HKScan unveils new supply chain model based on sustainability
The Agrofood ecosystem has been created to address new consumer and customer expectations related to these issues, while also hoping to improve the productivity of the entire value chain
The new Agrofood ecosystem will begin in Finland with pilot projects in the Kariniemen poultry and the HK Rypsiporsas (Omega-3 pork) supply chains, with the business inviting experts from various fields to take part in the contract production development.
According to the business, the Agrofood ecosystem will be a close-knit network pooling the knowledge of specialized companies and primary producers and optimizing their know-how with the aid of sophisticated technology and digital tools.
HKScan aims to adopt best practices as extensively as possible across all its key markets in the Baltic Sea region. The meat chain’s sustainability work will be spearheaded by efforts to reduce carbon footprint, in which crop agriculture plays a key role. All steps taken to improve the ability of cropland to absorb carbon in the soil are of key importance in efforts to reduce carbon footprint. HKScan Agrofood-ecosystem belongs to Business Finland’s Food from Finland programme.
HKScan CEO Tero Hemmilä said: “We have been collaborating with our contract producers for many decades developing systematically the meat value chain. To develop our contract production further and to build a more structured model to meet changing market needs, we are now introducing the Agrofood ecosystem.
“With this model we aim to contribute to the sustainability and transparency of our meat value chain, to improve productivity, to safeguard competitiveness, and to further improve animal welfare. The efficient utilization of digital tools and more intensive collaboration with external partners has also a significant role.”
This production step-change comes at the same time as the board of directors announced the acquisition of the company’s shares. Authorised at the Annual General Meeting, the board has initiated a fixed-term share buy-back programme.
