainability Report is published annually and includes all companies within the
Agrifirm Group, unless indicated otherwise for specific components. The previous report was
published in May 2015.
The guideline used in preparing the report is the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), the international
guideline for sustainability reporting. This report was prepared in accordance with the GRI G4
Guideline. The GRI Table with references to all reported information is available on our website
www.agrifirm.com under the header ‘Publications’.
For additional information about Agrifirm’s sustainability policy, please contact Ruud Tijssens, Director
Corporate Affairs, Strategic R&D and CSR, E r.tijssens@agrifirm.com, T 088 488 29 00.
Reading Guide
In this Corporate Sustainability Report, Agrifirm reports on its sustainability policy and the
accomplishments realised in this domain in 2015.
Section 1 sets out Agrifirm’s mission, corporate principles and ambitions. It provides an overview
of the main events within the Agrifirm Group in 2015, such as the Members’ Days and the Dutch
Farming Vision.
Section 2 describes Agrifirm’s sustainability policy, including the objectives set for the six pillars. In
addition, it focuses on the results of the first symposium on Agrifirm’s sustainability policy held in
June 2015 and on the introduction of sustainability labels for feed concepts and products.
Sections 3 through 8 focus on the objectives and key performance of the six sustainability policy
pillars. For each pillar, a responsible Agrifirm officer or an external partner highlights an example with
high sustainability impact.
The Appendices list Agrifirm’s KPIs relating to the organisation, the environment, terms and
conditions of employment and human rights.
In the associated protocol, Agrifirm provides clarity about the chosen methodology, the selection of
themes, and the method used to collect information and perform the necessary calculations. Agrifirm
adheres to the GRI G4 reporting guidelines.
5Corporate Sustainability Report 20154 Agrifirm
prEfACE
Last year, the spotlight in the Netherlands and beyond was
on sustainability, and climate in particular. During the COP21
International Climate Conference held in Paris in December
2015, government leaders made serious agreements aimed
at combating climate change. In 2015, various companies
promised to deter deforestation in their chains; water scarcity is
back on the agenda and there was a greater focus on regional
food systems. These developments offer opportunities for
Agrifirm, as frontrunner, to demonstrate how we contribute to,
for example, a lower water and CO2 footprint and sustainable
forest management with our innovative feed concepts, tailored
advice, and initiatives such as Dutch soy and the procurement
of sustainable raw materials.
At the same time, 2015 was an eventful year from a geopolitical
perspective. The unrest in the Middle East, Africa and Ukraine had a
direct impact on the markets in which Agrifirm operates.
The agricultural sector is in a continuous state of flux. Our members
and customers were confronted with a persistent Russian boycott, a
renewed manure policy and debate concerning reduced discharges
of contaminants to water. In spite of these challenges, the sector
mainly demonstrated resilience and a future-oriented approach. As
a company we achieved a positive result and helped our customers
with innovative, sustainable concepts. We are brining our operating
principle ‘Working towards Tomorrow’ into actual practice by
transforming today’s challenges into tomorrow’s market opportunities.
For many of our members and customers in the Netherlands, 2015
was characterised by the land-tied principles governing the dairy
farming sector and manure. The milk quota was replaced by a system
of phosphate rights causing many farmers to run into problems. In
addition, the government announced stricter regulations to curtail
discharges of contaminants to ground and surface waters. Just as it
did in previous years, the pig farming sector globally experienced a
very difficult year. We consider it our task to make a contribution to
the resolution of these issues and challenges with our products and
services. In spite of turbulent political and economic developments,
Agrifirm’s operating result improved significantly in 2015 in
comparison to the preceding years. The sales volume in the Dutch
compound feed market rose by 100,000 tonnes; the net result was
significantly better than in 2014 and the Member Dividend rose to
€20 million. It is a result to be proud of. But it is also a success that
would be impossible without the success of the sector as a whole.
This is exactly what we want to aim for and focus the attention
on with our Dutch Farming vision. The Dutch approach to food
production is efficient, sustainable and highly technological, without
losing sight of society’s wishes. No better theme therefore than
Dutch Farming, as a follow-up to our campaign ‘In cooperation
with’. Dutch Farming demonstrates the outstanding quality of our
livestock farmers and growers, and at the same time guides Agrifirm’s
innovation and development agenda for the coming years. Our
sustainability policy seamlessly matches the Dutch Farming vision.
Thanks to our chain parties and stakeholders, we were able to
further refine this policy last year. During our ‘In cooperation with’
symposium that we organized on 2 June 2015, these parties openly
and transparently joined us in developing more specific sustainability
objectives.
This sustainability report describes the activities that have
contributed to achieving the objectives. For example, we were
the first animal feed company in the Netherlands to introduce
sustainability labels for our feed concepts and products. These
labels support our members and customers in producing food in
a profitable and sustainable way. Furthermore, at the end of 2015,
we laid the groundwork for a sustainable procurement policy for
all of our major raw materials. You will be hearing a great deal more
about this from us in the near future. We also conducted a customer
satisfaction survey for Agrifirm Feed as well as Agrifirm Plant. In this
survey, a large majority of customers indicated that they are satisfied.
The personal contact with – and the expert advice of – consultants
is the key factor in this regard. Customers and members are positive
about the quality of our products, the ordering and delivery process,
and the handling of complaints. We would like to continue to be
as closely involved as possible in the day-to-day operation of our
customers’ farms in the future as well. The continued improvement of
our services consequently remains a top priority for us.
We took major steps last year. Naturally, we were only able to do this
together with our employees, our members, our customers, various
social organisations, research institutes, retailers and all of our other
stakeholders. At Agrifirm we want to become sustainable through
means of cooperation, now and in the future.
Ton Loman
Chairman Executive Board Agrifirm Group
7Agrifirm Corporate Sustainability Report 20156
Sustainable Raw MaterialsSustainable production starts with the production and procurement of sustainable raw
materials. This is why, in 2015, Agrifirm, together with suppliers and key stakeholders,
developed a policy framework for a sustainable procurement policy.
“I find it inspiring to see that everyone is open to the challenge of becoming more
sustainable, also at the international level. And that we are not alone in this.”
Peter Boudeling, Director Procurement, Production & Logistics, Agrifirm Feed
2015 HIgHLIgHTS
Efficient Production and LogisticsAgrifirm aims to structurally reduce energy use by means of efficient production and smart
logistics. A key step in achieving more efficient production is to modernise production sites.
In 2015, Agrifirm Feed renewed two plants in Veghel.
“The renovation is producing considerable cost and energy savings. However, the biggest
gain lies in the further improvement of the feed’s quality and the ability to even better
anticipate customer needs.”
Frits de Wit, Sector Production Manager Pigs, Agrifirm Feed
Sustainable Consumer SupplyAnimal health and welfare are becoming increasingly more important to buyers. Agrifirm
can innovate in this area on a market-oriented basis, by working together with partners and
customers. A good example of this is the SLOWFEED concept that Agrifirm has developed in
cooperation with its chain partner Plukon.
“Together with the hatchery, Agrifirm and Plukon, we are responding quickly to
new developments. In 2009, we switched to the SLOWFEED FREE RANGE concept.
The animals are far more robust and did not need any antibiotics. It has made our
work more enjoyable.”
Erald Brilman, Livestock Farmer with 46,000 free range chicks, 60 dairy cows and 50 young cattle.
Efficient Use of Raw MaterialsAgrifirm invests in product innovations that help our members and customers achieve
higher production with less input. This is not only good for the environment. It also improves
returns at the farm level.
“In 2015, Agrifirm Exlan managed various cooperative ventures in the area of manure
processing and mineral management. I expect that over the coming years, we will
be supporting many more farmers by helping them achieve positive environmental and
business results.”
Gerrit Schilstra, Director Agrifirm Exlan
Healthy Plants, Soil and Animals for Healthy PeopleTogether with customers and members, Agrifirm works on creating a healthy soil, resistant
crops and strong animals. Agrifirm’s policy is focused on structurally using less polluting
agents, while still achieving good results.
“I see that it is becoming increasingly more important to grow high-quality products with
less fertilisers and crop protection products. I wanted to see with my own eyes whether
the mycorrhiza fungus also has positive effects on hyacinths. As a grower of flower bulbs,
I would like to grow beautiful hyacinth bulbs in a more sustainable way.”
Arjan Hogervorst, Flower Bulb Grower with 22 ha of hyacinths in Noordwijkerhout
Our Employees: the Foundation for SuccessAgrifirm’s employees are the foundation for the company’s success. Agrifirm is devoted to the
health and safety of its employees and visitors. Our safety policy aims to create a safe work-
ing environment for everyone working at Agrifirm.
“Our employees are passionate about their profession, but this must not cause us to lose
sight of safety. This is why, in 2015, we started working on refining our safety policy. So
that all of us will reach our retirement age in good health.”
Jacques Wassenberg, Team Leader Quality Assurance, Agrifirm Plant
9Agrifirm Corporate Sustainability Report 20158
TABLE of CoNTENTS
Preface 4
Highlights 6
Table of Contents 8
1. Agrifirm, a Link to Success 10
2. Six Pillars for More Impact 14
3. Working on Sustainable Raw Materials 21
4. Efficient Production and Logistics 26
5. Efficient Use of Raw Materials 30
6. Healthy Plants, Soil and Animals for Healthy People 33
7. Contributing to a Sustainable Consumer Supply 38
8. Our employees: The foundation for Success 42
Colophon 47
Appendices 48
11Agrifirm Corporate Sustainability Report 201510
1. AgrIfIrm, A LINk To SUCCESS
Koninklijke Coöperatie Agrifirm U.A. combines the strength and professionalism of approximately 17,250
Dutch farmers in the agriculture and horticulture sectors. Agrifirm is a market leader in the Netherlands
and is globally engaged in the production and supply of products and services for feeding animals and
cultivating crops. On the basis of the breadth of its international activities, sector knowledge and innovative
strength, we have been supplying products and services that yield added value at the farm level to livestock
farmers and growers alike since 1892.
Strong TogetherThe world population is growing, as a result of which the demand
for food, animal feed and bio-fuels is increasing. Agricultural farmers
are vitally important to the world food supply. Enterprising livestock
farmers and growers are aware of this and have been anticipating
social trends for years. Towards the end of the 19th century they had
already established cooperatives for this purpose. To be in a stronger
position together and to head into the future in a better position.
To this day this is a value for our cooperative. With its cooperative
character, Agrifirm differentiates itself in the market: we always
think in terms of customer-oriented solutions. The interests of our
members are decisive in this respect.
Mission Agrifirm is an agricultural cooperative that operates globally, with
members in the Netherlands only. Our Mission: “Generating value for
our members in a sustainable manner.” Agrifirm accomplishes this by:
> Supporting customers by providing sustainable and profitable
products and concepts that enable livestock farmers
and growers to achieve the best possible results.
> Creating growth in value for the company that is partially
passed on to the cooperative’s members through means of a
cooperative profit-sharing scheme (Member Dividend and
Member Discount).
The Agrifirm Group creates value for members, customers,
companies and employees through means of various subsidiaries
and participating interests in the Netherlands and abroad. This
creates an opportunity for distributing profits to the members.
Corporate Principles Agrifirm is a committed specialist in high-quality products,
such as animal feeds, sowing seeds, fertilisers and crop protection
products. With these products and innovative concepts and services,
Agrifirm supports its customers, enabling them to achieve the best
AmbitionAgrifirm wants to be known as the expert, innovative and
knowledge-driven partner that supports its members and
customers by anticipating the challenges of today and tomorrow.
Agrifirm wants to further strengthen its leadership position on the
Dutch market both in terms of turnover and perception by being a
frontrunner in terms of customer-oriented consulting and support
services. This is to result in an increase in the number of customers
(for the member companies Feed and Plant) and in higher profits
(for the non-member companies). Knowledge and innovation are
indispensable in this respect, as are well-trained employees who are
committed to their customers and to the agricultural sector.
Passion for our Profession
If there is one aspect that connects Agrifirm with customers, it would be the passion we have
for our profession. Furthermore, Agrifirm is proud of the companies in the agricultural sectors.
Agrifirm’s employees stand out on the basis of their professional knowledge and their high level
of commitment to livestock farming and cultivation tradesmanship, and they enjoy going the
extra mile in order to achieve the best possible service and results for their customers.
Always Staying on Top of Things
Successful enterprise requires continuous alertness for new developments, opportunities, quality,
revenues and costs. This applies to livestock farmers and growers, and likewise to Agrifirm. This is
why the principle, always staying on top of things, applies.
Working towards Tomorrow
Agricultural entrepreneurs not only consider the present, but, even more important, the future
as well, often across many generations. This requires vision, knowledge and expertise. Agrifirm
also looks ahead and, together with customers and chain partners, works on innovative and
sustainable solutions that enable customers to operate successfully ‘tomorrow’ as well.
Always Staying on Top
of Things
Working towards
Tomorrow
Passion for our
Profession
possible results. To achieve this, Agrifirm acts in accordance with
three leading corporate principles. These principles guide Agrifirm
in everything it does and ensure that Agrifirm optimally responds to
the requirements and needs of livestock farmers and growers.
13Agrifirm Corporate Sustainability Report 201512
Organisation Chart Agrifirm operates in four core areas: compound feed, arable farming and horticulture, co-products and specialties. A professional knowledge
& innovation cluster serves as the engine for knowledge development and product innovation. In addition, Agrifirm is active with a number of
service companies and participating interests.
