Northern European feed manufacturer ForFarmers and international commodities trader and shipper Bunge have reached a strategic agreement that aims to improve the supply of sustainable, deforestation-free and low-carbon soyabean meal in Europe.
The supply agreement requires Bunge to supply close to 100,000 tonnes of soyabean meal to ForFarmers from various origins. Brazilian soyabeans will be sourced from farms participating in regenerative agriculture programmes, grown under sustainable farming practices and which meet Bunge’s standards for deforestation-free sourcing.
ForFarmers will benefit from supply chain traceability and verified carbon footprint calculations through blockchain technology, with greater transparency on the feed materials’ flow from origin to destination.
The low carbon soyabean meal flow will start with ForFarmers manufacturing plants in the Netherlands, extending to other country markets including the UK as the agreement develops.
“We are pleased to partner with Bunge on this initiative,” says Ilse Niehof-Duivelshof, director of corporate affairs and sustainability at ForFarmers. “By sourcing low-carbon, deforestation-free soya from regenerative agriculture, we actively reduce the environmental impact of our supply chain.
“Traceability adds transparency and the regenerative agriculture program empowers farmers to make sustainable choices that support both their business and societal expectations. This collaboration is a strong example of how we work with partners to build a more sustainable agri-food chain.”
Paul Stam, commercial director for Bunge in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, adds: “We are excited to expand our collaboration with ForFarmers and support the transition to more sustainable feed supply chains.
“This partnership is a fundamental step in providing low-carbon product and solutions that meet the specific demands of our markets. Together with our customers and partners, we are doing our part to build more transparent, traceable soy flows. We believe this is a collective journey, alongside customers and producers, to build safer, more transparent, and traceable chains.”