News Agribusiness Awards
AH's 'Better for' wins Agribusiness Award
The winner of the seventh Agribusiness Award, an initiative of ABN AMRO and DCA Market Intelligence, is Albert Heijn with its "Better for Nature & Farmers" program. The award was presented today (February 10) at the ABN AMRO Open in Ahoy Rotterdam during the Insights Live Seminar: Thriving in the Next Economy.
The jury, chaired by Laurens Sloot (director of EFMI Business School and professor of Retail & Entrepreneurship at the University of Groningen), 'is impressed by the professional and transparent way in which this initiative organizes the collaboration between farmers, growers, processors and retailers, with an eye for animal welfare, biodiversity and CO2-reduction as economic feasibility', according to the jury report.
During the award ceremony, Brigitta Hogenes thanked the 1.200 farmers and growers and the chain partners, including Royal A-ware, the fruit and vegetable company Bakker Barendrecht, and Vion. The other nominees this year were Blue Radix with Crop Controller and Royal GD with FlockVision.
Brigitta Hogenes, VP Merchandising Better for Nature & Farmer, gave a video interview on the occasion of the nomination "Just the fact that we, as retailers, have been nominated and have the opportunity to tell others how wonderful this program is is a win for me. And the appreciation for our 1.200 farmers and growers that this radiates is actually worth its weight in gold; we are already thrilled with that."
Looking for more parties to join
The Agribusiness Award jury particularly appreciates the involvement of farmers and growers in the development of the Beter Voor program. "Transparency regarding compensation for additional efforts in areas such as animal welfare and soil health builds trust and support." The jury also finds it "highly commendable" that Albert Heijn opened the program to other retailers at the end of 2023.
Hogenes says: "Ultimately, you can only make things more sustainable if the entire market does so, if others also join in." Arla has already done that, and it would be great if other parties did the same, she indicates.
Show what a chain approach can look like
The "Better for Nature & Farmers" program promises participating farmers a more stable and improved revenue model through a higher premium. 1.200 farmers and growers are participating, across five different supply chains with more than 560 products. "While sustainability in the agricultural sector often remains stuck in ambitions and intentions, Albert Heijn, with its "Better for Nature & Farmers" program, demonstrates what an innovative and widely implemented supply chain approach can look like in practice," according to the jury report. Last year, a supply chain project also won the prize: Nedertarwe (Nedertarwe), an initiative by Koopmans.
The Agribusiness Award also includes a cash prize of €5.000 and a media package worth €3.500 to spend at BoerenbusinessIn addition, ABN AMRO supports the winning company with knowledge, expertise, and contacts to take the innovation a step further in the market.
Linda van Eekeres
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