Districts
Members CouncilYoung People's
Council
Board Koninklijke Coöperatie
Agrifirm U.A.=
=
Supervisory Board
Agrifirm Group BV
AGM Agrifirm Group BV
Knowledge & Innovation ClusterAIC, NutriControl, Agrifirm Exlan, Schothorst*
Agrifirm Group BV
Arable Farming & Horticulture
Compound Feed Co-products Specialties
Agrifirm Feed Netherlands
BV Oldambt
Agrifirm Belgium
Agrifirm Feed Deutschland
Agrifirm Magyarország
Agrifirm Polska
Sto Posto*
* Minority interest
Agrifirm Plant Netherlands
Agrifirm PlantDeutschland
Agrifirm Co-products
(Bonda)
Nuscience Group
Agrimec (51%)
Agrifirm Winkel BV
Agri Retail
Plukon
Service Companies Participating Interests
=
=
Members of the Koninklijke Coöperatie Agrifirm U.A.
In 2015, Agrifirm consisted of six divisions:> Compound Feed Division: production and sale of animal feeds
and artificially dried fodder legumes and straw products;
consultancy and research.
> Arable Farming and Horticulture Division: production and
sale of sowing seeds, fertilisers, crop protection products; sale of
cereals, onions and carrots; equipment, consultancy and research.
> Co-products Division: processing of high-quality by-products
from the food industry into (raw materials for) animal feeds.
> Specialties Division: production of premixes, mineral mixes,
protein-rich raw materials and nutritional concepts for animal feed.
> Service Companies Division: technical and legal agricultural
advice, sale of agricultural consumer products.
> Participating Interests Division: minority interest in Plukon.
Members’ and Young People’s DaysThe 2015 Agrifirm Members’ Days were visited by 650 enterprising
members of the Koninklijke Coöperatie. In addition to inspiring
workshops on a wide range of topics, the 2014 financial statements
were explained in depth. At the Agrifirm Young People's Day on 7
January 2015 in Apeldoorn, young farmers spoke with each other
about the theme ‘farming risks’. As a young farmer, how far are you
willing to go? What is the risk profile if you want to break through
your boundaries? The weather, harvest uncertainty, financial risks
associated with borrowing capital and investments, as well as your
own health; the risks faced by farmers are diverse, just like the
discussions held during this Young People’s Day.
Partnerships and AcquisitionsIn 2014, Agrifirm’s business strategy was further specified in concrete
detail in the refined ‘Focus and Acceleration’ vision. In line with this
vision, the specialties division Nuscience acquired the Brazilian
company Nutrifarma; a leading supplier of premixes, concentrates,
specialties, additives and services. Due to this key acquisition,
Agrifirm’s specialties division has reinforced its position in the
strategically important Brazilian market.
At the beginning of 2015, Plukon announced that it intended to look
for new shareholders to realise its business plan. At the request of
the new shareholders it was decided that the existing shareholders
would retain a minor interest in Plukon for a short period of time.
Dutch Farming The strong position of various products, such as milk powders for baby
food, seed-potatoes and flower bulbs, proves that Dutch growers and
livestock farmers are performing at a top level. Agrifirm believes in
the Dutch way of farming. Due to well-structured ‘green’ education,
the education level of agricultural entrepreneurs is high, and the
Netherlands is known as the breeding ground for high technological
and knowledge-intensive innovations for a sustainable and efficient
agriculture. Furthermore, an extensive SME sector enriches the
agricultural business community with market-oriented developments.
We believe in a future-proof, ground-breaking food production to
scale and size, by farmers working in harmony with the environment
and society. According to Agrifirm, that is the strength of Dutch
livestock farmers and growers. We are disseminating this in our vision
titled Dutch Farming.
Dutch Farming comprises three themes:
1. Smart Feeding.
2. Healthy Soil, Plants and Animals.
3. Strength in the Chain.
These three themes guide Agrifirm’s innovation and development
agenda and provide direction to our partnerships. Agrifirm,
independently and in cooperation with chain partners,
develops innovative applications (knowledge, concepts and
recommendations) related to the three themes. Over the coming
years, Agrifirm will be increasingly designing its R&D programmes on
the basis of this vision.
To realise its strategic objectives – to acquire more customers as a
means of increasing its market share – Agrifirm in 2014 initiated the
communications campaign ‘In cooperation with’. After all, growers
and livestock farmers contribute to making Agrifirm’s success
possible. The Dutch Farming vision represents the follow-up to this
campaign and was started in June 2015.
Agrifirm aims to optimally support agricultural entrepreneurs and
wants to showcase the world of innovation and sustainability
underlying the products on retail shelves. The website www.
dutchfarming.com includes striking examples of leading livestock
farmers and growers who cooperate in making Dutch Farming a
reality. In 2015, we placed advertisements in various trade journals
that featured these livestock farmers and growers.
Naturally, Dutch Farming is consistent with Agrifirm’s sustainability
policy. In addition to the three themes focused on the farm, the
sustainability policy also includes themes that fall within Agrifirm’s
responsibility: sustainable raw materials, energy consumption and
good employment practices. These themes, focused on the internal
organisation, are of major importance to Agrifirm We not only want
to challenge our members and customers to take steps in the area
of sustainability, we ourselves want to take responsibility in this area
as well.
Organisation chartRoyal Agrifirm Group
Organisation Chart as at 31 December 2015
Agrifirm Corporate Sustainability Report 201514
Six pillars form the foundation for the practical elaboration of
Agrifirm’s sustainability policy. These six pillars comprise all of the
links in the chain where Agrifirm can make an impact: from growing
raw materials to food on the plate. Agrifirm wants to achieve
sustainability mainly through cooperation in the supply chain. If the
different links - from farmer and horticulturist to retailer - coordinate
their activities, it becomes possible to quickly achieve gains from
working more sustainably. In this respect, Agrifirm always opts for
solutions that are profitable for farmers and horticulturists.
2. SIx pILLArS for ImpACT wITHIN THE SUppLy CHAIN
Agrifirm wants to create value for customers and members in a sustainable manner through means
of its corporate social responsibility. Increasing prosperity and a growing world population are putting
increased pressure on limited raw materials, water, land and the natural environment. Efficient
and sustainable agriculture is a prerequisite for producing sufficient and healthy food. Agrifirm’s
sustainability policy derives from its ‘Working towards Tomorrow’ operating principle.
Working on Sustainable Raw Materials By 2020, we will have implemented our sustainable procurement
policy for agro raw materials on the basis of regional risk analyses.
Agrifirm processes residual flows from the
food and bio-based industry into high-quality
animal feeds. Together with suppliers, Agrifirm
is working on the sustainable and responsible
cultivation and use of raw materials, such as
wheat, corn and soy.
Efficient Production and Logistics By 2025, Agrifirm will have improved its energy efficiency by 15%.
The energy efficiency of production sites will have increased by 15%
in comparison to 2015. As a major buyer of transportation, Agrifirm
has made binding agreements with its carriers about achieving the
reduction objectives for energy use and the emission of various
substances, such as particulate matter.
Agrifirm aims to structurally reduce its energy
consumption by means of the efficient
processing of raw materials and smart logistics.
Objectives for the 6 Pillars
After monitoring its sustainability performance for a period of five years, Agrifirm formulated its strategic objectives in 2014. The
strategic objectives for each of the six pillars create focus in Agrifirm’s sustainability policy. From 2015 we have been focusing on
achieving these strategic objectives; this forms an integral part of Agrifirm’s commercial and development focus.
15
Efficient Use of Raw Materials By 2025, Agrifirm will have developed sustainable agricultural practices
that have the ability to reduce the environmental footprint of the
production of animal and plant products by our customers by 15%.
Agrifirm invests in product innovations that
help our members achieve higher production
with less input.
Healthy Plants, Soil and Animals for Healthy PeopleBy 2025, Agrifirm will have developed sustainable agricultural practices
with a key focus on greening the use of crop protection products, and
in which the natural resistance of animals will have been strengthened
to such an extent that the use of veterinary medicines by our customers
can be reduced by a further 20% to 30%.
Agrifirm develops products and services that
reinforce the natural resistance of plants,
animals and soil.
Contributing to a Sustainable Consumer Supply By 2025, Agrifirm will be the main partner for chain parties in developing
and testing new chain concepts.
Agrifirm is collaborating with chain partners to
develop and market sustainable concepts for
consumers.
Our Employees: the Foundation for Success By 2020 Agrifirm will be the ‘employer of choice’ in the field of agricultural
products and leadership will have visibly developed into one of the
company’s crucial success factors. This manifests itself in various ways
within the company, for example by means of a high rate of internal
promotions.
Agrifirm creates a stimulating environment
for its employees and invests in sound terms
and conditions of employment, training
opportunities and career development.
From Objectives to Specific ActionsTo achieve the specified objectives, a work plan was developed in
2015 for the first two pillars: ‘Sustainable Raw Materials’ and ‘Efficient
Production and Logistics’. This plan contains specific objectives,
actions and measurable indicators to measure the interim results
achieved. This is an important step in our ability to achieve Agrifirm’s
sustainability objectives. Both pillars are close to Agrifirm’s own area
of responsibility. For example, in terms of sustainable raw materials,
the first steps have been taken in the development of a sustainable
procurement policy for all key raw materials. This multi-year process
is to result in having Agrifirm, together with the suppliers of raw
materials, identify the issues in specific production areas to enable it
to implement feasible and high-impact measures where necessary.
In 2016, Agrifirm will also translate the objectives for the other
four pillars into a work plan with specific actions and measurable
indicators.
17Agrifirm Corporate Sustainability Report 201516
Working together on Sustainability
“The symposium ‘In Cooperation with’ held on 2 June 2015, was a milestone for Agrifirm’s sustainability
policy. During the first phase we established the six pillars and the strategic objectives and we invested in
creating support, internally as well as externally. With the symposium we started up the second phase.
We published our strategic sustainability objectives and discussed them with stakeholders and chain
parties. The symposium caused us to substantively refine our policy related to sustainable raw materials,
crop protection products, biodiversity and soil life.”
Support from the Chain and Society
“In 2015, we also made a start on translating the policy into
operational indicators for measuring progress in terms of the six
pillars. This involves a specific review to determine how we can
translate our ambitions into objectives and the steps required to
achieve them. We have already completed this step for procurement
and energy efficiency, and we will complete this process for the
other pillars in 2016. In 2015, we conducted pilots together with our
suppliers for three major raw materials: corn, wheat and rapeseed
meal. This produced valuable information about possible realistic
approaches. We consider it of great value that the new method of
sustainable procurement of raw materials can count on support from
the chain and society. We therefore engaged a number of suppliers,
social organisations and chain partners, such as Solidaridad, IUCN
Nederland, Rainforest Alliance, FrieslandCampina, Unilever and an
expert from one of our suppliers with a great deal of experience in
trading and processing agro commodities, in a dialogue.
Greening
We also took key steps for the other pillars in 2015. For example,
we are devoting large efforts to greening crop protection
products by discussing ambitions and practices with various
parties, such as growers, researchers and social organisations.
There is a great deal of debate about the exact definition of
green crop protection products. Does it concern raw materials
that are natural, identical to natural raw materials, or rather
crop protection products with a low risk of affecting non-
targeted organisms? We are also working on integrating
the environmental footprint of feeds and concepts into our
consulting tools. These tools are currently optimised for feed
efficiency and animal health. To integrate the environmental
footprint, we require information from throughout the entire
chain; information that normally is not linked. Quite the
challenge and not only at the ICT level.
Increasing Market Demand
“I consider the introduction of the sustainability labels for feeds and
concepts to the market in 2015 a good example of how we give our
sustainability policy substance. As the first animal feed company
in the Netherlands we thus support chain partners, interested
livestock farmers and our consultants in making farming operations
sustainable. In discussions with retailers about new chain concepts
I clearly see that the market demand for sustainably produced
products is increasing. Dutch and international retailers increasingly
often opt for more specific sustainability criteria as part of their
procurement process. Sustainability is now a real priority, and that is
true within Agrifirm as well. For each edition of our newsletter MVO-
Actueel (CSR News) we have more than enough good examples
that prove Agrifirm is fully devoting its efforts to sustainable and
innovative solutions.”
Ruud Tijssens
Director Corporate Affairs, R&D and CSR
Cooperation-based Sustainability
Cooperation within the chain is essential in order to make the agri
and food sector sustainable. That was the conclusion of the first
symposium on the sustainability policy organised by Agrifirm in June
2015. Over 80 representatives of chain parties, social and farming
organisations together engaged in an open dialogue. Agrifirm’s
sustainability objectives and approach, as well as the opportunities
and pitfalls of sustainable chains, were topics on the agenda. From
the presentations and discussions it became clear that sustainability
is not just a short-lived trend, but a permanent movement in the
market. Consumers want to know increasingly more about the origin
of a product and are more critical in their assessment of companies
in the food chain. Cooperating and developing new business models
is then the only way to create sustainable added value.
Symposium ‘Helping make Sustainable Chains a Reality’
“Supplying consumers directly is an opportunity for growers and Agrifirm.
Farmers and growers need a bit of support in marketing their sustainable
products. Agrifirm has a lot of investment strength and can support its
members and customers in this respect.”
Sijas Akkerman (Nature & the Environment)
“Whereas once you had to know your customers in order to do business,
now you have to know about the world to properly serve your customers.”
