Ardo CSR rapport 2024 - Flipbook - Page 42
We are Ardo
The path to a more
sustainable food system
Minimal environmental
impact
3 Biodiversity – Allocating surface to
biodiversity development
Biodiversity loss is another alarming issue, with 70% decline
globally over the past 50 years1. At Ardo, we are keen on making a
positive contribution to restoring the biodiversity surrounding our
40,000 hectares of vegetables. Our goal is to support farmers in
allocating a share of agricultural land to biodiversity through flower
beds or other types of biodiversity infrastructures. We have already
implemented several biodiversity improvement projects across our
growing zones.
Increasing biodiversity on farms has various benefits:
Agronomy
MIMOSA+
Food safety, quality
and innovation
Respect for
our employees
regulate pest populations, reducing the need for pesticides.
Extension of the Haut-Geer nature reserve
Ardo is proud to join The Biodiversity Shift, a new
Close to our site in Geer (BE) is the unique 35 ha
initiative led by The Shift and WWF-Belgium, aimed
nature reserve Haut-Geer. It was originally founded
at fostering action on biodiversity and aligning
in 2017 by Hesbayefrost, Ardo’s site in Geer, Belgium.
with Business for Nature’s global 'Now for Nature'
The Nature reserve is home to over 200 bird species
campaign. This collaboration marks a significant step
and simultaneously serves as a water storage basin
in shaping Ardo’s own biodiversity strategy as we work
for irrigation. It exemplifies how business, nature,
alongside peers committed to addressing the decline
and farming can harmoniously collaborate to benefit
in biodiversity and contributing to a nature-positive
everyone. At HesbayeFrost, we purify used water
world by 2030.
through our treatment plant before transferring it to
the reserve. This reserve has already been expanded
For Ardo, biodiversity is an important aspect of
by 8 hectares, and this year, we will expand it by 20
ensuring long-term business success. Healthy
hectares in partnership with Nestlé.
ecosystems provide vital services, such as clean water,
for our agricultural activities. By participating in The
Biodiversity Shift, we are taking concrete steps to work
in harmony with nature, aiming to ensure that our
- Biodiversity will attract various pollinators, enhancing the pollination of certain crops
and increasing yields.
- Flower strips, trees and shrubs in the landscape will contribute to the cultural identity
of communities and provide aesthetic value in traditional agricultural landscapes.
We encourage our farmers to allocate 4% of arable land to biodiversity or other practices
having a positive effect on soil health, climate, or water in line with European regulation.
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Source: Living Planet Index WWF Six charts that show the state of global biodiversity
loss | World Economic Forum (weforum.org)
Sustainability
statements
Ardo joins The Biodiversity Shift
fertile soils, and pollination, all of which are essential
- Biodiversity helps control pests through the presence of for example predators that
Relationship with
our stakeholders
operations do not harm the environment and, where
possible, contribute positively to it.
