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Re-discovering the basics for powering progress

Farmers, breeders, butchers and feed professionals together under one roof – that was the unique collaboration that the Turkey Academy in Poland provided. It was the first collaboration of its kind, enabling participating parties to share insights about business opportunities and challenges. Now, with new regulations under way, turkey farmers are under more pressure than ever. To help them, De Heus is exploring how to bring insights from the Academy into the spotlight.

Our road to sustainability KPI’s

This year, De Heus is further unfolding its sustainability strategy towards measuring its impact worldwide. Because relevant, reliable and comparable information about the impact of our activities is essential, to monitor our global progress on sustainability and to meet reporting legislation and stakeholder expectations. This all starts with setting a baseline.

Helping farmers in South Africa reduce their use of antibiotics

Antibiotic resistance is a major threat to human and animal health. De Heus is committed to not only eliminating antibiotics from its feed by 2030, but also to helping farmers reduce their use of antibiotics as a preventive measure against disease. The EU has already introduced regulations restricting the routine use of antibiotics in agriculture, but in countries like South Africa, legislation governing antibiotics is still lenient. As a result, administering antibiotics to animals is an everyday practice on South African farms.

Luciano Alvarenga – Ruminants Commercial Manager

Born in Lavras, in the southern region of Minas Gerais, an Animal Scientist with a master’s degree in animal nutrition from the Federal University of Lavras (UFLA), Luciano Alvarenga grew up immersed in his family’s tradition of cattle farming and coffee cultivation. With a 25-year career in the market, he has gained solid experience working across the Southeast, Midwest, and, more recently, the South of Brazil – building a strong trajectory focused on contributing to animal production and generating value in the field through close relationships with producers and industries, always seeking strategic partnerships.

Active participation within Nevedi

For many years, De Heus has been an active member of the Dutch sector organisation for the animal feed industry, Nevedi. Within this association, clear principles have been formulated regarding a range of social topics that concern the feed industry. Take, for example, sustainability. We endorse these viewpoints and interpret these into concrete measures for us to take:

Responsible use of antibiotics: A holistic approach to animal health

Farmers of today have to cope with many challenges. Next to volatile prices and increasing market demands, they face upcoming legislation and societal concerns about animal welfare and responsible use of antibiotics. To support farmers in tackling these challenges at the same time, De Heus developed the Natural Power programme. A hands-on and tailored approach to healthy, highly productive animals by boosting their natural power. Increasing farm performance and supporting farmers to use antibiotics responsibly.

Zero measurement: the starting point for reducing our carbon footprint

By 2050 the global population will have grown to 9.8 billion people. Producing enough safe, healthy, and affordable food for this growing population will lead to a 56 percent increase in the global demand for food and an increase of nearly 70 percent for animal-based foods.

Aisha Senya - Quality Manager

Aisha has a background in Food Technology and has been working in the food supply chain in Ghana for over 15 years. She joined De Heus Ghana in October 2019 as Quality Manager. After working for her previous employer for more than 11 years, she was keen to climb the quality ladder. This was when she signed up to work with Koudijs. “My young family had become slightly more independent. And for me it was the right time to grow my ambitions. Since the company was new in Ghana, I wanted to be part of its success story.”

Nutritionist Aqua

Developing programmes to reduce greenhouse gas emissions

To combat global climate change, it’s important to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions of feed and food production. Not least because global warming has an enormous impact on agriculture throughout the world. At De Heus, we are committed to implementing programmes that aim to create emission reductions in feed production and food supply chain. Leading these programmes is Stefan van den Bogaard, Group Director Technology & Investments. He tells us about De Heus’s strategies to reduce the company’s global carbon footprint and how De Heus’ local expertise is generating new ideas for sustainable solutions.