Chris Kalden, former Secretary General, Ministry of Agriculture,
Nature Management and Food Quality
“Sustainability is part of our ‘licence to operate’. More and more
consumers want to know from where a product originates and how
it is produced. In addition, we sell increasingly more organic products,
for example, and anticipate the consumer’s demands.”
Hugo Byrnes (Ahold)
“For me, health, wellbeing and sustainability are the core of doing
business. These three sometimes run counter to each other, but we
always look for optimal balance.”
Gerald Deetman (Pig Farmer)
“Agriculture has become increasingly more efficient over the past 60 years.
The key question is whether we will be able to manage in the future with
the further optimisation of existing chains. To explore new avenues it is
important for companies to free up funds to experiment with new
business models.”
Jan Jonker, Professor of Sustainable Entrepreneurship at
Radboud University
19Agrifirm Corporate Sustainability Report 201518
Sustainability Labels for Feed Concepts and ProductsIn 2015, Agrifirm Feed was the first animal feed company to introduce
sustainability labels for concepts and products. The labels provide
livestock farmers with specific information about the sustainability
performance of the feed concepts. These labels support members
and customers in producing food in a profitable and sustainable way.
Five Labels
There are five sustainability themes that are used as a basis for
labelling concepts and products:
> Mineral efficiency: the nitrogen and phosphate efficiency of
the feed concept;
> Animal health: qualitative information about the contribution
of the feed concept to the gastrointestinal health of animals;
> Climate: greenhouse gas emissions per kg of end product
(milk, meat and eggs);
> Recycling: percentage co-products used for the
feed concept;
> Sustainability of raw materials: how much land is required for
the cultivation of the agro raw materials incorporated into the
feed concept.
These sustainability themes are consistent with the social challenges
faced by the livestock farming sector, such as improving phosphate
efficiency. A feed concept or product can have one or more
sustainability labels. The sustainability information supplements the
usual information on the use and yield of the feed concepts.
Feed concepts with sustainability labels are:
> Mixed Feeding 2.0, OPFOK24, 100-day approach and
TopStart® for the cattle farming sector;
> SOLIQ and VIGOR for the laying hen poultry farming sector;
> Line-up for the broiler farming sector.
Better utilisation of phosphate room and reduction in
greenhouse gas emissions
TopStart® is a good example of a new feed concept with a sustainability
label. This start-up strategy enables cows to absorb much more energy
in the first crucial 60 days of lactation. Through smart feeding, cows start
up more easily, produce more milk and remain in optimal condition.
This helps dairy farmers to make more efficient use of the phosphate
room on their farms. Trials show that TopStart® can improve the climate
footprint by 5.8% and nitrogen efficiency by 11.6%.
1,3%
The land use (m2) per kg of milk increases due to an increase in feed concentrates in TopStart®.
Land Use
Land Use
Increase
Sustainabilityof Raw Materials
4,1%
The share of co-products rises significantly due to the increased use of beet pulp and soy husks in TopStart® pellets.
Recycling
Co-products
Co-products
Increase
5,8%
The volume of greenhouse gas emissions that are released to produce 1 kg of milk declines due to fewer methane emissions because of a shift from fermentation in the rumen todigestion in the intestine.
Climate
Carbon Footprint
Carbon Footprint
Reduction
TopStart® contributes to animal health through means of a relatively high Buffer-Acid Balance.
Animalhealth
Health Effects
TopStart® improves feed efficiency. Given the same protein concentration in the rations, this also translates into higher N efficiency.
Mineralefficiency
11,6% 9,2%
N efficiency
N and P efficiency
P efficiency
Reduction Increase
N efficiëntie P efficiëntie
TopStart® Sustainability Labels*
*The labels for products and/ or concepts of Agrifirm Feed NL are normally not communicated in brochures or leaflets for the foreign market.
‘Sustainability labels help make farming operations sustainable’“Sustainable production is a prerequisite for producing for the international food market. Consumers and companies that purchase our
dairy products not only expect guaranteed quality, they also expect them to be sustainably produced. Feed plays an important role in all
aspects of our Foqus Planet Programme, including animal health, biodiversity or the climate footprint. Phosphate is a good example. The
feed industry is at the basis of the animal production chain.
Just like any other chain, the feed industry must make a contribution to lowering phosphate emissions so that
we continue to meet our agreements with the government. A reduced concentration of phosphate in feed and
a better utilisation is an important challenge for our sector, followed by reducing the emission of greenhouse
gases and maintaining biodiversity. Dairy farmers are looking for ways to make their farm sustainable. The
sustainability labels help dairy farmers in this respect.”
Jaap Petraeus, Manager Corporate Sustainability FrieslandCampina
New and Remarkable Partnerships in 2015In 2015, Agrifirm Feed and Vitens signed a partnership agreement
at the international Aquatech trade exhibition. Agrifirm Feed will
investigate whether the lime pellets produced by Vitens as a residual
product from its drinking water production can be used as laying
hen poultry feed. If the findings of the trials are positive, Agrifirm
Feed will use the Vitens pellets for its laying hen poultry feed.
Agrifirm Feed is also working on innovative animal feeds with
Nutrifeed, a subsidiary of FrieslandCampina Ingredients. In 2015, both
parties introduced Kalvolac Unlimited, a milk powder specifically
developed for unlimited milk provision. The starting point was to
help dairy farmers produce sustainably with fewer young animals.
In 2015, the Agrifirm Innovation Center (AIC) was the only foreign
partner to join the Foods of Norway consortium. In this consortium,
Norwegian companies and universities are working together with
the Norwegian government to improve the utilisation of vegetable
protein in animal feed from a chain perspective. AIC, together with
other partners, is developing innovations in the area of protein
utilisation and alternative protein raw materials. The entry of AIC
to Foods of Norway is consistent with Agrifirm’s development of a
sustainable raw materials policy.
Our ObjectivesBy 2020, Agrifirm aims to buy all major raw materials required for
animal feed, including wheat, corn and soy, in accordance with a
sustainable procurement policy. This will be based on regional risk
analyses in which we chart the specific environmental and social
risks relating to major raw materials produced in the production
region, such as discrimination against certain ethnic minorities in
the Baltic States. These regional risk analyses also contain an action
plan for implementing our sustainable procurement policy. For the
time being, the sustainable procurement policy is limited to Agrifirm
Feed’s procurement in the Netherlands. Over the coming years this
will be expanded to include Agrifirm branches that are major buyers
of agro raw materials or other agricultural raw materials.
3. workINg oN SUSTAINABLE rAw mATErIALS
The demand for food will increase over the coming decades. This increases the pressure on limited raw
materials, water and the natural environment. We want to encourage our members and customers to
respond to the current and future demand for food in a sustainable way. Sustainable production starts
at the front-end of the chain, with the purchase of sustainable raw materials. Agrifirm encourages
growing and using sustainable raw materials. We also incorporate co-products from the food industry
into animal feeds, and we are committed to buying sustainable raw materials. Towards a complete, objective and verifiable approach for the responsible procurement of significant raw materials for feed.
Agrifirm’s responsible procurement ApproAch
link to success
Vers
ion
1.1
01-
16
21Agrifirm Corporate Sustainability Report 201520
Sustainable Procurement PolicyUp until now, Agrifirm’s
procurement policy focused
on sustainable palm oil and
soy products. To secure the
sustainable procurement
of all key raw materials, in
2015, Agrifirm, together with
suppliers and key stakeholders,
developed a policy framework
for a sustainable procurement
policy. Through means of
discussions with chain parties,
social organisations and
experts, Agrifirm aims to work
on sustainable raw materials
in a transparent way. Where
possible we do this together
with suppliers.
‘Proactively assuming responsibility for sustainability’“Sustainable procurement is an issue for all players in the food chain. Suppliers, retailers and
processing companies are all working on making their key raw materials sustainable. Agrifirm is
an important link in the chain. We do not want to adopt a wait and see attitude; instead we want
to assume our responsibility. In recent years, a great deal of energy has gone into initiatives aimed
at sustainable soy and palm oil. Agrifirm is now taking the next step in its sustainable procurement
policy by proactively tackling all of Agrifirm Feed’s major raw materials.
In 2015, Agrifirm spoke with suppliers, knowledge institutes and social organisations about our
sustainable procurement policy framework. The subject of these discussions was the basic principles
of the regional risk analyses. We use theses analyses to identify the specific risks associated with
production in a certain region. We also discussed the measures Agrifirm can take when certain
risks manifest themselves in a certain region. In 2015, we conducted regional risk analyses for three
of the key raw materials for animal feed - corn, wheat and rapeseed meal - in order to determine
our priority in relation to social and environment-related issues. Our discussions with stakeholders
provided us with valuable insights for this purpose.
In 2016, we will continue discussions with our suppliers, buyers and stakeholders concerning the
key areas for attention in certain production regions. Coming two years, we aim to have completed
discussions with suppliers for at least 80 percent of the volume of key raw materials. I find it
inspiring to see that everyone is open to the challenge of becoming
sustainable, even at the international level. And that we are not alone
in this.”
Peter Boudeling
Director Procurement, Production & Logistics, Agrifirm Feed
Greening of Crop ProtectionAgrifirm Plant is fully focused on
the greening of crop protection
products. As a market leader,
Agrifirm Plant is a frontrunner
when it comes to the greening
of crop protection products.
Agrifirm Plant’s cultivation spe-
cialists are involved in working
on sustainability processes on
a daily basis. The objective is to
achieve more with less environ-
mentally harmful products and
through means of the efficient
use of crop protection products
and fertilisers. An integrated
control approach starts off
by making a crop protection
product plan that is primarily
focused on prevention. Decision
support systems also assist
growers in this respect. Precision
agriculture, whereby the right
product volume is applied at
the right place, is an important
greening method.
‘Accelerated Greening’“We want to further increase our head start in the field of greening crop protection products. In 2015,
we therefore adjusted our organisation to improve the sharing and application of knowledge. Our
procurement policy for crop protection products furthermore has been more specifically geared
towards sustainability criteria. We aim to increase our procurement from companies that are
frontrunners in terms of the greening of crop protection products. Low-risk products of a natural
origin are a good example of this.
From the perspective of the grower, the greening of crop protection products starts off with an
integrated approach in which you first and foremost avoid the use of environmentally harmful
agents whenever possible. When crop protection products are nevertheless required, it is important
to use them effectively. Developments in the field of precision agriculture are making a contribution
to this. For example, in the future it will be possible to use specialised spraying heads to accurately
apply the right dose down to the square centimetre. That also reduces the risk of having crop
protection products end up in surface waters. A farm discharge scan has been developed together
with the Dutch Federation of Agricultural and Horticultural Organizations (LTO), the water boards,
Agrodis and Nefyto to provide additional support to growers in this area. The scan helps growers
identify the risk of discharge of crop protection products from their
farm. The application of crop protection products in accordance with
current laws and regulations naturally forms part of our cultivation
recommendations. We also translate new knowledge about precision
agriculture and Big Data into practical cultivation recommendations.”
André Groot Nibbelink
Product Manager, Crop protection, Agrifirm Plant
23Agrifirm Corporate Sustainability Report 201522
25Agrifirm Corporate Sustainability Report 201524
Insects, Feed of the FutureInsects make up the largest living biomass on earth and efficiently
convert low-quality organic material into high-quality nutrients, such
as proteins, fats and micro-nutrients. Insects are a perfect fit for a
sustainable food supply. Agrifirm is actively involved in researching
opportunities for processing insects or parts thereof into animal
feeds. Living insects also have the potential for being used as a raw
material in animal production. In 2015, the first trial in which laying
hens were fed living larvae was successfully completed. Together
with EKOZ Pluimvee partnership in Schore (Province of Zeeland)
and the insect company Protix, Agrifirm Feed has tested the effect
of a combination of 80 per cent kernel feed and 20 per cent living
larvae on a trial group of several hundred Bovans Brown free range
hens. The initial results are positive. Egg production is higher, feed
conversion is better and the loss percentage lower. The trial at the
company will be further expanded in 2016.
Enhancing Residual FlowsAnimal feeds based on co-products from residual flows are
sustainable and offer market opportunities. For example, in 2015, we
transformed approximately 3,000 tonnes of vinasse, a co-product
from the sugar industry, into a fertiliser for the organic agriculture
sector. Proti+, a protein-rich cattle product and Gluco+, an energy-
rich cattle product are two other striking examples. Following their
introduction phase, Proti+ and Gluco+ are clearly in a growth phase.
The sale of both cattle mixtures experienced strong growth in 2015.
The volume sold more than doubled in a period of one year. Proti+
and Gluco+ both are very tasty milk yield stimulating products that
are available throughout the year. The mixtures are also interesting to
dairy farmers from a pricing perspective.
Reuse of Residual Products from the Food Industry 48.4 per cent of all dry raw materials that Agrifirm processes into
livestock feed consists of residual products that originate from the
food industry. These co-products are left over from the production
of, for example, bread, cookies, margarine, beer and sugar. Aside
from this, food producers are faced with a large number of residual
batches. These residual products, provided they are mixed to create a
well-balanced composition, are extremely well suited as raw material
for animal feeds. In 2015, more co-products were used as a raw material
for animal feed for dairy cattle and pigs than in the previous year.
