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Sustainability
Developing a self-sufficient food chain and fostering rural communities in Ghana through layer farming
As an entrepreneurial company, De Heus strongly believes that independent entrepreneurship of farmers is the engine of local economies. We believe in maintaining the vitality of rural communities. To help achieve this, local business units collaborate with supply chain partners to support rural farmers so they can strengthen and improve their business operations. This in turn benefits local communities and helps countries become more self-sufficient in terms of food supply, particularly in developing nations. In Ghana, the vast majority of laying hens are imported, resulting in high egg prices. De Heus has formed a pioneering joint venture with Kuipers Breeders to produce layer chicks locally. This will not only support the country in developing its own independent food supply, it will also help provide the local population with an affordable and nutritious source of protein. We talk to Jurjën Kuipers of Kuipers Breeders and Theo Smalbraak, Business Group Director Africa & Middle East, De Heus, about how the partnership developed, what they plan to achieve and their long-term ambitions.
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Sustainability
Pioneers in sustainable poultry farming
In 2013, we entered into agreements with several Dutch chain parties to make the production of chicken more sustainable. A number of requirements, including the use of more slowly growing broiler breeds, were laid down. But research has demonstrated that these breeds react differently to energy-protein ratios in their feed. That is why De Heus has developed modified feeds for the different segments. Depending on the segment a poultry farmer has chosen for, our specialists will give customised and reliable feed advice for optimum results. It is with justifiable pride that we can state that we are able to provide every poultry farmer with a compound feed to match their specific business operation. The use of more slowly growing broiler breeds, in combination with the correct feeding strategy, has reduced antibiotics use to virtually nil.
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News
De Heus Brazil Inaugurates Largest Plant in ItaberaÃ, Promoting Regional Growth
De Heus Brazil officially inaugurated its largest plant in Itaberaí, Goiás, on May 4th, 2023. The inauguration event was attended by CEO Koen de Heus, Rinus Donkers (president at De Heus Brazil and Latin America Director), Daniel Vilela (the Acting Governor of Goiás), journalists, opinion leaders, entrepreneurs, politicians, and other entities. The newly opened plant specializes in producing high-quality feed and supplements for ruminants, with advanced technology, production management systems, and an automated process ensuring production safety and adherence to high-quality product standards.
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Sustainability
International professionalisation of local livestock farms
As an internationally oriented animal feed supplier, we consider it our duty to promote professionalisation of local livestock farming. And we do not limit ourselves to the optimisation of efficient conversion of raw materials into animal proteins, we also make use of local raw materials, and help to improve both the quality and the food safety of the produced food products
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Our people
Luka Lam - Farm Design Specialist
Luka joined De Heus in May 2015, spending the first 6 months in the Central Sales team before moving to his current position as Farm Design Specialist in the Agra-Matic team. It has been 5 years of "rolling" - sticking with this job since Luka got his current line manager, Mr Edison, Farm Design Consultant.
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Sustainability
Observing business principles
To emphasise our social responsibility, we have formulated a number of clear Business Principles. All our businesses and their employees are held to act and behave according to these principles. They are based upon an ethical attitude. They also keep in mind local rules and regulations, animal welfare, the environment, and the interests of customers, employees, consumers, suppliers, and governmental authorities. We absolutely forbid bribery, intimidation and child labour. We support the fundamental human rights. And we assure health and safety at work. To guarantee our independent position, we never contribute to any political parties or regimes.
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Sustainability
Sharing knowledge and insights
To ensure that our specialists around the world would be able to keep themselves up-to-date regarding the latest developments, we founded the Feed Academy in 2015. It is a unique initiative that allows us to combine online learning with practical training courses on livestock farms. All knowledge and new insights thus acquired by our own professionals, they will happily share with livestock farmers in the region where they operate. In addition, we help them improve their professional skills in other ways as well. For example, we organise seminars and training courses for our customers, concerning the application of animal feed, livestock farming, and stable management.
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Sustainability
Fighting the waste of food
We are doing our utmost to ensure maximum efficiency in the conversion of vegetable raw materials into animal proteins. We also strive to achieve maximum output at minimum input. In addition, we come into action to prevent wastage. Whenever we can, any residual and side streams from food production processes are utilised as ingredients for animal feeds. Naturally, we are actively sharing our knowledge and experience in this field with our foreign sister companies.
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De Heus winner of Dutch-Polish Business Award
The Dutch-Polish Business Award (DPBA) was presented for the seventh time on 30 November 2011
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De Heus Vietnam starts the construction in Binh Dinh of its 6th Animal Feed factory
Binh Dinh, July 12, 2014 – De Heus starts the construction of its 6th factory in Vietnam, located in Central Vietnam.