Agriculture continued
GMO
Heineken's policy on the use of genetically
modified organisms (GMO) prohibits the use of
those GMOs. We take strict precautions to ensure
that all raw materials, including maize, rice,
sorghum and wheat, are GMO free. For product
categories with an increased GMO risk, especially
maize, strict and enhanced provisions specifying
the number of quality samples that must be
taken are in place. Our success in tracing the
provenance of our raw materials helps us to
live up to our GMO policy. Fleineken will
continue to monitor the public debate on
GMO and agricultural trends and will consult
with its stakeholders prior to eventual changes
in its policy.
Environmental aspects
In 2002, we launched the 'Veldleeuwerik' (Skylark)
project, our sustainable barley programme in
the Netherlands. Its aim is to improve our
understanding of the parameters that play a key
role in improving the sustainability of the relevant
agricultural sector and thus define sustainability
for the farmer and all his crops, including barley.
As part of the project, we have joined forces with
institutes, universities, welfare organisations and
farmers. One of Skylark's unique features is that
the farmer plays a key role.
Farmers participated in measuring a number
of indicators, including soil fertility, nutrients,
biodiversity, water consumption and crop
protection. Through learning and exchange of
expertise they were able to share best practices
and improve their scores against the indicators.
In 2006, the number of participating farmers
increased from 10 to 60. In the Netherlands
barley has become a rotation crop. Consequently,
the project now focuses on soil depletion and
crop rotation, because it has become increasingly
apparent that the key to improving sustainable
barley largely depends on the sustainable
performance and good soil treatment by farmers.
In 2006, the success of the cooperation with
several participants from different sectors in the
food industry, the 'Friends in Rotation', was made
explicit by an increase in the number of farmers
who participate in the project to approximately 60
and the establishment of the Skylark Foundation.
In its present form, the project will be concluded
in 2008, but we are convinced that the unique
cooperation among the relevant participants will
continue even after conclusion of the project.
To date, the results of the Skylark project have
been positive and we have acquired a great deal
of knowledge and practical experience. We will
use this experience when we define our needs
and requirements towards our suppliers (maltings)
and this will obviously affect our own malting
activities. A review scheduled to take place in
2007 will provide a clearer insight into the
feasibility of global scale, but whatever its
outcome, we will maintain our commitment to
play an active role in improving environmental
performance across the entire agricultural
supply chain.
QQ Heineken N.V.
£-£- Sustainability Report 2006