Percentage per Animal Type 2015 2014
Dairy cattle 64.8 59.9
Pigs 39.6 37.5
Laying hens 31.6 34.6
Broilers 40.9 43.3
Sustainable Soy and Palm OilIn recent years, Agrifirm has invested a great deal of energy into
initiatives aimed at sustainable soy and palm oil. For example, we
endorse the Nevedi convenant for the Dutch market that refers to
the FEFAC Guidelines for responsible produced soy. In 2015, the
Federation of European Compound Feed Manufacturers (FEFAC)
published its benchmark standard. This benchmark compares
different standards for sustainable soy on the basis of the FEFAC Soy
Sourcing Guidelines. Ruud Tijssens, Agrifirm’s Director Corporate
Affairs, R&D and CSR, has played an active role in the development of
the FEFAC benchmark.
In 2015, Agrifirm bought RTRS credits for 240,000 tonnes of
sustainable soy. With this quantity, Agrifirm meets the market’s
demand for RTRS certified soy. Agrifirm also covered the volume of
soy that does not fall under market agreements by purchasing soy
that is produced according to standards that are accepted within
the FEFAC Sourcing Guidelines and the Nevedi Convanant. In 2015,
the Dutch animal feed sector collectively and responsibly procured
the volume of palm oil products required for the Dutch market with
Green Palm certificates.
Soy cultivation in north western Europe offers benefits, such as
closing regional cycles and reducing feed miles. In 2015, some 50
farmers grew a total of 175 hectares of soy. The best 25% of these
growers harvested an average of 3.2 tonnes per hectare and with
a higher protein content than the year before. Agrifirm Plant looks
after the sale of the Dutch soy via a special soy pool. In addition, trials
were conducted on a small scale with several new varieties. Agrifirm
Plant believes there are good prospects for the cultivation of these
new varieties, because the yield as well as the protein content is
higher than that of current varieties. This is a positive development,
because the market for human consumption can be better served
with a higher protein content.
27Agrifirm Corporate Sustainability Report 201526
Our ObjectivesAgrifirm aims for a structural decrease in energy consumption. By 2025, Agrifirm will have improved its energy efficiency by 15%. The energy
efficiency of production sites will have increased by 15% in comparison to 2015. As a major buyer of transportation, Agrifirm has made
binding agreements with its carriers about achieving the reduction objectives for energy use and the emission of various substances, such as
particulate matter.
4. EffICIENT prodUCTIoN ANd LogISTICS
Efficient processing of raw materials and smart logistics are high priorities for Agrifirm. Agrifirm’s logistics
contributes to the emission of greenhouse gases and particulate matter, among other things. This has
an environmental impact, which is a factor in climate change. Also, plants use energy for the production
of products and feedstuffs. Investing in efficient production and logistics enables Agrifirm to decrease its
environmental footprint.
Energy Efficiency Since 2013, Agrifirm has calculated the EEI (Energy Efficiency
Index) for most plants. This enables Agrifirm to identify the energy
consumption by product unit at key production sites. The index
indicates the energy efficiency in comparison to the 2010 reference
year. For Agrifirm Feed, the reference year is 2011, as this was
the first year Agrifirm measured the EEI of production sites. By
annually repeating this survey, the energy efficiency trend at each
site becomes evident and this provides Agrifirm with an accurate
impression of the impact of implemented reduction measures.
Agrifirm invests in reduction measures to improve the EEI of
production sites. In the past few years, we made progress. The goal is
to make further EEI improvements over the coming years. Increasing
the share of renewable energy is a performance indicator for Agrifirm
that we monitor on a yearly basis. Reducing the impact of our energy
consumption is not a strategic objective, but simply a performance
indicator that we monitor each year.
The EEI of Agrifirm Feed’s Drachten production site has improved
due to the investment in a new milling and mixing line, a new press
and the improved utilisation of the plant’s capacity. Veghel too
was the subject of a high level of investment and the EEI here also
improved. The investments in Veghel were made at the end of 2015.
We therefore expect the EEI to further improve in 2016 and at the
beginning of 2017. By investing in the plant in Oss we expect the EEI
of this production site to improve over the coming years as well. The
EEI of the Meppel and Wanssum production sites dropped in 2015
because the capacity of these plants was not fully utilised. Because
the plant in Zwolle produces high-quality Air Line® pellets, the EEI
of this production site dropped. Air Line® feeds result in better feed
utilisation on the farm. Due to the closure of the plant in Emmen,
there are no EEI results for this production site.
At the German production site in Neuss, the EEI declined because
since mid-2015, gas instead of oil was used for heating steam. In
addition, an investment in pallet quality, increased production of
cattle feeds and a defect in the production system resulted in an
EEI reduction. The factories of Nuscience Drongen and Nuscience
Baasrode are integated with each other due to the building of the
new Nuscience factory in Drongen in 2016.’ The EEI of the factory
of Drongen is unusual high due to inefficient use of energy as a
result of the extra energy use that was needed for the construction
of the new production location. The EEI of the Baasrode (BE) plant
decreased due to the phase-out of production at this site. Because
of renovations and investments we expect that energy consumption
will significantly decline and that efficiency will improve in 2016.
The EEI in the Hungarian plants in Kaba and Györ improved. The
significant improvement in Kaba (compared to an EEI of 110 in 2014)
is due to a Lean Six Sigma (Business Excellence) project that resulted
in optimised production. The improved EEI in the Polish factory is
explained by the modernisation of the production line and the use
of more energy-efficient machines.
2015 Energy Efficiency in Comparison to Reference Year160
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
Dra
chte
n
Agrifirm Feed Belgium Poland Germany Hungary NuscienceNutri-
Control Oldambt
Emm
en
Mep
pel
Oss
Vegh
el
Wan
ssum
Zwol
le
Gro
bben
donk
Mar
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la
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ss
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r
Bocs
Dro
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Baas
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el
Old
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Ope
inde
Our ObjectivesAgrifirm aims for a structural decrease in energy consumption. By
2025, Agrifirm has improved its energy efficiency by 15 percent
compared to 2015. For the branches, the focus is on improving the
energy efficiency of the production sites. Furthermore, Agrifirm
is entering into binding agreements with its carriers on reducing
energy consumption and emissions due to transport.
Renovation of the Veghel Production SiteA key step in achieving
more efficient production
is the modernisation of the
production site for pig feed
in Veghel. Agrifirm Feed is
investing €28 million in fully
modernising production
facilities in two plants. The
objective of the investment
is the further improvement
of feed quality and better
efficiency, including a reduction
in energy consumption.
‘Gain in quality through means of smarter operations’“Compared to the current state of affairs of technology the existing equipment in the plants in
Veghel is due for replacement. Some press, milling and mixing lines are over thirty years old. In the
near future, the plants would no longer meet various laws and regulations such as the Working
Conditions Act (Arbowet), ATEX and government regulations concerning odour, noise and dust. We
first started planning for the renovation in 2012.
During the renovation we will be replacing the machines in the plant with machines of a much
higher capacity. Through means of the much smarter placement of silos and machines, we will
reduce the internal transport of raw materials within the plant. After the renovation we will only
need 7 hammer mills instead of the current 24. One of the sites will exclusively produce feed for
piglets and lactating sows, while the other site will exclusively produce feed for fattening pigs and
pregnant sows.
The renovation will result in considerable cost and energy savings.
However, the biggest gain lies in the further improvement of the feed’s
quality and the ability to even better anticipate customer needs.”
Frits de Wit
Sector Production Manager Pigs, Agrifirm Feed
29Agrifirm Corporate Sustainability Report 201528
Agrifirm 2015 Energy Consumption
Energy consumption of the companies in the Agrifirm Group last
year amounted to:
2015 2014
Gas (m3) 13,248,917 12,888,053
Gas (l) 21,288 329,836
Electricity (kWh) 163,237,467 154,468,567
Coal (tonnes) 12,873,450 13,631
Heating oil (l) 481,957 639,908
Diesel oil (l) 724,065 507,062
Petrol (l) 2,800 20,518
AdBlue (l) 0 0
Percentage renewable energy 1.85% 2.56%
Electricity consumption (kWh) rose because production in the
Agrifirm Feed Netherlands plants in Zwolle and Drachten increased.
Nuscience also consumed more energy by switching over to the
new plant in Drongen (BE). This caused three production sites to be
temporarily used for the same production; the new and old plants in
Drongen and the plant in Baasrode (BE).
120%
100%
80%
60%
40%
20%
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Agr
ifirm
Gro
up
Agr
ifirm
Fee
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Nus
cien
ce N
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Agr
ifirm
Deu
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Agr
ifirm
Pol
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2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Agr
ifirm
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gary
Agr
ifirm
Co-
prod
ucts
Feed
Bel
gium
Agr
ifirm
Pla
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ifirm
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Renewable Energy by Site
Agrifirm Transport Energy Consumption Agrifirm wants to as much as possible optimise its transport
movements as a means of achieving financial and environmental
gains and to increase its operating efficiency. Agrifirm Plant works
together with various main carriers for the transport of fertilisers,
cereals, sowing seeds, crop protection products and auxiliary farming
materials (such as bulb nets and agricultural film). Agrifirm Plant
has made agreements with the main carriers of mixed cargo about
making efficiency improvements. Furthermore, Imperial (formerly
Van den Anker), a carrier of crop protection products, each month
reports its carbon footprint per volume transported.
Agrifirm’s scheduling also focuses on the efficient layout of routes,
thus avoiding unnecessary mileage, while the customer receives
his orders well on time. For example, Agrifirm Plant uses discounts
to encourage growers to order their product well in advance. The
internal Business Excellence project continued to focus on the more
efficient transport of fertilisers, as a result of which the load factor
has since risen to 98%. Naturally, we continue to provide services as
‘ordered today - delivered today’ and ‘3-hour emergency delivery’ for
situations such as unexpected weather conditions, planning issues or
estimating errors. In such situations, the optimal combination of trips
continues to be a key factor, but the timely delivery of the order then
becomes the main priority.
In terms of volume, cereals are the most important transport flow.
The introduction of the ‘from-the-farm’ concept means that the
grower no longer needs to concern himself about transportation
and that this responsibility has shifted to Agrifirm With the launch
of the cereals app, a grower can now also use his smartphone to
communicate on a timely basis what and how much he is going to
supply, enabling Agrifirm Plant to create a transport schedule with
the highest possible level of efficiency.
CO2 Emissions
Based on its energy consumption, Agrifirm also calculated its
CO2 emissions (Organisational Environmental Footprint) in 2015.
The results of the CO2 emissions are based on the
emission factors published by Stimular (on the basis of CE
Delf 2010) and the Climate Neutral Group (on the basis of NL
Agency, 2012 CO2 Performance Ladder).
In 2015, our emissions amounted to:
CO2 emissions from direct energy: 57,624,572 kg CO
2 equivalent;
CO2 emissions from indirect energy: 81,296,211 kg CO
2 equivalent.
Double Efficiency in New Drongen Plant In October 2015, the Nuscience Group opened a brand new,
hyper-modern production site in Drongen near Gent in
Belgium. The new production site affected efficiency in more
ways than one. First, the new plant has doubled production
capacity to over 10,000 tonnes per month as planned. Second,
the new plant replaces two existing production sites. Producing
the full Nuscience Belgium product portfolio at a single site,
has significantly improved internal logistics. The new plant
contains the most modern automation and process systems.
This enables Nuscience Belgium to quickly and efficiently
anticipate market demand and technological innovations in the
production of ingredients and premixes.
31Corporate Sustainability Report 2015Agrifirm 30
Phosphate, from Problem to SolutionPhosphate is a key component
of animal and plant food.
There is no alternative.
Agriculture uses phosphate
from raw phosphate in
animal feed and fertilisers.
An excess of phosphate
harms the environment.
Furthermore the stocks of
raw phosphate are becoming
scarce over time. Phosphate
is a finite raw material: once
depleted it’s gone. Agrifirm
therefore focuses on reducing
phosphates in animal feed
and on its efficient use and
re-use. That not only benefits
the environment, but the
operating result of our
members and customers
as well.
Integral Mineral Efficiency Farming Advice“The manure and mineral legislation is becoming increasingly complex. Agricultural entrepreneurs are
expected to increasingly focus on farm-specific mineral efficiency. Agrifirm Exlan therefore offers its
members and customers the Mineraal Optimaal package. In this package, we combine expert advice
with support services, such as the calculation of the BEX (farm-specific excretion), the preparation of
fertilising plans and the completion of the Cycle Management Guide. On the basis of these services and
advisory meetings at the kitchen table on the farm, the farmer can take timely measures to improve
efficiency and consequently increase the operating result.
Through close cooperation among Agrifirm Exlan’s and Agrifirm Feed’s consultants we supply the farmer
with true integral farming advice. And with success: more than 2,500 livestock farmers made use of Mineraal
Optimaal in 2015. We prepared a Cycle Management Guide for more than 900 farmers. A more efficient use
of phosphate than the norm provides livestock farmers with additional room for the production of milk.
In 2015, Agrifirm Exlan also provided guidance to various joint ventures among livestock farmers and arable
farmers. Generally this concerns farmers who want to exchange manure and soil, as well as livestock farmers
who jointly want to develop a manure processing installation. I expect that over the coming years, we will be
providing guidance and support to many more farmers to enable them to further improve environmental
and farm performance. It is good to see that we, as the Dutch agricultural sector,
are putting our best foot forward and are genuinely making every effort to make
agriculture more sustainable.”
