22
Agriculture
Activities in 2007
Availability
In 2007, we extended our supplier base to
include the supply of malting barley in the Russian
Federation, the Ukraine, Canada, Egypt and
Uruguay. A sorghum malting plant was built
in Nigeria. In Rwanda, we began an initiative to
partially substitute imported barley with maize.
This reduces transport costs, corresponding
greenhouse gas emissions and import duties,
whilst allowing local farmers to benefit financially
from our activities.
We have also started systematic efforts to improve
the efficient use of raw materials as part of our
global TPM programme. This is brought to life
through the formation of dedicated improvement
teams that implement loss-reduction activities.
The resulting best practices are exchanged
intensively between our operating companies.
Quality and food safety assurance in the supply chain
In 2007, we implemented a governance model
to further enhance the robustness of the
safeguards we have to ensure food safety. The
starting point of the model is the definition of
continuously updated, unambiguous and common
food safety standards for all materials relating
to beer, water, raw materials and packaging
materials. We apply these standards without
exception on a global scale.
We verify the compliance with these standards
through an annual central analysis for all our beers
covering all our production sites. Based on the
results as well as on input obtained from food
science institutes and national or international
food (safety) associations we conduct frequent
special surveys in case of emerging issues or
trends. If needed, we incorporate these findings in
our food safety standards and control measures.
We have initiated a web-based quality reporting
system that will enable us to monitor the global
quality performance of our malt supplier base online.
Environmental aspects
Our pilot on Sustainable Agriculture project (the
Skylark project, see the case study on page 21) has
made significant progress. This project is unique in
the sense that it is not only dealing with the barley
supply chain, but it also includes other partners
in the supply chain dealing with different crops
(onions, carrots, sugar beets and potatoes). We
have reviewed the learnings of the Skylark project
which will be published in a booklet on sustainable
arable farming.
What we will do in 2008
Continue to expand the geographic spread
of our sourcing programme
Continue to explore the efficient use of raw
materials and potential savings within our global
TPM programme
Publish a booklet on sustainable farming (as
applied in the Skylark project)
Incorporate sustainability as an integral part of
our raw material supplier auditing and approval
Actively engage all our malt suppliers to
stimulate sustainable development in their
supply of barley. In 2010, we will start to publish
the status of these developments regularly
in this report.
Heineken N.V. Sustainability Report 2007
