Impact — proven progress

Margareta Helander, Feed Development Manager of Lantmännen Lantbruk, reported that the group is owned by 40,000 farmers, operates in 19 countries and has a presence from farm to fork. It has a strong commitment to environmental sustainability and in 2008 became the first animal feed supplier to give greenhouse gas data on its labels.

Volkert Claassen, Vice President White Biotechnology, DSM, told delegates innovating in DSM requires openness with external partners, entrepreneurial behaviour, vision and discipline. It involves a culture in which great ideas flourish and are rewarded, calculated risks are permissible, entrepreneurship is stimulated and people are driven by a passion for real innovation.

Huiyi Cai, General Director, Feed Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, told delegates the government and the agricultural industry of China are keen to see continued growth in the animal feed sector, which has grown at around five million tonnes a year for ten years. With 20% of the world population and 7% of its arable land, securing feed raw materials is China’s greatest challenge.

Thorleif Enger, Chairman of the Yara Foundation and former CEO of Yara International ASA, explained the objective of the Yara Foundation is to improve agriculture in Africa. Africa has a tremendous potential in land and productivity but can only fulfil that potential if African farmers are helped to farm more efficiently.

Jerry Vergeer, Executive Vice-President Agriculture and member of the Executive Board of Nutreco, closed the conference. Reminding delegates of the question “Can we feed and fuel the world in a sustainable way?”, he said success requires a combination of technology and talent.

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