Gerrit Schilstra
Director, Agrifirm Exlan
Solutions for the Improved Utilisation of Phosphate Room“Our members and customers want to achieve maximum performance subject to the conditions imposed by government. The effective use of the
phosphate room is of major importance. To support farmers in this respect, Agrifirm Feed provides nP feeds. These feeds contain 25 per cent less
phosphate than regular feeds, and yet a high ratio of usable phosphate. Cattle is better able to absorb this type of phosphate from the feed. This way
you avoid having non-usable phosphate end up on your farm. Naturally, the nP feeds do not reduce the results produced on the farm. The almost 500
dairy farmers making use of the nP feeds indicate that animal health and milk production are staying up to par.”
“The Mineraal Optimaal package that we offer together with Agrifirm Exlan is another good example. By means of expert knowledge and advice, a
farmer can aim for a more efficient cycle. When the farmer does this properly, it is possible to perform optimally within production limits. Every year we
research how we can use valuable raw materials, such as phosphate, more efficiently. A professional advisory arm, such as
Agrifirm Exlan, is really indispensable. This way we stand out in the market and we help our members and customers take
steps to close the cycle.”
Jan Kamphof
Commercial Director, Agrifirm Feed
Our ObjectivesBy 2025, Agrifirm will have developed sustainable agricultural practices that have the ability to reduce the environmental footprint of the
production of animal and plant products by our customers by 15%. For instance, Agrifirm actively encourages manure processing so that the
valuable components in organic manure are put to optimal use.
5. EffICIENT USE of rAw mATErIALS
Doing more with less is the cornerstone of our sustainability policy. Agrifirm aims to be a leader in
this area by doing research into product innovations that help our members and customers achieve
higher production levels with less feed, fertilisers or crop protection agents. This is not only good for the
environment. It also improves returns at the farm level.
Phosphate Reduction Agrifirm Feed is focusing on reducing phosphates in animal feed.
In 2015, we achieved a reduction of 758,529 kg of phosphate in
comparison to the 2009 reference year.
Reducing Phosphate in Animal Feed
Phosphate Reduction (kg) 2015 2014
Cattle 878,190 615,322
Pigs -119,661 295,110
In 2015, Agrifirm reduced the amount of phosphate in cattle feed by
using fewer phosphate-rich raw materials in the feed. The phospho-
rous - raw protein ratio (P/RP Ratio) declined to 2.36% in comparison
to 2014. As such we stayed below the 2.5% standard as agreed in
the Nevedi covenant. In 2015, Agrifirm realised lower phosphate
reductions in pig feeds. This drop in the reduction of phosphate was
caused by an increase in the use of phosphate-rich co-products from
the food industry. These co-products often have high phosphorus
content that is not always bio-available to the animals and limits
phosphate reductions.
Zero Stable EmissionsTo protect public health and to combat any inconvenience caused
by odours and noise, the livestock farming sector has already been
implementing various measures. Agrifirm Exlan is currently working
together with Grontmij and InnovatieNetwerk on the development
of the ZERO-stal®. This is a new livestock farming system that reduces
all emissions from substances such as ammonia, odours and particu-
late matter to zero. Furthermore, any pathogens no longer have the
chance of reaching the outside atmosphere. The interior climate of this
zero-emission stable also improves, with a better work environment for
employees and healthier livestock as a result. This increases production
and results in better social acceptance of the livestock farming sector.
Phosphorous Sales Volume per Period
sale
s vo
lum
e in
tonn
es
P1 P2 P3 P4 P5 P6 P7 P8 P9 P10 P11 P12
2013
2014
2015
33Agrifirm Corporate Sustainability Report 201532
Our ObjectivesBy 2025, Agrifirm will have developed sustainable agricultural practices with a key focus on greening the use of crop protection products, and
in which the natural resistance of animals has been strengthened to such an extent that the use of veterinary medicines by our customers can
be reduced by a further 20% to 30%.
6. HEALTHy pLANTS, SoIL ANd ANImALS for HEALTHy pEopLE
Healthy, resistant plants and animals need fewer supporting substances such as crop protection products
and veterinary medicines. Agrifirm’s policy is focused on structurally using less agents of this nature, while still
achieving good results. This way we are also anticipating stricter government regulations and social pressure
to use fewer such agents. Together with customers and members, Agrifirm works on creating a healthy soil,
resistant crops and strong animals that at the same time form the basis for a profitable farming operation.
Organic Fertilisers The sales volume of organic fertilisers for the Dutch market as a
whole increased in 2015 and Agrifirm was no exception in this
respect. The providers of organic fertilisers strongly anticipated the
need to make maximum use of the limited phosphate room available
to arable farmers. Naturally, the offer of liquid organic fertilisers also
increased significantly throughout the country. Particularly in the
northern part of the country where previously there was a shortage,
there was a significant increase in availability due to the strong
growth of the dairy farming sector. Because dairy farmers and arable
farmers in the northern part of the country now more often directly
exchange organic fertilisers as well, Agrifirm was not anywhere nearly
as often required to act as intermediary. This explains the decrease in
the sales volume of liquid organic fertilisers in 2015. The sales volume
of compost increased as the result of a sales promotion.
Big Data and Precision AgricultureInnovative and sustainable agriculture is impossible without data
analysis. Increasingly more arable farmers and growers are making
use of GPS-driven machines that enable them to collect accurate,
location-specific data about soil conditions, for example. This enables
agricultural entrepreneurs to more specifically apply fertilisers and
the right quantity of crop protection products. This reduces the
environmental impact, while returns improve due to reduced costs,
and more and better yields.
Agrifirm Plant supports growers with various tailor-made tools for
improving efficiency and returns. Together with Agrometius we
use the Veris soil scan to precisely chart a plot’s soil characteristics.
Agrifirm Plant uses this information to develop task maps that can be
used by growers to location-specifically apply fertilisers. The scan can
now also be used for clay soils. By using the NemaDecide Geo tool,
we also provide growers with location-specific management advice
about harmful nematodes. By linking the readings of a soil sample
to geographical coordinates, a grower can immediately prepare
location-specific control recommendations via the Akkerweb
platform.
In 2015, we launched the eBee drone together with three agricultural
contractors who carry out the flights. The agricultural drone creates
crop maps that at a single glance reflect the condition of a plot down
to a 10 x 10 cm piece of land. Agrifirm Plant next translates the scan
maps in combination with the crop and soil analyses into ready-made
advice in consultation with the grower. In 2015, modules for fertilising,
crop protection and precision agriculture were developed. These
modules run on the Akkerweb platform. This is an initiative of Agrifirm
Plant and the Wageningen University Research Centre (WUR). The
platform was elaborately tested in actual practice by members and
customers and has been freely accessible since last year.
600,000
500,000
400,000
300,000
200,000
100,000
0
Liquid (t)
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Stackable (t) Compost (t) Organic Fertilisers
Organic Fertilisers
35Agrifirm Corporate Sustainability Report 201534
Improved Resistance “The mycorrhiza fungus grows inside and around the roots of crops and supplies them
with water and nutrients, such as nitrogen, phosphate, potassium and magnesium. The
crop in turn supplies the sugars it produces to the fungus. The root system furthermore
develops better when we add mycorrhiza fungi to the crops. This improves the crops’
resistance, making them better able to ward off diseases. The initial results show that
the symbiosis between the flower bulb and the fungus is not yet as good as we had
expected. Together with the KAVB and the bulb growers we are now going to see whether
we can improve the conditions so as to enable the BiomyPro mycorrhiza fungi to
function optimally. As a supplier we want to offer our members and customers profitable
alternatives to crop protection products and fertilisers. I notice
that our members and customers appreciate this.”
Leen van der Heiden
Agrifirm Flower Bulb Specialist
Cultivating hyacinths with fewer agents “I often participate in practical innovation trials aimed at more sustainable bulb cultiva-
tion. I notice that it is becoming increasingly important to grow high-quality products
with less fertilisers and crop protection products. I wanted to see with my own eyes
whether the mycorrhiza fungus also has positive effects on hyacinths. In consultation with
Agrifirm’s cultivation specialists, I mixed the fungus into a one hectare plant bed. The sci-
entific substantiation, guidance and the regular analysis supporting the practical trial give
me confidence that we can truly achieve something with the
trial. As a grower of flower bulbs, I would like to grow beautiful
hyacinth bulbs in a more sustainable way.”
Arjan Hogervorst
Flower Bulb Grower with 22 ha of hyacinths in Noordwijkerhout
Mycorrhiza for a Healthy Soil BalanceSoil with a variety of soil life is in balance
and healthy. Fungi, bacteria and organisms
such as rain worms enrich the soil and
contribute to vital crops. A good example of
this is the symbiotic relationship between
fungi, such as mycorrhiza, in the soil and
crops. The fungus forms filaments within
the soil that attach themselves to the plant’s
roots. These filaments grow deep into the
soil and provide the plant with moisture
and minerals from deeper soil. Agrifirm
Plant works together with the company
Biomygreen to provide mycorrhiza fungi
and associated advice. Following a series
of successful practical trials with BiomyPro
mycorrhiza fungi with onions, sport fields
and tulip bulbs, Agrifirm Plant supervised
a number of practical trials with hyacinth
bulbs in the autumn of 2015. Twelve bulb
growers in the Sustainable Bulb Cultivation
Study Group of the Royal General Bulb
Growers' Association (KAVB) investigated
how hyacinth bulbs can benefit from the
BiomyPro mycorrhiza fungi.
VIGOR for Good Intestinal HealthVIGOR has a positive effect on the intestinal health of laying hens
and stimulates digestion and feed utilisation. Agrifirm Feed is
investigating whether VIGOR can be even further improved to
prevent intestinal problems among laying hens. This is a relevant
improvement, because debeaking will be prohibited in the
Netherlands starting in 2018. The prohibition on debeaking increases
the risk of feather pecking whereby laying hens harm themselves
and each other. Intestinal irritation causes stress among laying hens
and are an important cause of feather pecking. To prevent this,
Agrifirm Feed in cooperation with Feed4Foodure also invests in the
development of feed that prevents intestinal problems
in poultry.
Biodiversity
The Biodiversity Earnings Model
Farmers and growers make their living from the natural environment.
They play an important role in preserving biodiversity. As a
cooperative organisation Agrifirm serves the interests of farmers
and growers. We therefore are fully dedicated to sharing knowledge
about biodiversity, especially at a level where this also benefits the
earnings model of agricultural entrepreneurs.
Four Levels
We make a distinction between four levels in terms of increasing the
biodiversity of agricultural areas. The first two levels have a positive
effect on the farmer’s or grower’s financial results, now or in the near
future. For example, the use of mycorrhiza fungi has a proven positive
effect on soil life and soil structure. Measures on this first level are
currently already resulting in increased biodiversity and in the increased
productivity of farmers and growers. Knowledge about disease control
using natural enemies is still lacking, but is certainly expected to yield
added value for the agro-ecological system in the future.
Biodiversity as a Social Function
There are also other conceivable measures that stimulate
biodiversity, but that do not fit into the farmer’s and grower’s
earnings model. Biodiversity with an added value for the ecological
system (third level) or for the layout of the landscape (fourth level).
For the sake of the social importance of biodiversity, farmers and
growers could, for example, decide to provide space for meadow
birds at the edges of their fields or maintain meandering rivers. These
are perfect measures for preserving biodiversity that farmers can
only take if they are sufficiently compensated for this financially. As a
cooperative organisation we like to work on preserving biodiversity
with a clear earnings model for our farmers and growers. Because
they know better than anyone else that nature sustains life, now and
in the distant future.
CleanLight’s UV light halts the spread of virus in liliesAgricultural and horticultural crops can be protected against fungi,
bacteria and viruses using a special form of ultraviolet (UV) light.
The bulb sector in particular has experimented with this. This means
fewer agents would be required and that produces environmental
gains. At the beginning of 2015, Agrifirm Plant together with
CleanLight B.V. developed a treatment unit designed to curtail the
Plantago asiatica mosaic virus in lily bulbs. By illuminating lily bulbs
all around with the right concentration of CleanLight UV light, the
virus does not have any chance of spreading. Practical Research Plant
& Environment - part of Wageningen UR (WUR) - concluded that
a high concentration of CleanLight UV does not have any adverse
affect on the lily’s bulb quality and growth.
37Corporate Sustainability Report 201536 Agrifirm
Contribution of Innovation Projects to SustainabilityAgrifirm invests in fundamental and practical research to realise
higher yield and sustainability impact at the farm, to maintain its
position as market leader and to contribute to a sustainable food
supply. As in previous years, AIC, Agrifirm Plant and Agrifirm Business
Excellence (BE) conducted a sustainability scan to determine which
R&D and Business Excellence projects in 2015 contributed to the six
The diverging rates are explained by the fact
that research can score on different topics. The
topics that are part of the six sustainability pillars
naturally are consistent with the Dutch Farming
vision. The three Dutch Farming themes guide
Agrifirm’s innovation and development agenda
and provide direction to our innovation agenda
and partnerships.
pillars of the sustainability policy. The percentage of the research
projects that address specific topics related to the six pillars is
presented in the summary below.
