Interview Arwin Bos (Cosun)
'Water quality is a top priority at Cosun'
Arwin Bos has been chairman of Cosun's board of directors since this summer. The arable farmer from Nieuw-Vennep takes over from his predecessor Dirk de Lugt during a fascinating period. Cosun is in the midst of implementing its plant-based strategy, but in this process, its members and its members are encountering challenges in politics and on land. In an exclusive interview with Boerenbusiness Bos mentions these challenges. It doesn't detract from his enthusiasm. "We are taking great steps."
For Cosun, the autumn and winter months are the busiest period of the year. The sugar beet processing campaigns at Cosun Beet Company and chicory at Sensus are running and Aviko is busy processing the chip potatoes from the new harvest. A new round of circle meetings will soon start, in which the board and management of the cooperative food group will update members on current developments and discuss with them the course to be followed. Arwin Bos, the new chairman of the board of directors, is looking forward to this, he says at the head office in Breda. "As Cosun, we want to have intensive contact with our members, after all, they are the owners of our company," says Bos.
For Bos it will be the first tour of the members as foreman of the largest arable farming cooperative in the Netherlands. The arable farmer from Nieuw-Vennep (North Holland) succeeded Dirk de Lugt last summer. It is certainly not new for Bos. Bos has gained extensive experience as a director over the past seven years, including the last three years as vice-chairman. "The meetings are a very busy period for us, but very valuable. Our aim is that every member feels heard and can give his or her opinion about Cosun. That is the strength of our cooperative and I consider it an honor to contribute to be allowed to deliver." As chairman of the Cosun cooperative, which will celebrate its 125th anniversary next year, Bos describes himself as 'being modest, goal-oriented, knowing what is needed and focusing on results'. "My role is to ensure that the relationship between the cooperative and the Cosun companies remains good. To show what we as farmers want."
Serious concerns about the sugar beet and potato harvest
The agenda of the circuit assemblies will undoubtedly include this year's weather extremes, developments in politics and the Unlock 25 strategic program that Cosun is implementing. Bos is seriously concerned about crops such as potatoes and sugar beets that are still growing in the field and have been ravaged by the prolonged period of rain. In addition, the past few days have included severe night frost in places. "An incredible amount of rain has fallen in the Netherlands. And the light to moderate frost last week is a major setback. It seems that not all the potatoes are being harvested anymore. For example, they are still partly in the ground at my company. At Aviko we wonder how many hectares will remain in the ground, but undoubtedly every processor does. That will have an effect on the market, but first of all it is a tragedy for the affected farmers."
The situation in chicory seems manageable at the moment. Due to the heavy rain, the delivery of chicory roots to the factory in Roosendaal did not always run optimally, so processing was postponed for a while. The situation in sugar beets is precarious. Arwin Bos mainly points to the frost that can certainly play tricks on sugar beets growing in the field. Especially now that on (December 4) 35% of the sugar beet area is still in the ground. "Night frost below 3 degrees is very tricky for the beet crop. That is why we advised our members to grub and cover as much as possible. But that was of course not easy in this short term and some farmers simply could not grub," responds Bos.
Arvin Bosch
Cosun fears that ultimately not all crops will grow out of the ground or will suffer high-quality damage. This is a tragedy for the affected growers, but Cosun is also experiencing the consequences. Not only for the optimal processing efficiency of the factories, but also because the markets for all products (french fries, sugar, inulin) are good. "Every kilo we miss now costs every member money. That is the reality."
Positive feeling about the beet price
Lower processing yields can also influence the final beet price for the 2023 campaign. Bos knows that many members are curious about the beet price for the current campaign. In the previous year, 2022, a relatively high beet price of €68,75 per net ton of beets at 17% sugar was achieved. Given the current developments on the sugar market, members are already dreaming about a record high beet price. Bos has not yet given an indication. "We have adjusted the system for calculating the beet price last year, which makes a forecast more complicated. The beet price is partly determined by the sugar sales for the first three quarters of next year and these are still ongoing. A large part has been sold, but certainly Not everything yet," Bos qualifies. "Don't forget the high costs we have to deal with and we still have to see how many beets can be harvested and processed. But with these successes, the feeling is certainly positive."
Bos sees that the enthusiasm for beet cultivation among arable farmers is not diminishing. "The demand for LLBs (member delivery certificates, ed.) is greater than the supply. Growers are still looking for a bit of stability in the cultivation plan. It is a nice cultivation, fairly risk-free with an average cultivation balance over the years. Our real goal is to We will never again fall below a beet price of €50, even with a low sugar price. Whether we will structurally achieve that is still uncertain. But we are taking good steps."
Water quality has top priority
In addition to the developments within the Cosun group, about which Bos regularly consults with CEO Hans Meeuwis, the chairman appoints an important point for the 2024 agenda. Water quality is our top priority, and we invest a lot of time and energy in it. If you see what kind of nitrate policy has now been poured out on the sector, including with the winter crop list, we think it has very little effect," Bos points to the 7th Nitrate Directive Action Program. "But it does have a lot of impact for farmers and our cooperative." Bos looks ahead to the year 2027. The preparations for the 8th Action Program, which should come into effect that year, will start next year. "If you see which measures are on the main list for this," says Bos with a sigh. " We are very concerned about this for everyone who grows, processes or sells agricultural products. For example, you are talking about forced extensification or bans on potato cultivation on sand in the southeast. This year's calendar farming is really just the beginning."
The arable farming sector must therefore take up the challenge itself and work diligently to reduce nitrate leaching into ground and surface water. "We all really need to be more aware of the need for action. This could become the nitrogen issue for arable farming," Bos emphasizes. "We have to meet European targets that we are currently not achieving. These, just like with nitrogen, cannot be averted. The effects can be enormous. Suppose you have a company that is completely set up for potato cultivation and you will soon not be allowed to eat potatoes. grow more. That is a real danger that, I think, too few arable farmers realize. We are working hard on this at Cosun within Groeikracht, for example through research and by effectively measuring run-off. But we cannot do it alone." Innovation and technical developments are needed to find and accelerate solutions, Bos indicates. According to him, a good example is the discussion about glyphosate. "With new precision techniques we can really reduce the use of glyphosate significantly. But we still need it, especially to be able to use these new techniques. And look at Crispr-Cas, for building in resistance against, for example, cercospora and phytophthora. We won't make it without innovation. It's that simple."
Eric the Thrush
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