Organic branch Vion now also active in beef

De Groene Weg starts a chain for organic beef. With this, the organic branch of Vion is expanding its production to a third chain. At the moment, the vast majority of calves born in the organic sector are sold as part of regular livestock farming. De Groene Weg indicates that it wants to change this.

On Monday 19 September, the first two dairy farmers signed a contract for an indefinite period. De Groene Weg is already active in two meat chains, in lamb and pork. 110 pig farmers and 35 sheep farmers are currently affiliated with the company.

Dairy Farmer's Needs
In this expansion, one need of dairy farmers is central, namely the wish to also raise all calves born in the organic chain organically. At the moment this happens in only 10% of the calves. The rest is sold to regular livestock farmers.

The initiative is mainly aimed at calves that are not used for milk production. With the new initiative, they are raised at an organic livestock farmer and then sold to the Groene Weg. "We strive to ensure that all calves in the Netherlands that are born on an organic farm are also biologically valuable", says Allard Bakker, director of the Groene Weg.

Matthew Bremer

Order Boerenbusiness Matthijs Bremer covers the meat markets. He also writes weekly about developments in the energy markets.

m.bremer@foodbusiness.nl

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