Sustainable Raw Materials AIC Plant Business Excellence
Alternative proteins 7 % 2 %
Efficient Production and Logistics
Improved plant efficiency 14 %*
Improved transport efficiency no specific
BE projects
Efficient Use of Raw Materials
Improved phosphate efficiency at the farm 47 % 41 %
Improved nitrogen efficiency at the farm 43 % 41 %
Reduced carbon footprint of end-products at the farm 43 %, 5 %
Developments that contribute to reducing/preventing
air and water quality pollution through means of agricultural input 27 % 66 %
Improved use of crop protection products
(more with less, or use of low-impact products) 49 %
Reduced water consumption at the farm 2 %
Scarcity/reuse of raw materials 20 % 5 %
Healthy Plants, Soil and Animals for Healthy People
Contribution to improved public health at consumer level 3 % 20 %
Contribution to preventing human resistance to antibiotics 17 %
Improved animal health and welfare 50 %
Development of products that enhance the natural resistance
of plants, soil and animals 30 % 29 %
Improved soil physics 32 %
Sustainable Consumer Supply
Direct cost reduction of own and/or member activities or improved balance sheet 43 % 46 % 29 %
Development of sustainable chains 10 % 17 % 29 %
Employees, the Foundation for Success
Contribution to training internal or external parties 3 % 17 % 43 %
* In 2015, the focus of Business Excellence primarily was on quality improvement projects.
Healthy Soil, Plants and Animals The research into the use of mycorrhiza fungi is a good fit with the
theme ‘Healthy Soil, Plants and Animals’. In cooperation with Agrifirm
Plant, the company Biomygreen carried out tests with potatoes and
the mycorrhiza fungi. The trials demonstrated that potatoes with
the mycorrhiza fungi suffer from fewer attacks and that the yield
improves by 4 per cent. Agrifirm Plant consequently developed
commercial products with the mycorrhiza fungus in 2015.
Strength in the Chain Agrifirm has been working with the Veldleeuwerik Foundation for
several years. It is a good example of research and cooperation
within the theme ‘Strength in the Chain’. In 2015, there were
consultations to determine ten themes for which Agrifirm can furnish
input for providing additional training to foundation members. In
total, approximately 600 growers received additional training. In the
future, Agrifirm will share knowledge at meetings on sustainable
agriculture. This way we support growers in taking steps towards
more sustainable food production.
Smart Feeding Research into DairyStart, a concept for the accelerated breeding
of young cattle within 22 months is a good example of ‘Smart
Feeding’. DairyStart makes it possible to have young cattle calve at 22
months in an efficient manner with lower nitrogen and phosphate
concentrations in rations, while maintaining fewer calves. This
concept supports the health of young cattle and contributes to a
further improvement in efficiency in comparison to breeding young
cattle within 24-26 months.
39Agrifirm Corporate Sustainability Report 201538
Our ObjectivesBy 2025, Agrifirm is the main consultation partner for chain parties in developing and testing new chain concepts.
7. CoNTrIBUTINg To A SUSTAINABLE CoNSUmEr SUppLy
Smart entrepreneurs look beyond their own enterprise. Insight into the entire chain and new earnings
models are more important than ever for sustainable and profitable enterprise. A broader choice of
sustainable and healthy food helps people make a positive change to their consumption pattern.
Chain cooperation is essential for this purpose. Agrifirm is convinced that every party in the chain
makes an indispensable contribution. Together we work on product concepts with shorter chains
and on the use of local raw materials.
More enjoyment from our work due to the free range concept“In 2009, we switched to the free range
concept. Our chickens are very active. They
often jump on the hay bales in the stable
and over a period of seven weeks or so pick
it completely apart. The animals are also far
more robust and over the past five years no
longer needed any antibiotics. The chickens
are fed 100 per cent vegetable feed each day.
By adjusting the proportion of the additional
cereals we spread we are able to effectively
manage the cost of the feed and the weight
of the animals. It also has made our work
more enjoyable. No longer any stress for peo-
ple and animals! Together with the hatchery,
Agrifirm and Plukon, we are responding
quickly to new developments. The poultry
sector truly is a strong chain.”
Erald Brilman
Livestock Farmer with 46,000 free range
chicks, 60 dairy cows and 50 young cattle.
Increased Animal health and Welfare“Since 2009, we have been working with Agri-
firm Feed on the development of SLOWFEED,
a husbandry system and feed concept for
slower growing broiler chickens that produc-
es good yields. The system safeguards animal
welfare and veterinary medicines are virtu-
ally absent. We now have an optimal mix of
genetics, feed and a husbandry system with
daylight, enriched with hay bales and sprin-
kled feed with cereals for the Goed Nest Kip
and the free range chicken. The high scores
in terms of walking behaviour, cleanliness
of the plumage and loss demonstrate that
together we have achieved higher animal
health and welfare.”
René Welpelo
Director Corporate Quality
at Plukon
Joint Market-oriented Innovation“SLOWFEED FREE RANGE is the best feed for
the Goed Nest Kip, Plukon’s trade mark for
chickens raised in a high-quality environ-
ment, that should only grow a maximum
of 50 grams per day. By frequently assessing
growth, feed conversion, losses, the use of
antibiotics and the balance sheet, we can
provide tailored advice and help achieve
good returns for the poultry farmer. In just
one year, the Goed Nest Kip has already
achieved a greater market volume than the
free range chicken. Poultry farmers can now
choose the market for which they wish to
produce: traditional, free range or the Goed
Nest Kip market. Our consultants help poul-
try farmers choose the right concept for their
farm with the best equilibrium between their
balance sheet and work enjoyment.”
Mathieu Woltring
Commercial Director Broiler Poultry
at Agrifirm
SLOWFEED for more sustainable chicken meat Animal health and welfare are becoming increasingly more important to buyers. We can innovate in this area on a market-oriented basis, by
working together with partners and customers. A good example of this is the SLOWFEED concept for slower growing broiler chickens. The
product consists of two feed lines: SLOWFEED COMFORT for slow growing broiler chickens and SLOWFEED FREE RANGE for free range chickens
with outdoor access. Agrifirm Feed developed this feed in cooperation with chain partner Plukon, one of the largest players on the market for
poultry meat.
> These slower growing broiler chickens are raised in accordance with the SLOWFEED concept.
41Agrifirm Corporate Sustainability Report 201540
Sustainable Milling Wheat Agrifirm Plant is working together with Koopmans Koninklijke
Meelfabrieken to make sustainably cultivated milling wheat
available to Dutch bakers. Increasingly more bakers like to
bake bread using mixes that include milling wheat from Dutch
fields, cultivated in accordance with the sustainable cultivation
principles of the Veldleeuwerik Foundation. The partnership is
to produce 5,000 tonnes of milling wheat within three years.
Both partners aim to process the first milling wheat produced by
the project in the Koopmans mixes for Dutch bakers starting in
September 2016
Agrifirm Plant provides advice to the Veldleeuwerik growers on
topics such as the choice of varieties, cultivation and harvest, and
ensures the product is stored separately. Koopmans Koninklijke
Meelfabrieken tests the baking properties of every batch of
milling wheat it receives. By conducting milling and baking
trials for each batch, the quality of the various varieties becomes
clear. Agrifirm Plant then provides this feedback to the relevant
arable farmers. By working together, Koopmans Koninklijke
Meelfabrieken and Agrifirm Plant improve the quality of Dutch
milling wheat and create a shorter and transparent chain. For
Dutch arable farmers this is a wonderful opportunity to convert
an anonymous bulk product into a local and sustainable product
for Dutch bakers and their customers.
Koopmans Partnership“Koopmans consciously opts for more regionally and sustainably
cultivated raw materials that can be fully traced back to Dutch
farming fields. We want to offer our customers ingredients
that are produced with maximum purity and sustainability. A
number of years ago, we initiated a sustainable milling wheat
project in the northern Netherlands. We wanted to scale this
up to all of the Netherlands and Agrifirm was a logical partner
for us. Agrifirm can supply the volume we need to increase the
proportion of Dutch milling wheat in our mixes. The choice of
variety, fertilisation and harvest of milling wheat require new
knowledge. Agrifirm is able to translate our needs to the farm
and to help growers improve their crops. By working together
in a chain context and by sharing practical knowledge, we work
together with Agrifirm to improve the quality of Dutch milling
wheat and create a shorter and transparent chain.”
Bauke Wierda
Manager Sourcing Koopmans Koninklijke Meelfabrieken
Carbon FootprintingCarbon footprinting is the calculation of the total greenhouse gas
emissions of a product throughout its entire lifespan. Since 2014,
Agrifirm has been working within the Federation of European
Compound Feed Manufacturers (FEFAC) on a Product Environmental
Footprinting (PEF) study supported by the European Commission.
Pilots are conducted within the study to develop a collective
methodology designed to determine the CO2 footprint at the
product level. In addition, Agrifirm is consulting the Food and
Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the American animal feed
industry concerning the creation of a global database, the Global
Feed LCI database, with background data for calculating the CO2
footprint.
The CO2 Footprint of Milk, Meat and Eggs
The infographic below illustrates the CO2 equivalent number of
kilograms of emissions released during the production of a kilogram
of milk, meat or eggs produced using Agrifirm Feed’s feeds. The
carbon footprint of chicken meat has declined in comparison to
2014. In 2014, corn from South America was used as part of the
raw materials that make up the animal feed for chickens. In 2015, a
higher concentration of soy was used in the animal feed, which is
favourable in terms of the carbon footprint. In addition, the use of
soy in the animal feed for chickens resulted in a better utilisation of
nutrients. In 2015, the feed supplied 8.9 cycles, while it supplied 7.3
cycles in 2014.
By reducing the amount of corn and increasing the amount of
soy in animal feed, the carbon footprint of milk and eggs declined
somewhat in comparison to 2014. In 2015, a lower carbon footprint
was realised for pig meat as well. This decline too can be explained
by a reduction in the use of corn and an increase in the use of soy in
animal feed. The adjustment of the calculation method for piglets is
not evident from the figures.
Carbon Footprint kg Co2 eq/kg product
Pig meat Chicken meat Milk Eggs
2010
2010
2010
2010
2011
2011
2011
2011
2012
2012
2012
2012
2013
2013
2013
2013
2014
2014
2014
2014
2015
2015
2015
2015
6,000
4,000
2,000
0
LuLuc
Feed
Farm
43Agrifirm Corporate Sustainability Report 201542
Working Safely Together“Following several incidents at production sites, we asked ourselves whether we were
actually doing well in the area of safety. Our employees are passionate about their
profession, but this must not cause us to lose sight of safety. Naturally all of us want
everyone to return home safely after a day’s work. Following an initial safety survey, we
identified 23 areas for improvement. Together with management and the Works Council
Safety Committee, we are fine-tuning our policy therefore.
A key component of the renewed safety policy is the traffic plan that we are developing
for Agrifirm Plant’s four production sites. The two production sites that are shared with
Agrifirm Feed will be tackled jointly. For each site we are preparing a brochure with safety
instructions and a floor plan. The biggest gain, however, is in discussing safety risks during
regular work meetings. By putting safety on the agenda of work meetings, we can hold
each other to account for our responsibility for our own safety
and that of others. So that all of us will reach our retirement age
in good health.”
Jacques Wassenberg
Team Leader Quality Assurance, Agrifirm Plant
Re-stated Safety PolicyAgrifirm’s employees are the foundation for
the company’s success. Agrifirm is devoted
to the health and safety of its employees
and visitors. Our safety policy aims to create
a safe working environment for everyone
working at Agrifirm. We want all of our
employees and visitors to arrive back home
safely and in good health after a day’s work.
The need for safety to continue to be a
priority was emphasized by a fatal accident
at a farm involving one of the transport
carriers hired by us.
To assume responsibility in the area of
safety, we initiated a large safety project in
cooperation with Nevedi in 2015.
Our GoalTo remain successful, Agrifirm aims to be the employer of choice in the field of agricultural products by 2020. By 2020, Agrifirm will have visibly
developed leadership as one of the key success factors for our company. This manifests itself in various ways within the company, for example
by means of a high rate of internal promotions.
8. THE foUNdATIoN for SUCCESS
Expert and motivated employees are indispensable to the success of a company. Agrifirm is an
attractive employer with excellent terms and conditions of employment, and excellent training and
career development opportunities. Characteristics include a pleasant company culture and appealing
company objectives with corporate social responsibility as a key theme. This is how we attract the
best employees and achieve the best possible results.
Agrifirm Academy Agrifirm wants to take good care of its employees. We do this
by providing excellent terms and conditions of employment,
as well as by investing in good training opportunities. In 2015,
Agrifirm’s Human Resources (HR) department introduced the
Agrifirm Academy: a combination of existing training courses
supplemented with new training opportunities. In the future,
we will be investigating how to provide access to the Agrifirm
Academy to employees abroad and possibly to our members and
customers as well.
Ethical Business Conduct WorkshopAlmost all Agrifirm Plant’s employees attended the ethical
business conduct workshop. This workshop, presented by the
Hofmann agency, was developed to stimulate awareness about
this theme. The objective is to operate completely transparently
and to embed this approach in the form of clear rules of conduct.
This can include all kinds of practical examples, such as making
use of photocopiers for personal purposes, accepting or politely
declining gifts from suppliers or customers, and how to provide
advice concerning products that are not permitted to be applied
to crops in the Netherlands. These rules of conduct are discussed
in the workshop and therefore originate from the group of
employees itself.
Customer SatisfactionAgrifirm surveys customer satisfaction every two years. It is
very important to any company to understand their customers’
opinion of them. Agrifirm Feed’s and Agrifirm Plant’s customers
are generally satisfied. The personal contact with – and the
expert advice of – consultants is the key factor in this regard.
Agrifirm Feed’s customers give product quality, online ordering
options and the ordering app a high score. The survey also shows
that customers would like the general service to be somewhat
more personal. Agrifirm Feed will most definitely work on this
over the coming period. Agrifirm Plant’s customers consider
the significantly improved handling of complaints a positive
development. A striking finding is that Agrifirm Plant’s innovative
character is not immediately recognised as such by members
and customers. In the coming period, Agrifirm Plant is going to
investigate how to better convey this aspect to members and
customers.
