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News 30 November 2022

Meeting of Varken op z'n Best (Pig at its Best) Souding Board Group

In conversation with 15 of our VOB pig farmers
On November 23rd the sounding board group of our chain concept Varken op z'n Best (Pig at its Best) gathered together. We took the time to catch up with 15 pig farmers to discuss developments in the sector and our chain. The purpose of the sounding board group is to develop and continuously improve Pig at its Best. We do this by sharing positive, critical and solution-oriented ideas and through open and transparent communication.  Opinions, knowledge and insights are shared in the group, so that all this information is included at an early stage in the (further) development of VOB and its conditions.

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Climate neutral in 2030
Commercial director of Best Star Meat Stan Quinten opened the meeting and discussed the role and goals of the focus group. Then he gave a short update on developments within Varken op z'n Best (Pig at its Best). Topics such as sustainability, transparency, digitalization and slaughter capacity were discussed. "Feed and manure are the largest emission items on pig farms when it comes to broeikasgas emissions. Van Loon Group wants to be able to produce climate-neutral pork by 2030. We have started a pilot with processed animal protein in animal feed. We are doing this in cooperation with our chain partner AgruniekRijnvallei (feed supplier). Furthermore, we are investigating how we can use more sustainable energy sources, such as windmills and solar panels. And we are testing how we can use (fresh) manure to generate biogas," says Stan.

Insight through data on health and technical results 
Live Stock coordinator Ilonka van der Wagt then explained the new version of the quality manual for Pig at its Best (VOB-manual) that will be implemented January 1, 2023.  She also presented the results of the data analysis on health parameters and technical numbers that was conducted over 2021. Ilonka: "We explained the data analysis at the chain level. The next step is to discuss the individual results with the farmer during a Pig Advisory Team meeting. The main point of attention for VOB is the spread in figures. The figures on health and technical results of the least- and best-performing farms are too far apart. Because we now have a good insight into all the data, we know which knobs to turn to make big improvement steps here."

Price model Pig at its Best
In recent months, Best Star Meat has been working hard on a concept price model for Pig at its Best. The aim is to compensate pig farmers who participate in the VOB concept for the added costs of the additional requirements from the market concept, mostly focused on sustainability and animal health. In addition to compensation for the added costs, an alternative pricing system has been considered, in which the development of the cost price has an influence and fluctuations in market prices are limited for the entrepreneurs. Frank Steenbreker, business advisor pig farming at ABAB was present to explain the cost price calculation, which is part of the pricing model.


Stan: "For VOB it is important that the knife cuts both ways. The price model has to suit the pig farmers within VOB and buyers. Most pig farmers responded predominantly positively to the pricing model. We are looking at starting a pilot with a select number of VOB farms in the near future."
The evening was concluded in the bar, under the enjoyment of a snack and drink there was extensive after-talk. 

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