Making the herb and spice chain sustainable
Verstegen wins Business and Biodiversity Award!
Verstegen has won the Business and Biodiversity Award by the European Business Award for the Environment (an initiative of the European Commission). The jury of the EBAE was impressed by the first steps that Verstegen has taken towards a sustainable future by means of agroforestry, a sustainable agricultural method.
With the Business and Biodiversity Award, Verstegen has been given a platform which enables us to give more attention to our sustainability ambitions and activities throughout Europe. Together, we can make more impact, on a national and international level and we invite you to join and support us on this incredible journey
Why agroforestry?
Verstegen wants to leave the world a better place for the next generation. It wants to increase agricultural productivity, strengthen biodiversity and fight climate change.
Indonesia: Food forests with white pepper, ginger and turmeric
Western Sumatra: Food forests with coffee and cinnamon
India: Food forests with chilli and turmeric
Costa Rica: Food forests with vanilla, cocoa and palm oil
Application of agroforestry
Agroforestry means planting different crops in multiple layers. The bottom layer are vegetables and herbs, such as ginger and turmeric. The middle layer consists of shrubs with spices, such as white pepper, berries and fruits. The top layer consists of trees producing fruit and nuts. This system can do away with pesticides and fertilisers and no use is made of them. It also contributes to CO2 uptake from the air.
White pepper in Banka
Banka is an island in Indonesia, between Sumatra and Borneo. The hills behind the harbor town of Muntok have the ideal climate for the production of white pepper: the culinary sister of black pepper. It's no coincidence that the white pepper originally comes from there, given the perfect conditions. The sustainable production process already starts behind the hills. We work together with a fixed group of farmers who grow pepper for us through agroforestry.
Cinnamon in West Sumatra
For the Gula Gula project in West Sumatra, a large piece of land has been purchased to carry out an extensive agroforestry program. Coffee plants and cinnamon trees grow in different layers.
Elected as the most sustainable company in the Netherlands
Verstegen was elected as the most sustainable company in the Netherlands. The award is an initiative of the Dutch foundation for carbon neutrality (Stichting Nederland CO2 Neutraal) in Driebergen. In the foundation’s search for the most sustainable company in the Netherlands, Verstegen was chosen as a worthy winner. For example, we started an agroforestry program and we help pepper farmers improve their harvests with the use of geo-data.
Brochures
SpiceUp
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Verstegen Corporate Misson
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Verstegen Sustainable Values
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