Personal Development“Development is important for the future of employees and
the company. This is why Agrifirm offers its employees good
education and training opportunities. The Agrifirm Academy
provides the logical structure needed for this. The goal is
to provide new employees, as well as employees that have
worked for Agrifirm for many years, suitable education and
training programmes that support their personal development.
The Agrifirm Academy meets the 70:20:10 principle: 70 per cent
of learning through working, 20 per cent through coaching and
10 per cent through formal training. In addition to traditional
training, we also focus on other forms of learning, such as
online learning and on-the-job coaching. The traditional
way of education in a classroom setting also continues to be
important, because it is important to learn from each other and
to exercise skills in a ‘live’ environment.
As of December 2015, e-books about various occupation-
specific topics have been available and we are going to develop
e-learning modules that include training modules for process
operators. With the Agrifirm Academy we want to stimulate our
employees to make learning a life-long process for personal
development and positive commercial
results.”
Joke Mens
Manager Learning & Development,
Agrifirm Feed
AgrIfIrmACAdEmy
Agrifirm Corporate Sustainability Report 201544
Employee TrainingAgrifirm aims to be the best company in its market. The way in which
employees exercise their responsibilities is very important in this
respect. This is why Agrifirm regularly organises training for ‘Young
Employees Agrifirm’ (YEA) for employees up to age 35 with a higher
education level. In addition to leadership training, Agrifirm invests in
(further) training, for example relating to working conditions, safety
and leadership.
Accidents and Absence Due to IllnessAgrifirm's average absence due to illness rate was 3.4 % in 2015. In
comparison to 2014, the absence due to illness rate declined from
0.6 % to 0.2 %. The duration of absence increased from 10 working
days in 2014, to 25 working days. The frequency of accidents also
increased from 3.9 % in 2014 to 4.8 % in 2015.
Expenditures Employee Training as
Number of Incidents Absence due to Illness a % of employees per €K
Average 2015 2014 2015 2014 2015 2014
Agrifirm Group (excl. participating interests) 0 0 2.0 4.5 803 1,367
Member companies
Agrifirm Feed 8 3 3.7 2.1 1,023 98
Agrifirm Plant 2 1 2.8 1.9 164 945
Compound Feed Europe
Agrifirm Belgium 1 0 2.8 2.7 340 1,125
Agrifirm Deutschland 2 0 3.3 7.1 590 155
Agrifirm Polska 3 1 2.9 1.1 449 120
Agrifirm Magyraroszág 1 1 1.3 3.7 358 86
BV Oldambt 0 0 8.3 2.9 1,536 90
Specialties
Nuscience Group 3 9 1.8 3.4 864 244
Co-products
Agrifirm Co-products 2 2 2.1 1.2 356 42
Knowledge & Innovation Cluster
NutriControl 0 5 3.2 4.0 74 0
Agrifirm Exlan 3 0 1.8 4.6 504 549
Service Companies
Agrimec Group 0 0 1.9 7.3 681 1,944
Agrifirm Winkel BV 8 0 4.3 4.6 77 91
Agri Retail 0 0 5.0 4.4 638 297
2,500
2,000
1,500
1,000
500
0
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
Training (€/Employee)
Agr
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Agr
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45
47Agrifirm Corporate Sustainability Report 201546
CoLopHoN
Agrifirm’s 2015 Corporate Sustainability Report is a publication of the
Agrifirm Group and is available in digital format on Agrifirm’s website.
Editorial Committee
CSR Department of the Agrifirm Group, Communications Department of the Agrifirm Group,
HR Department and Finance Agrifirm Group, Agrifirm Innovation Center, R&D Plant
Text
Schuttelaar & Partners
Concept and realisation
DTP Agrifirm
Contact details
Agrifirm Group
Landgoedlaan 20
7325 AW Apeldoorn, The Netherlands
PO Box 20000
7302 HA Apeldoorn, The Netherlands
T +31 (0)88 488 10 00
E info@agrifirm.com
website: www.agrifirm.com/duurzaam
June 2016
Workforce Composition
Total number of FTEs in 2015: 3,179
Total number of employees in 2015: 3,570
Distribution of Total Number of Employees (FTEs)
Agrifirm Group 69
Agrifirm Plant (Netherlands and Germany) 272
Agrifirm Magyarország Zrt. 127
Agrifirm Feed Nederland 552
Abemec Group 202
Agrifirm Winkel BV 419
Nuscience Group 1,021
Oldambt 20
Agrifirm Co-products 103
Agrifirm Deutschland 123
Agrifirm Exlan 43
Agrifirm Belgium 26
Agrifirm Polska 122
NutriControl 79
Job Families
Management 4%
Commerce 23%
Staff, Support 15%
and Services
Research and 3%
Innovation
Operations 53%
Miscellaneous 2%
Gender
Male 74%
Female 26%
Employment Contract
Indeterminate 81%
Determinate 19%
Age
< 29 30%
30-50 47%
> 51 23%
Total 3,179 employees
49Agrifirm Corporate Sustainability Report 201548
Appendix 1: KPIs Relating to the Organisation
Memberships and Endorsed Codes/Principles
Agrifirm Group BV
FEFAC, Sustainability Taskforce
FEFAC Praesidium
Project Leadership, Responsible Soy Chain Transition Foundation
Dairy Campus Innovation Committee
SAI (Sustainable Agriculture Initiative)
Agrifirm Feed / AIC
Schothorst Feed Research, Basic Package Committee
Feed4Foodure Top Sectors Project
Netherlands Animal Feed Research Association
GMP Committees for Logistics and Product Assessment
Schothorst: Foundation Board, Animal Committee Cattle,
Animal Committee Pigs
Agrivaknet PR and Communications
Trustfeed, Supplier Assessment Working Group
Organic Food and Livestock Platform
Schothorst Feed Research, Animal Committee Poultry
CVB
WPSA
Nevedi ATEX
Nevedi Board
Trustfeed Board
CVB
GMP+ International Expert Committee
FEFAC Quality Feed
FEFAC Committee Animal Nutrition
International GMP+ Sustainable Fishmeal & Fish oil
Occupational Health & Safety Catalogue
GMP+ Guidance
NEVEDI Substance and Endotoxins
Nevedi Arbo (working conditions) and the Environment
Expert Committee Rikilt Risk System Raw Materials and Lab Methods
Nevedi Animal Feed Legislation
SecureFeed Working Group Product Assessment
SecureFeed Technical Committee
Nevedi/LTO Feed Track Agreement
Nevedi Long-term Agreements
GMP+/AS
GMP+ Sub-committee on Responsibility
SecureFeed Board
HACCP
SKAL
VLOG
GMP+ FRA (Responsible)
GMP+ Countrynote’s Antibiotic-free Feed and Dioxin Agreement
Avined Salmonella Working Group (formerly PPE)
FND Risk Assessment Working Group
SecureFeed Supplier Assessment Working Group
Nuscience Group
GMP
GMP+
ISO 9001 / 22000
ACS
Socially Responsible Soy Contracts
Cochon de Bretagne
Viande de Porc
A+ Futter
QS
AMCRA
Bemefa
Pig Veterinaries Survey Group
WPSA
European Pig Producers Platform
Nevedi Premixes Consultation Platform
Fefana
Frana
Animal Feed Research and Animal Feed Product Board Advisory Committee
IPVS
AppENdICES Ava Schothorst
Ava AniMedica
Agrivaknet
Agrifirm Belgium
VLOG
GMP+
Ovocom/FCA (KAT,HFA)
SecureFeed
Bemefa
AMCRA
WPSA
Flanders Food
Agrifirm Deutschland
QS
KAT
QM-Milk
Agrifirm Poland
GMP
ISO9001:2008
Agrifirm Hungary
ISO 22000:2005 (Kaba, Győr)
HACCP (Kaba, Győr)
ISO 14001:2005 (Kaba)
Global GAP (Kaba, Győr)
GMP+B1 (Kaba, Győr)
OSI Food Solutions (Kaba, Győr)
Agrifirm Co-products
GMP+
SecureFeed
FEFAC Working Group Former Feedstuffs on behalf of VIDO
International Expert Committee of GMP+ (on behalf of OPNV), Transport
International Expert Committee of GMP+ (on behalf of OPNV), Feed
Safety Database
OPNV
Agrifirm Plant
Steering Group Precision Agriculture Programme
Steering Group SGGV Crop Protection Products
Top Sector Consultation Body: Soil Programme
Nemadecide
Geonema
Agrodis
Mineral Fertilisers Federation (MMF)
Plantum, Cereals Section
Plantum, Trade Section Cultivation License
NAK
Veldleeuwerik Foundation
Dutch Carrot Group
LLTB
ZLTO
Netrecycle
Mineral Fertilisers Federation
Mineral Fertilisers Distribution
Arable Farming Product Board
Top Sectors Chain Platform
Steering Group Thorough Corn Farming in Drenthe
NIBEM (Barley Brewing Advisory Committee)
Nemadecide
Geonema
Abemec
SCC Standards
KA Certifications Standards
SCC Certification
STEK Certification
Oldambt
Dutch Fodder Legumes Driers Association
CIDE (European Fodder Legumes Driers Association)
Copa-Cogeca, Fodder Legumes Working Group
Dutch Federation of Agricultural and Horticultural Organizations (LTO)
ANOG
GMP+
SKAL
SecureFeed
QS
ETS
Agrifirm Corporate Sustainability Report 201550
Agrifirm Exlan
Cumela Section Manure Distribution
Manure Sales Office
Steering Group Project Office Local Manure Processing
Nevedi Cycle Management Guide Working Groups
Cycle Management Guide User Working Group
Cycle Management Guide Database User Group
RAV Committee
NutriControl
NEN Food Committee
NEN Animal Feed Committee
NEN Halal Food Committee
Fenelab Agrofood Committee
Fenelab Accreditation Committee
VRS
GMP+ Reliability of Laboratory Testing Steering Group
Agrifirm Winkel
Agri Retail/Agrifirm Winkel
Flowering Platform
RND
BPN
Dibevo
NMF/NMD
Fagrovet
51
Overview of key themes that emerged in consultation with stakeholders
Arable Farming and Horticultural Activities
Sustainable Raw Materials Biodiversity Transport Health and Safety of Customers
and Consumers
(recycling, crops, certifications) (plant health, soil health, flowers & bees) (safety at work, consulting)
From-the-farm collection of Partnership with
empty crop protection barrels Veldleeuwerik Foundation
by Netrecycling,
Van Gansewinkel Groep. Continuation of Sustainable
Brewing Barley Chain
(Heineken & Holland Malt)
Partnership with Koopmans on
sustainable milling wheat
Resetting soil, public-private
partnership (biological soil
remediation)
Partnership with Agrometium
(Veris Scan): soil analysis in
combination with task cards
for growers
Partnership with Nefyto sector
organisation for using toolbox
cards to limit emissions caused
by crop protection products
Public-private Partnerships
/ top sectors programmes: PPP
sustainable soil, IJkakker.
Agrifirm Corporate Sustainability Report 201552
Livestock Farming Activities
Company Animal Health and Welfare Minerals Co-products
(efficiency, manure processing,
cycles)
Agrifirm Group
(excl. participating interests)
Agrifirm Feed / AIC Smart Dairy Farming
partnership
WUR + private partners:
research into intestinal health
of piglets
Employees and zoonosis:
Nevedi / Occupational Health
& Safety (Arbo) Catalogue
Manure processing
ForFarmers, De Heus, ZLTO
Smart Dairy Farming
partnership
Partnership Belgium (Fancom
and University of Leuven) for
precision feeding
Continuation of Manure
Investment Fund
Cycle Management Guide
partnership
Partners with scientific and
private partners on increasing
the availability of amino acids
Strategic partnership with
Vitens
53
Climate Sustainable Raw Material Safety and Liveability for Food Safety
(greenhouse gas emissions) (local raw materials, sustainable Local residents near
soy, sustainable procurement) Plants
LEAP partnership FAO,
FEFAC, AFIA
F4F Feedprint WUR, F4F
partners
Agreements with carriers
about more EURO 6 vehicles
Promoting awareness of
European soy, WUR, ILVO
Partnership with Provinces
and private partners for mar-
keting of Dutch soy
F4F alternative proteins, WUR,
F4F partners
Sustainable soy chain transition:
Sustainable Dairy Chain, Environ-
mental certificate and Nevedi
Agreement sustainable soy
Involvement in FEFAC Road-
map to Sustainable Soy
Procurement of sustainable
raw materials: sustainable soy
meal, sustainable soy oil from
RTRS, ProTerra, Amaggi, etc.
Foundation of SecureFeed
organisation
Nevedi/Hisfa, etc.
