Nutreco published a ‘Sustainability Vision 2020’. The Vision highlights the sustainability issues related to the animal and fish feed industries and how Nutreco companies such as Skretting will address these issues over the coming eight years. John Williamson, General Manager of Skretting UK, points out that ‘Sustainability Vision 2020’ is prepared in practical terms that relate to the regular business of Nutreco. “It provides every employee with priorities and opportunities to contribute individually and collectively to achieving the Vision objectives.”
In parallel, Skretting refreshed its SEA programme (Sustainable Economic Aquafeeds), which sets an agenda for continuous improvement. It is described in a new booklet that also contains details of current performance, for example in carbon footprint of feed production, feed efficiency and the sustainability of feed raw materials. As 2012 is an even-numbered year, Aquaculture UK is in Aviemore again, 23–24 April. Skretting will be present on a ‘feed barge’ stand together with other major feed companies. Copies of the new SEA booklet will be distributed at Aquaculture UK or mailed directly to customers.
Strategic priority
As a business-to-business company in animal nutrition and fish feed, Nutreco is a frontrunner in setting a long-term vision for sustainability. The priority accorded to sustainability was emphasised in the Nutreco strategy announced in November 2011: 'Ambition 2016–driving sustainable growth'. In the strategy, sustainability is identified as one of four focus areas that will drive the company's growth and increase profitability. The Vision 2020 document describes how sustainability will make that contribution. It is organised in four areas:
- Ingredients: creating a sustainable base for feed;
- Operations: ensuring our own house is in order;
- Nutritional solutions: enabling the farmer and animal to perform best;
- Commitment: involving people in the Feeding the Future challenge.
Each area sub-divides into three practical themes. For example, ingredients includes sustainable sourcing, operations includes reducing environmental impact in Nutreco’s own operations, nutritional solutions includes animal & human health, and commitment includes employee and stakeholder engagement.
Raising sustainability in the value chains by stakeholder engagement is an established feature of Nutreco. Starting in 1996, two years after it was founded, Nutreco has organised the alternating business conferences AquaVision and Agri Vision. The conferences bring together leading decision makers and other stakeholders in the aquaculture and agriculture industries in a neutral forum. Sustainability has consistently featured on the conference programmes. AquaVision 2012, 11–13 June in Stavanger (Norway), is focusing on the challenge of feeding nine billion people sustainably by 2050. It has attracted top flight speakers including former Secretary-General of the United Nations Mr Kofi Annan and Assistant Director General at FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) Mr Arni M. Mathiesen.
Inevitably increasing demand
“Demand for animal proteins where Nutreco contributes through its nutritional solutions, such as meat, fish, milk and eggs, will rise rapidly in the coming decades,” adds Williamson. “The increase is being driven by an expanding global population with growing spending power, especially in emerging economies. Making sustainability an integral part of everyday business through 'Sustainability Vision 2020' will ensure Nutreco can contribute to the challenge of feeding sustainably the nine billion people predicted to be alive in 2050 while reducing its own impact on the environment.”
A copy of Nutreco's Sustainability Vision 2020 can be downloaded from www.nutreco.com.