Sustainability initiatives
BayWa sustainability initiatives in the area of agriculture & nutrition
BayWa supports its customers with innovative products and services to meet global challenges such as climate change and a growing world population. To this end, it is driving forward the development of sustainable and digital technologies for agriculture, among other things.
BayWa continues to develop ideas for climate-resilient agriculture
In addition to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, BayWa is also increasingly concerned with the physical risks of climate change and the impact on its own business activities. A long-term shift in climatic conditions and extreme weather events could fundamentally change global agricultural production and the flow of goods. Agricultural trade and logistics are therefore directly affected. In order to better understand the effects in the agricultural sector and increase resilience in the agricultural value chain, BayWa has been using scenario analyses and cross-divisional workshops since 2019 to identify and evaluate risks and opportunities and develop strategic guidelines.
Smart Farming: Agriculture 4.0
The agricultural industry is undergoing a digital revolution. Data on soil conditions, water requirements and plant growth collected by agricultural machinery or satellites has long been used to calculate the optimal fertilizer requirements and thus sustainably increase yields per hectare. BayWa subsidiary FarmFacts has now developed a manufacturer-independent system for this purpose: NEXT Farming supports farmers in collecting the right data, using it intelligently and thus optimizing processes on the farm and in the field. The system has a modular structure and can be adapted to the size of the farm and cultivation method. In 2020, BayWa also launched sales of the agricultural hoeing robot "Dino", which is controlled by satellite navigation and combats weeds mechanically in a way that is particularly gentle on the soil and low in pesticides.
Variable rain for efficient water use
Increasing heatwaves and drought pose major challenges for farmers, as they lead to global yield losses and require more artificial irrigation. With the help of "VariableRain", an application from BayWa, farmers can keep an eye on the individual water requirements of their plants and control the efficient use of water in a targeted manner. This is made possible by the use of satellite data to create irrigation maps. The smart service saves water, energy and time and gives the plant exactly the amount of water it needs, preventing this resource from being wasted and managing the plants' water balance.
BayWa Eco
Organic production methods, regionality and fair production conditions are an important part of future-oriented agriculture. BayWa Agrar meets the increasing demand for organically produced products with its comprehensive "BayWa Öko" range for organic farming, from the right seeds and organic fertilizers to the right technology. In addition to the stationary trade, organic farmers also have access to the BayWa portal with around 500 selected products from the areas of animal husbandry, soil fertility and seeds. Organic products are recorded at five locations and organic farmers are supported in marketing their products. In addition, BayWa's five organic key account managers advise farmers on crop cultivation on both organic and conventional farms who are about to embark on new paths.
CRS: Sustainably certified soy
Global demand for soy has risen significantly in recent years and continues to do so. In order to make global soy supply chains more sustainable, the subsidiary Cefetra developed the Certified Responsible Soya (CRS) standard in 2008. Farmers seeking certification under the CRS standard must meet a wide range of sustainability requirements, including environmental and social aspects as well as good agricultural practices. In order to prevent the global clearing of forest areas for soybean cultivation and to ensure deforestation-free production, the CRS standard also includes the criterion "Zero Deforestation". Large, medium-sized and small farms all over the world can be certified with CRS.
Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil
Cefetra Group B.V. is also a member of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil. Three companies within the Group are certified for the supply of RSPO-certified material (Chain of Custody): Cefetra B.V., Cefetra Feed Service B.V. and Cefetra Ltd, the latter of which has Ecovadis Silver status. As such, these companies supply sustainable palm kernels (derivatives) to European customers. Cefetra Feed Service B.V. has been a member since 2006, Cefetra B.V. has been certified since 2020 and Cefetra Ltd. since 2021.
Climate-resilient fruit production
BayWa Global Produce subsidiary T&G Global Limited joined the international and cross-industry breeding program "Hot Climate Programme" as a commercial partner in 2019. The aim of the program is to develop apple and pear varieties that are adapted to growing areas with high temperatures. Due to climate change, it is becoming increasingly important for fruit growers to cultivate plants that continue to be reliable in terms of yield and quality despite dry and hot climates. Plant varieties require less fertilizer and water, which makes them more resistant to changes in temperature and precipitation conditions caused by climate change. In 2020, T&G started marketing the first climate change-resistant apple called "HOT84A1".
State-of-the-art technology for longer durability
Fruit tastes best and contains the most vitamins when it is harvested when ripe. However, some exotic fruits are only exported when ripe due to the long transportation routes by ship and are only ripened at their destination. BayWa Global Produce has invested in innovative Softripe® technology at various locations in the Netherlands and in the UK, which works with artificial intelligence - and allows avocados and mangoes to ripen with pinpoint accuracy. It monitors the atmosphere and adapts it individually to the metabolic processes of the fruit. This ensures better quality and a longer shelf life without the use of additives. As a result, there is less food loss. In addition, the ripening time is shorter and less energy is required.
Wood-based animal feed
The agromed Austria GmbH, a subsidiary of RWA, is committed to healthy, natural and sustainable pet food, the natural active ingredient lignocellulose. Animals need this component of the raw material wood for a healthy gut and a strong immune system, among other things. The natural fibers for the products are obtained from untreated fresh wood, which comes from local and sustainably managed forest stands in Europe - mainly in Germany - and is certified with the GMP+ and PEFC standards.
Online platform for used agricultural machinery
Whether tractors, forage harvesters or sowing equipment, customers can find a wide range of used agricultural machinery from a wide variety of manufacturers on the BayWa Börse platform. The machines are diagnosed, repaired and reconditioned by BayWa - and can therefore be sold on. With the used machinery business, BayWa extends the product life cycle of the machines and is thus committed to greater sustainability in agricultural technology. The machines mainly come from the sales region - for example, if a customer buys a new machine, BayWa will trade in the old machine on request. The market is not limited to the DACH region - BayWa also supplies used agricultural machinery worldwide.