A transition towards more sustainable agriculture

As a company, we have already come a long way in the field of sustainability and remain determined to continue playing a leading role in it.

Together with knowledge partners, we examined both the sustainability impact and the feasibility of a transition towards regenerative agriculture. Based on those insights, we took the step towards an even more sustainable way of working.

The power of collaboration

Regenerative agriculture is not a solo project. We work closely with other farmers, researchers and supply chain partners to learn from one another and accelerate our collective impact.

In the coming years, we will build on this foundation. We will further develop our regenerative strategy, measure our progress, and implement improvements step by step. In doing so, we will continue to grow in knowledge, effectiveness and impact.

VP Landbouw

Regenerative agriculture

Regenerative agriculture is a form of sustainable farming that goes beyond mere preservation alone. Where traditional sustainability principles focus mainly on limiting harm, regenerative agriculture is about restoring and strengthening ecosystems.

What does working regeneratively mean?

We work to restore the natural cycle, focusing on:

  • We work to restore the natural cycle, focusing on:de verbetering vande bodemkwaliteit en structuur
  • increasing biodiversity
  • improving the water cycle
  • sequestering carbon in the soil
  • strengthening resilience to climate change

A healthy soil is alive. It is home to billions of organisms — bacteria, fungi, worms and insects — that together form a complex ecosystem. They break down crop residues, release nutrients and create a stable soil structure in which air and water are in balance.

Through reduced tillage, a diverse crop rotation and permanent soil cover, the soil is given the time and space to recover.
The result: a fertile, resilient soil that retains water more effectively, stores more carbon and produces healthier crops.

Our approach to regenerative agriculture
Duurzame grondbewerking VP Landbouw

Our journey

Since the founding of VP Landbouw, sustainability has been at the core of our work. Every investment we make is aimed at strengthening it. In recent years, we have taken numerous steps in this regard, both small and large, with some having had a greater impact than others.

Thanks to the impact assessment conducted by VP Capital, we were able to develop a concrete roadmap. In recent years, this has seen us take a number of sustainability initiatives. In an initial phase (2021), we focused on analysing the sustainability and financial impact of a transition towards regenerative agriculture.

Nu hebben we een belangrijke fase van vee- en akkerbouw afgerond en gaan we de volgende fase in van de strategie, gericht op het verder vormgeven van de regeneratieve akkerbouw.

We have set ourselves the following targets for the coming period:

  • Working towards a minimal CO₂ footprint
  • Integrating an ever greater number of regenerative agricultural practices, including cover crops, crop rotation, boosting biodiversity (e.g. through strip cropping and agroforestry), minimising non-inversion tillage and minimising the use of artificial fertilisers and pesticides.
  • Achieving higher prices for our end products.
  • Raising the proportion of raw and protein-rich feed produced off our own land
  • Boosting the share of permanent grassland to increase biodiversity and carbon sequestration.
  • Adding value to ecosystem services (e.g. carbon credits).
  • Food forest and a viable business model in collaboration with the community.