Reducing Chemicals

To meet consumers increasing demand of organic products, Continente further strengthens its offer in this segment, through its Continente Bio brand, which already contains more than 100 references. The Bio product range. Continente Bio brand products are produced to high quality standards and a rigorous quality control and certification process. At a time when the Portuguese are increasingly aware of their diet and the impact it has on their health and the environment, the food retailer intends to promote a more sustainable lifestyle, increase consumption of fruit and vegetables, promote seasonal products and reduce food waste.

The University of Évora (Portugal) and Jerónimo Martins Agro-Alimentar (JMA) have a cooperation agreement to develop research activities and to support education. The agreement intends to implement several theoretical, practical and scientific research activities in the business areas of JMA (animal farming, aquaculture and dairy). The cooperation works in areas such as animal welfare and health, nutrition, genetics, quality, efficient use of water and energy, agricultural production, land use, soils improvement and forest recovery.

Specialty Brokers, a member of the Federation of German Wholesale, Foreign Trade and Services, is a company specialised in the supply of a dedicated range of seeds and dried fruits. In 2014, the company has proactively registered the EUIPO trademark “Integrated Pesticide Monitoring” for its Turkish sultana cultivation project. IPM allows sultanas to be cultivated with a maximum of 4 pro-active EU-compliant pesticides. In addition to financial compensations, farmers receive additional training (pesticides management, social & ethical requirements). Today, Specialty Brokers is partnering with numerous Turkish farmers and with the food and bakery industry in Germany and Austria, supplying sustainable sultana raisins containing a max. of 4 proactive pesticides.

Short distances from field to shelf, fresh taste and, last but not least, the support for the local economy: There are many reasons for working with regional producers. Raising awareness for the work of beekeepers and the preservation of the honey bee: Those are the intentions behind the initiative ‘PROJEKT 2028’ which METRO supports in Austria. The initiative is committed to increasing the number of bee colonies in Austria and Germany. PROJEKT 2028 honey is available – in addition to other regional honey varieties – in the assortment of all 12 Austrian METRO stores.

PENNY, a brand of REWE Group, has introduced the Naturgut Junior-Helden. These are “in-conversion products” from producers who do not yet have an official organic certificate due to the required transitioning time but who already produce organically and, consequently, more expensively. With this initiative, PENNY offers producers additional financial incentives during conversion time and a new opportunity to market their products: Participating suppliers receive a price that his higher than for regular conventional produce. This is only to a small fraction passed on to consumers. Together with a marketing campaign, Penny aims at educating consumers about conversion and the additional standards fulfilled by the suppliers during this time. This gives farmers a greater incentive to switch to organic farming.

Organic food is growing in popularity both in Finland and elsewhere in Europe. The sales of organic products at K Group’s grocery stores have been growing at an annual rate of 10-20% in recent years. Milk, eggs, bananas and coffee are the most popular organic items in K-food stores and families with children are the most likely to favour organic products. K Group’s selections comprise more than 2,100 organic products, and the number is constantly growing. The group has responded to the growing demand by updating and expanding its own brand Pirkka’s organic range. By the end of 2019, the Pirkka range already did comprise nearly 200 everyday organic products.

Jerónimo Martins Agro-Alimentar was created in 2014 to ensure the sustainability of the supply chain of strategic products. It assures the direct supply of dairy, Aberdeen Angus beef and aquaculture fish (sea bream and sea bass). In 2020, it also announced investments in the production of organic grapes. Since 2019, all Angus beef production and dairy units are certified for the Responsible Reduction of Drug Use maintaining its score of “100% Excellent”, ensuring that antibiotics are only used for therapeutic purposes. These units also have animal welfare certification, in accordance with the European Welfare Quality and AWIN protocols. The latter was extended to Terra Alegre (dairy production) in 2020.

Herbalife Nutrition sells a dietary supplement composed of Omega-3 essential fatty-acids, (EPA and DHA) which contribute to a normal function of the heart and maintain normal blood pressure. To manufacture this product, Herbalife Nutrition uses only sustainably sourced fish oil accredited by Friend of the Sea. Friend of the Sea is currently a project of the World Sustainability Organization, an international trademark registered with humanitarian and environmental conservation mission. Friend of the Sea has become the leading certification standard for products and services which respects and protects the marine environment. The certification awards sustainable practices in Fisheries, Aquaculture, Fishmeal and Omega 3 Fish Oil.

For its conventionally grown products, Coop aims at reducing the use of pesticides and artificial fertilizers. The retailer has adopted the Pesticides Guideline, which requires the responsible use of pesticides, and it actively supports suppliers with the implementation of improvement measures. In this vein, Coop has begun several projects to promote the use of compost and organic pest control. This is conducive to biodiversity and exposes flora and fauna to fewer pesticides. One important standard for the responsible use of resources is GLOBALG.A.P. which, as well as food safety aspects, also promotes good agricultural practice. All Coop producers are required to have GLOBALG.A.P. or Swiss G.A.P. certification.

Cooperation between SPAR and innovative farmers is a win-win situation: farmers are given growth opportunities and customers benefit from the qualitatively extended range of products at SPAR. In total, SPAR cooperates with about 7,000 organic farmers in Austria. One of them is Erich Stekovics, Austria’s most innovative farmer and a pioneer in the field of maintaining biodiversity. Stekovics cultivates approx. 3,200 traditional varieties from mulberries to onions to tomatoes and chilies, you will find everything a connoisseur’s heart desires in their natural paradise in Burgenland. Many products from Stekovics’ Farm are sold as SPAR private label and the range keeps on expanding.

Coop is a member of the Danube Soya Association which promotes the sustainable and GM-free production of soya in the Danube region and has developed a corresponding standard. The region’s climate is very well suited to growing high-quality soya. However, there was also considerable interest in producing soya outside the region in line with the Danube Soya Standard. The Danube Soya Association therefore set up the Europe Soya Standard at the end of 2015. Coop uses only GM-free and certified soya from Europe in feed for its’ Naturafarm laying hens and chickens ensuring that no South American rainforests are cut down to make way for soya monocultures.

Broccoli, celeriac, leek, potatoes, white cabbage, cauliflower … The mouth-watering produce from Alveringem in West Flanders has been on the shelves of Colruyt Lowest Prices and Bio-Planet for decades. When the owners of organic farm ‘Het Zilverleen’ in Alveringem were looking for a buyer, Colruyt saw this as a fantastic opportunity to buy the farm with its 25 hectares of organic soil. By joining forces with organic farmer Niels, the retailer can offer many delicious organic vegetables in its fresh produce department. The collaboration helps Niels run a healthy farming business without making major investments in organic land.