Agrifirm Corporate Sustainability Report 201554
Livestock Farming Activities
Company Animal Health and Welfare Minerals Co-products
(efficiency, manure processing,
cycles)
Nuscience NV
Agrifirm Deutschland
Agrifirm Polska
Agrifirm Hungary
Agrifirm Co-products
Feed Belgium
Partnership with the Free
University of Berlin: the effect
of functional feed ingredients
on animal health
IWT trial with precision feeding
of fattening pigs (partners:
Fancom KU Leuven AIC)
Partnerships with private
parties: conversion of
co-products into energy and
functional feed ingredients
55
Climate Sustainable Raw Material Safety and Liveability for Food Safety
(greenhouse gas emissions) (local raw materials, sustainable Local residents near
soy, sustainable procurement) Plants
Partnerships with private
parties: enhancement of
raw materials through
fermentation
Procurement of sustainable
raw materials: mostly non-
GMO broiler meat
Soy meal procured regionally
for specific customers
Lime used in animal feed pro-
cured from special mines
(GMO-free)
corn, wheat and barley
procured from local farmers
Procurement of sustainable
soy via Bemefa
Partnerships with private
parties: enhancement of
raw materials through
fermentation
Agrifirm Corporate Sustainability Report 201556
Livestock Farming Activities
Company Animal Health and Welfare Minerals Co-products
(efficiency, manure processing,
cycles)
Abemec BV
Oldambt BV
Agrifirm Exlan BV
Nutricontrol BV
Agrifirm Winkel BV
57
Climate Sustainable Raw Material Safety and Liveability for Food Safety
(greenhouse gas emissions) (local raw materials, sustainable Local residents near
soy, sustainable procurement) Plants
Partnership
Grey Harrier Foundation
59Agrifirm Corporate Sustainability Report 201558
Services and Sales Markets
The various Agrifirm companies offer the following services:
> Agrifirm Plant: cultivation advice to members in arable farming, organic arable farming, flower bulbs, fruit growers, contract workers,
public landscaping and open-field vegetable crops.
> Agrifirm Feed: advice and assistance to members in cattle farming, dairy farming, meat cattle, goat, horse,
poultry and pig livestock farming.
> NutriControl: laboratory testing relating to nutritional issues in the feed and food industry (analytical chemistry,
instrumental analysis, microbiology, BSE monitoring and customer-specific services relating to quality assurance).
> Abemec: part of the Agrimec Group, and supplier of agricultural mechanisation systems, also provides services relating
to maintenance and 24-hour break-down service.
> Agrifirm Exlan: services relating to farm development and manure legislation.
> Bonda: advice relating to storage and feeding systems in compliance with all conditions for optimal, efficient and safe use of moist
and dry animal feeds.
These services are provided by the following companies:
> Agrifirm Group
> Agrifirm Feed
> Agrifirm Plant
> Nuscience Group
> Agrifirm Co-products
> Feed Europe:
- Agrifirm Belgium
- Agrifirm Deutschland
- Agrifirm Polska
- Agrifirm Magyarország
> BV Oldambt
> Agrifirm Exlan
> NutriControl
> Agrimec Group
> Agrifirm Winkel BV
> Agri Retail
Agrifirm’s companies operate in:
The Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Spain, Hungary, Poland, Ukraine, Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria, Russia, Brazil and
China.
Appendix 2: KPIs Relating to the Environment
Carbon Footprint
The carbon footprint is the sum of the greenhouse gas emissions during the life cycle of the animal products based on the unit kg CO2
equivalent/kg functional unit (FU) (milk, meat or eggs). Conclusions and explanations from the 2015 report are as follows:
> The carbon footprint of chicken meat in 2015 declined in comparison to 2014 and prior years. In 2014, more corn was used in broiler feed,
while more soy was used in 2015. This shift in the use of these raw materials reduces the carbon footprint and results in a better utilisation
of nutrients. The 2015 feed on average supplied 8.9 cycles, while the 2014 feed on average supplied 7.3 cycles.
> In 2015, the carbon footprint of milk declined slightly in comparison to 2014 due to reduced use of corn and the increased use of soy
in dairy cattle feed.
> The carbon footprint of eggs stayed stable and a comparison of the 2015 feed composition with that of 2014 shows no discernible differences.
> In 2015, the carbon footprint of pig meat declined in comparison to 2014. This is also due to the reduced use of corn and the increased
use of soy. The adjustment of the calculation method for piglets as described in the 2014 Corporate Sustainability Report is not visible in
2015. It is possible that the shift last year was not due to a change in methodology.
Feed Miles and Land Use
Efficient production results in a smaller environmental footprint. Efficient use of raw materials ensures that more can be produced with
less. This is why Agrifirm annually calculates the transport mileage (‘feed miles’) and the area of agricultural land (‘land use’) required for the
production of a kilogramme of milk, pig meat, poultry meat and eggs. This calculation includes all links in the chain, from the cultivation of raw
materials for animal feeds up to and including the products produced by livestock farmers.
Land Use 2015 2014 Feed Miles 2015 2014
Pig meat 3.4 3.5 Pig meat 2.98 5.38
Eggs 2.6 2.8 Eggs 3.16 3.57
Poultry meat 2.6 2.8 Poultry meat 3.11 3.73
Milk 0.88 0.8 Milk 1.50 1.46
Carbon Footprint kg Co2 eq/kg product
Pig meat Chicken meat Milk Eggs
2010
2010
2010
2010
2011
2011
2011
2011
2012
2012
2012
2012
2013
2013
2013
2013
2014
2014
2014
2014
2015
2015
2015
2015
6,000
4,000
2,000
0
LuLuc
Feed
Farm
61Agrifirm Corporate Sustainability Report 201560
Investing in Energy Efficiency
Agrifirm’s production and logistics contribute to the emissions of greenhouse gases, among others. In 2015, Agrifirm therefore invested in
various measures designed to decrease the environmental footprint. Agrifirm Feed invested in the renovation of two production sites
in Oss. Agrifirm Deutschland invested in various facilities, including € 850,000 in a new and more energy efficient production line. Nuscience
invested in the purchase of two bale presses, thus reducing the need for packaging materials. Additional investments were also made in raw
materials silos resulting in a reduction in purchases of materials in big bags. Furthermore, new machine motors were acquired that consume
less energy. The Agrifirm Feed Belgian production site invested €30,000 in green energy.
Co-products
In the Netherlands, the use of co-products as a raw material for animal feed increased. The use of co-products in the production of pig feed in
particular resulted in higher phosphate concentrations. This reduced phosphate savings in pig feed.
Energy Efficiency Index
Agrifirm Feed
Dra
chte
n
Emm
en
Mep
pel
Oss
Vegh
el
Wan
ssum
Zwol
le
Gro
bben
donk
Mar
goni
n
Szam
otul
y
Topo
la
Neu
ss
Kaba
Gyo
r
Bocs
Dro
ngen
Baas
rode
Vegh
el
Old
ambt
Ope
inde
200180160140120100
80604020
0
2010 2011 2012 2013
AgrifirmBelgium
AgrifirmDeutschlandAgrifirm Polska
Agrifirm Magyarország Zrt.
Nutri-Control BV Oldambt
Nuscience Group
2014 2015
Energy efficiency 2015 in Comparison to Reference Year
160
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
Dra
chte
n
Agrifirm Feed Belgium Poland Germany Hungary Nuscience
Nutri-
Control Oldambt
Emm
en
Mep
pel
Oss
Vegh
el
Wan
ssum
Zwol
le
Gro
bben
donk
Mar
goni
n
Szam
otul
y
Topo
la
Neu
ss
Kaba
Gyo
r
Bocs
Dro
ngen
Baas
rode
Vegh
el
Old
ambt
Ope
inde
Pigs (live weight) Laying hens (eggs) Broilers (live weight) Cattle (milk)
NL BE DE PL HU NL BE DE PL HU NL BE PL HU NL
DE
90.080.070.060.050.040.030.020.010.0
0
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
PL
Co-products (%)
Recycling Materials
Recycling materials allows for more efficient use of raw materials. Just like any other year, Agrifirm Plant invested in the collection of bulb nets
that are recycled into a base product for the plastics industry. Agrifirm Plant also offers growers the option of having empty jerry cans of crop
protection agents, barrels and big-bags recycled. NutriControl also separated its different materials in 2015.
Location Type of Waste kg 2015 kg 2014
NutriControl chemical 4,396 3,722
NutriControl plastics 660 920
NutriControl paper 5,200 5,174
Nutricontrol glass 1,806 2,225
NutriControl hospital waste 38,175 18,575
NutriControl dry feed 12,180 15,040
NutriControl residual waste 23,400 19,087
Oldambt invested in the recycling of bottom ash, the residual product that remains after drying/incinerating raw materials, for use in
manufacturing bricks.
Quick Test for Organic Material Balance
A healthy and fertile soil is crucial for achieving positive cultivation results. Soil must not become depleted or overstrained. This is why we
continuously work with our customers on creating healthy soil and resistant crops. A good example of this is the quick test that provides
growers with insight into the organic material balance on their farm. On the basis of the quick test results, a grower can compensate the
annual decomposition of organic material so as to keep the soil’s fertility up to par. Organic material is of major importance to the soil’s
structure, the atmosphere and water management and has a major impact on the soil’s and crops’ resistance. Agrifirm Plant also conducts
more elaborate analyses to assess the soil. In case of any soil deficiency, the analyses produce location-specific recommendations. Growers can
then improve the soil through means of the variable distribution of gypsum or compost.
63Agrifirm Corporate Sustainability Report 201562
Resetting the Soil: Biological Soil Remediation
In the autumn of 2014, Agrifirm Plant together with various other parties conducted practical research into the application of Soil Resetting
in outdoor crop cultivation. Soil Resetting is an environmentally friendly and anaerobic (without air or oxygen) method of remediating the
soil from harmful nematodes. Anaerobic soil remediation is already being applied in open field crop cultivation, but takes up a full growing
season. The Soil Resetting method makes use of an easily biodegradable protein, Herbie®, which requires the soil to be covered for only
two to three weeks.
The practical research has already produced a great deal of useful knowledge concerning the use of Soil Resetting in open field crop
cultivation. In 2015, Agrifirm Plant conducted additional research into the economic rate of return of Soil Resetting in open field crop
cultivation. The nature-friendly and biological method matches Agrifirm’s policy on ‘green’ soil treatment and sustainable crop protection.
Furthermore, the new method offers growers and local residents a safe alternative to the traditional product Monam that can only be applied
under strict conditions.
Appendix 3: KPIs Relating to Terms and Conditions of Employment and Human Rights
Codes and Regulations
Agrifirm voluntarily abides by the Netherlands Corporate Governance Code. This code is mandatory for companies listed on the stock
exchange and contains principles and provisions that regulate the relationship between the Executive Board, the Supervisory Board,
shareholders and the General Meeting of Shareholders. In the case of Agrifirm, the code has been adapted so as to provide a proper fit with its
cooperative character. Furthermore, the company has a Fair Business Practices code of conduct. This code of conduct is a guideline designed
to promote conscious and ethical actions under all circumstances. For example in situations involving a conflict of interest or competitive
methods. Employees who report abuse are protected by the Whistle-blowing Regulation. In 2015 there were no reports concerning
corruption, discrimination or the violation of human rights submitted pursuant to these regulations. Agrifirm was not involved in any legal
actions concerning anti-competitive behaviour or cartel formation.
Collective Labour Agreements on Notice of Termination
In collective labour agreements, Agrifirm stipulates that for employees with temporary and permanent contracts, the employer must give up
to 13 weeks notice and the employee must give up to 6 weeks notice. This depends on the term of the employment contract and years of
service.
Participating in Sports at Agrifirm
Playing sports is good for one's health and a fun way to get to know colleagues better. This is why Agrifirm organises several sporting events
each year. In 2015, Agrifirm organised a sports afternoon for its employees. Employees had the option of mountain biking, cycling, playing
tennis or hiking through nature.
Sponsorship
Contributing to an agricultural powerhouse and a sound society is important to Agrifirm. This is why Agrifirm cooperated on various projects
in developing countries with ZOA and Agriterra in 2015 as well. Furthermore, we sponsored various initiatives at home and abroad. For
example, Agrifirm Feed sponsored study meetings and LTO Netherlands. Agrifirm Poland provided €1,600 to sponsor local youth organisations,
and Agrifirm Magyarország and Nuscience sponsored various social initiatives in the amount of €3,500 and €8,511 respectively. Oldambt BV
provided in-kind sponsorship for landscaping and biodiversity projects.
Employee Satisfaction
In recent years, Agrifirm took major steps in achieving employee satisfaction and commitment. The 2013 employee satisfaction survey
demonstrated a requirement for improved internal communications. This topic consequently is on the agenda of the team and work meetings
of various subsidiaries. For example, Nuscience Belgium developed an employee newsletter. Agrifirm Feed and Agrifirm Winkel BV took steps
to further improve leadership qualities in 2015 as well.
Investments in local infrastructure:
- Hungary: renovation of a road.
Agrifirm Corporate Sustainability Report 201564
2015 Aantal MT Doorgegroeid Lokaal
Agrifirm Group BV 2 2 2
Agrifirm Feed 5 4 5
Nuscience Group 4 0 4
Agrifirm Deutschland 5 1 5
Agrifirm Polska 3 0 3
Agrifirm Magyarország 5 1 4
Agrifirm Co-products 3 2 3
Agrifirm Belgium 2 2 1
Agrifirm Plant 5 4 5
Abemec 3 2 3
Oldambt 5 1 5
Agrifirm Exlan 3 3 3
NutriControl 4 3 4
Agrifirm Winkel BV / Agrifirm Retail 6 - 6
Diversiteit leden Management Team
Landgoedlaan 20
7325 AW Apeldoorn
Postbus 20000
7302 HA Apeldoorn
T +31 (0)88 488 10 00
F +31 (0)88 488 18 00
info@agrifirm.com
www.agrifirm.com
Agrifirm Group
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