We want to supply our clients with quality products, with high added value and the least negative impact possible. Working ethically and treating humans and animals with respect is an absolute requirement in everything we do. We are constantly looking for new markets or sales channels where we can add value with our products and can contribute to the demand for safe and nutritious animal proteins. We are also investing in optimal valorisation.

We are a food producer and want to meet the highest quality standards. There are different views in society about our production chain. We ensure a transparent way of working and share our ambitions in the fields of animal welfare, animal health and sustainability. By investing in innovation and new technologies, we are continuing to develop and simultaneously contribute to solutions to the challenges which our sector is facing. We work with integrity and actively highlight this theme to our employees and partners.

Strategic innovation

We are developing and implementing innovative solutions and new technologies in our activities and supply chain to improve our efficiency and sustainability efforts.

We are working on innovation in various ways at our companies. The most visible is our in-house Research & Development team, which deals daily with research into animal health, sustainability, robotics and smart farming. The R&D team evaluates innovations in practice at three in-house research centres. This takes place at DrieVeld, De Haar and De Tweeling.

Various studies, such as public-private partnerships (PPPs), are being conducted by the industry organisations to which we belong. We contribute in kind and sometimes in cash too. For example, we are involved in the following studies from the Dutch Veal Industry Association (Stichting Brancheorganisatie Kalversector, SBK).

• PPS Klimaatmonitoring (Public-Private Partnership Climate Monitoring)
  This project aims to align the monitoring of climate impacts of Dutch Agro & Food production more effectively based on the chain approach and the national approach. The project will run until 2023.

• PPS Stalklimaat (Public-Private Partnership Stall Climate)
  This project aims to design several technical concepts for low-emission husbandry systems in the veal farming sector with the reduction of source-based emissions as a starting point. This should be done in a way that promotes progress in terms of stall climate, animal health and welfare. The project will run until 2023.

• PPS Betere stal, betere mest, betere oogst (Public-Private Partnership Better stall, better manure, better yield)
  This research identifies bottlenecks and opportunities in relation to manure processing and suggests additional treatments, measures and modifications of stall systems where possible. This takes into account manure processing obligations and looks at opportunities such as green gas production, fertiliser substitutes and cost savings in logistics (and the corresponding effect on sustainability). The project will run until the end of 2024.

• PPS Versnellingsagenda Innovatie voor een Duurzame Veehouderij (Public-Private Partnership Innovation for Sustainable Livestock Farming Acceleration Agenda)
  This project, in which six provinces and the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality are participating in addition to sector parties, aims to achieve feasible and affordable solutions to reduce emissions and manure load through a total of 32 innovations. In addition to innovative ways to reduce emissions and manure, this project pays particular attention to methods to monitor emissions and the legal securing and financing of innovations.

• PPS Kijk op het kalf (Public-Private Partnership View of the calf)
  A subsidy was awarded to the 'Kijk op het kalf' (View of the calf) project from CAP funds in 2022. This project explores a new way of working between the dairy and veal farming sectors, with a focus on calf health. This project commenced in 2023 and includes a 'calf passport' and health checklist for calves. Only when a calf meets all the criteria on this checklist and a vet declares it healthy will it be transported. The calf is also fed the same diet on both dairy and veal farms. The aim of the project is to gain new insights to further improve the impact on animal health of the transition from dairy farming to veal farming. The project will run until 2024.

Responsible corporate governance ethics

We want to do business in an open and responsible manner. That means that we provide insight into our results, work in an ethical way and deal with people, animals and the environment in respectful way.

Culture, code of conduct and whistleblowers’ scheme

Dedicated employees doing the work they are good at in a safe working environment are at the heart of our company. Values such as commitment, an eye for quality and responsibility resonate strongly with the family business that is the VanDrie Group. That also means we conduct our business fairly and ensure that food safety and animal welfare are always taken into consideration. The VanDrie Group has a code of conduct, our compass, a whistleblowers’ scheme known internally as SpeakUp, and a guide to doing business fairly.

