The Belgian Horticultural Cooperatives Federation (VBT) has published its 2021 sustainability report. That was without the planned networking event with stakeholders. That could not be held due to the global pandemic.
The federation boasts five producer cooperatives and 3,400 producer-horticulturists. With the collective project, Responsibly Fresh Goodness by nature, they continue to work towards sustainable development.
Belgium's fruit and vegetable cooperatives announced the continuation of this collective sustainability project in February 2019. With Responsibly Fresh, the member producer organizations (POs) and their producers embarked on a six-year project, from 2012 to 2018.
With Responsibly Fresh Goodness by nature, the participants confirmed their desire to continue on the path of sustainable development. VBT's president, Rita Demaré, states: ''The sector continues to be responsible - corporately or socially involved. The Goodness by nature baseline and Fresh once again articulates that fruits and vegetables are naturally healthy.''
Three pillars
Responsibly Fresh Goodness by nature means VBT, the five POs, and the cooperatives' 3,400 growers have aligned themselves with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals. Also, actions and efforts are framed within the European Commissions' Farm-to-fork strategy. Specifically, the collective sustainability project focuses on three pillars.
- Producers deliberately choose a cooperative approach. Because together they are stronger. It is sustainable to do business cooperatively.
- Fruit and vegetables are naturally healthy. They provide a wealth of flavors and contribute to a varied diet. The sector considers food safety and the conscious use of foodstuffs.
- The sector is committed to progress while respecting the natural elements. They do so by cultivating fruits and vegetables with minimal impact on the environment and the surrounding area.
''We, our POs and the affiliated producers, have engaged in further sustainable development and, above all, sustainably developing further, in recent years. We'll continue to focus on that in the coming years because sustainability is never stagnant and, thus, never complete. If we continue to work enthusiastically together, we'll certainly make progress,'' concludes VBT General Secretary Luc Vanoirbeek.
Click here for the complete 2021 sustainability report (in Dutch).
For more information, visit www.responsiblyfresh.eu.