The VanDrie Group is facing several key issues and policy changes that will affect its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities. Firstly, the VanDrie Group will also start reporting in line with the requirements of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD). We are trying to make a clear shift in reporting style, from descriptive to more statistical reporting. In this way, we hope to promote comparability and create transparency about our activities within the whole group.
Introduction of the EUDR
European agreements have been reached on rules for deforestation-free products. As a result, the European Union Deforestation-free Regulation (EUDR) will come into force in the not too distant future. The rules are designed to reduce greenhouse gases caused by the European Union itself. Products that cause deforestation, or which affect forests, may no longer be imported into the EU, produced in the EU, or exported from the EU. The EUDR applies to specific raw materials and derived products that could pose a risk of deforestation.
Exactly when the EUDR will take effect in the Netherlands has not yet been determined. There is much debate about its feasibility and impact on European competitiveness. VanDrie Group trades in and manufactures various products covered by EUDR legislation. Therefore, the companies involved in our organisation do prepare for implementation of the upcoming legislation around EUDR. Our companies cannot do this alone. Therefore, a great deal of work is currently underway in collaboration with suppliers, sector and industry associations and regulators, amongst others, to prepare for the introduction of this legislation. We trust that with the EUDR coming into force, our activities will comply with it.
Humane livestock farming
The Animals Act has been amended, and a General Administrative Order (AMvB) on humane livestock farming must be submitted by 1 July 2025. It is expected that in 2025, hard work will be done to make agreements for the covenant on humane livestock farming, which are directly related to the AMvB.
Emission reductions
In 2025, a great deal of focus will be on the Dutch 'nitrogen lock'. The issuing of permits, including for construction of houses and roads, is at a standstill because of the rules laid down regarding nitrogen. For entrepreneurs in various sectors, this is hugely frustrating, including in the context of sustainability developments. At the same time, there is little prospect that the Netherlands will be granted an exemption position within the EU. The Lbv and Lbv+ buy-up schemes are expected to have quite an impact on the number of livestock farms in the Netherlands. Many of the veal farms are located in or near Natura2000 areas and so they qualify for the schemes as peak farmers.
Geopolitics
A war on our continent, unrest in the Middle East and Trump being re-elected president – it is clear that there is a lot of unrest in the world. The geopolitical relationships are shifting, Europe will have to work hard to keep position in the power struggle going on. At the same time, the EU has set a lot in motion with the Green Deal that raises questions about whether it will help in the long run for more sustainable agriculture and reduced emissions globally. By 2025, the above issues are expected to have a lot of influence on the course that is pursued, within Europe but also beyond. In this context, there is particular hope that food will again be seen as an important ‘trump card' for security on our continent. As a chain integration active in several European countries, we will continue to take responsibility in 2025 to continue emphasising the important role of food and strong agriculture.
Veal Forward – a sustainable future for veal farming
In 2024, the sector plan 'Veal Forward' a sustainable future for Dutch veal farming was presented to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Agriculture. Certainly for Dutch veal farming, this plan will be an important guideline for our activities and research projects. A Kalf-IDee (Calf IDea) research day was organised in 2024 for which more than 20 ideas were submitted that could contribute to achieving the sector plan objectives. With the winning ideas, the sector will start working in 2025, either on its own funding or in collaboration with research institutes.
Veal Forward focuses on four main pillars:
Veal Forward focuses on four main pillars:
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Good care of the calf
Healthy animals are a prerequisite for healthy and safe products as well as good animal welfare. This means that some basic principles will eventually be met throughout the chain, such as setting requirements for care and health as a condition for moving calves. -
Humane veal farming
The industry is aiming for significantly higher animal welfare. This includes measures related to stall design, stall climate and (feed) management. -
In balance with nature
In balance with nature – The sector is working towards energy-neutral and climate-neutral production by 2050. This is to be achieved through production, use of renewable energy and energy conservation and/or recovery. As far as nitrogen emissions, the sector is participating in the Convenant versnelling innovatie emissiereductie duurzame veehouderij (Agreement to accelerate innovation for the reduction of emissions for sustainable livestock farming). -
Transparent collaboration in the chain
Cooperation in a European context is essential to achieve the sector’s ambitions and goals. However, it also requires cross-chain cooperation with governments, NGOs and research and educational institutions.
The sector will monitor the effectiveness of the various measures using different critical performance indicators for the areas of health, animal welfare, sustainability and market. The VanDrie Group endorses the objectives of the sector plan and is committed to contributing to its achievement.
The realisation of Veal Forward involves several challenges for the sector, such as licensing, financing related to stall or farm modifications and achieving a level European playing field. Different European players will have to invest equally in animal welfare and sustainability improvement measures. If this does not happen, it will put pressure on earning capacity and with it the support for further improvements.
The meat processing companies in the Netherlands are committed to developing a European food strategy. This is to ensure that food demand can continue to be met with a clear sustainable profile in a troubled world. Sustainability in this context encompasses footprint, local environmental impact and wellbeing.
With objective parameters and a level European playing field, it is certainly possible to maintain a sustainable future for our chain.