Animal welfare code of conduct 

The VanDrie Group's Dutch slaughterhouses have signed the animal welfare code of conduct adopted by the Central Organisation for the Meat Sector (Centrale Organisatie voor de Vleessector, COV). This code with non-statutory obligations includes the annual training of slaughterhouse employees, intensive camera surveillance, the use of artificial intelligence in the deployment of cameras, and knowledge sharing between companies to enhance learning capability. The code of conduct also requires external specialists to assess the safeguarding of animal welfare in slaughterhouses. The COV reports annually on the operation, compliance and results of the code of conduct.

Palm oil production

Oils and fats are an important source of energy in the feeds we produce; they provide the essential fatty acids (linoleic acid and linolenic acid) that an animal cannot produce itself. These essential fatty acids subsequently help with the absorption of vitamins and are therefore indispensable as means of ensuring the calves’ good health. Important raw materials for these essential fatty acids are palm oil and palm oil derivatives.

Palm oil is also used in calf milk replacer. About 0.55 per cent of the calves' diet consists of palm oil, which comes mainly from Asia (40 percent comes from Malaysia and Indonesia). In addition, 40 percent comes from Latin America, primarily from Honduras, Guatemala and Colombia. The remaining 20 percent comes from Papua New Guinea and Africa. The VanDrie Group conforms to the agreements of the Dutch feed industry organisation (Nevedi) that all palm oil and related products purchased by its members from 2024 onwards will be certified 100% RSPO-certified.

We joined the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) in 2022. This is a multi-stakeholder organisation that determines the standard for sustainable palm oil production and sets rules such as not chopping down rainforests and observing human rights. We only purchase certified palm oil that meets the established RSPO requirements.

Responsible purchasing of soy

Compared to other animal feeds, our calf feed contains limited quantities of soy. Around 4% of calf feed consists of soy products. Most soy is imported from South America (Brazil and Argentina) and North America. We do this because a good or adequate alternative to soy is not yet available. Soy also has the lowest footprint per kilogram of protein compared to other proteins such as peas, beans and lupins from Europe.

When purchasing soya, we comply with the 2021 Soy Sourcing Guidelines established by the European Feed Manufacturers' Federation (Fefac). These guidelines are designed to make responsible purchases of soy. The guidelines consider the environmental, social and economic aspects of soy production and trade. When sourcing soy from a particular sustainability scheme, we can compare that scheme to the guidelines to see the extent to which it complies and is therefore a good choice. This ensures the soy that is purchased meets important sustainability requirements and that the soy is responsibly produced from deforestation-free land. Amongst others, the VanDrie Group uses soy certified by the Round Table on Responsible Soy (RTRS). We guarantee certified soy using the 'book & claim'method.

Compliance

In 2019, Animal Rights filed a civil claim with a Belgian investigating judge over alleged animal welfare violations at VanDrie Belgium in Hasselt in 2018. In 2020, the investigation into the stated charges began, in spite of the closure of VanDrie Belgium. This investigation was continued in 2021. The case went to court in 2023, VanDrie Belgium was acquitted in autumn of the same year. Animal Rights has announced it will appeal. We expect the processing of this appeal to commence in the course of 2024.

In summer and autumn of 2023, various NGOs announced their intention to bring about changes to the import of Irish calves via consultations and/or lawsuits. In February 2024, the VanDrie Group was sued in a civil claim brought by the NGO Dier en Recht. Dier en Recht believes the VanDrie Group is acting unlawfully in the importation of Irish calves. We will make no further statements regarding this allegation while the matter is sub judice.

In previous years, several complaints were received in the vicinity of Brons Mengvoeders regarding noise, odour, or traffic safety. We take these complaints seriously, which is why several walk-in and information sessions were held in 2023 during which Brons informed local residents and the provincial and local government authorities about our strategy.