Our economic responsibility
As a cooperative, we have a particular responsibility towards our members: helping them to add value to their products in a sustainable and high-performance manner. With this objective, the consideration of the economic aspect of our CSR is indispensable.
Reinvent economic relationships in the industry
In 2014, Terrena agreed a partnership with Système U for the production of Marque U branded products with the launch of La Nouvelle Agriculture® Pork.
The uniqueness of this was that it established a new three-way relationship between farmer, manufacturer and distributor. Usually based on a power relationship between the different economic players, here the commercial relationship was based on a real partnership.
The cooperative farmers implemented the production according to a precise specification; Terrena took care of the cutting and packaging of the meat and Système U sold the product.
The number of intermediaries and stages from manufacture to finished product is limited to ensure a more direct relationship between farmers and consumers.
Inspired by Northern European models, the Terrena / Système U contract was characterised by:
- a long contract duration (three years renewable) allowing enough visibility for investments,
- a single supplier, Terrena, for the Système U Industrial Pork Consumer Sales Unit with joint branding U and NA – La Nouvelle Agriculture®,
- a complete supply chain that was as short as possible (Terrena/ Holvia Porcs Laval / Elivia Angers / Système U), guaranteeing complete traceability of products and an optimisation of costs,
- the guarantee of fair pay for the producers and high-quality tasting and nutritional products for the consumer at a fair price,
- shared management of product references for maximum promotion of La Nouvelle Agriculture® Pork,
- specifications for the producers, guaranteeing benefits that were clearly understood by the consumer.
This initiative illustrates how farmers in a cooperative, a manufacturer and a distributor managed to change how their relationship worked.
Import raw materials
Protein dependence is a recurring issue in Europe, especially for animal production sectors.
This is why the Terrena Group has joined with different partners to create the Proleval project (Protein Crops, oilseeds, valuing animals), which aims to develop an alternative by integrating French oilseed / protein crops (peas, linseed, lupin and faba bean) in livestock feed in a sustainable way.
The challenge of the project is to reach a better development of oilseed / protein crops to combat environmental, agricultural policy and health issues:
- meet the agronomic need for new break crops,
- meet the objectives of the Common Agricultural Policy in terms of vegetable protein production,
- preserve the environment (global warming, eutrophication, ecotoxicity, water quality),
- reduce the use of nitrogen fertiliser (using protein crops) and pesticides (crop rotation),
- improve the nutrition of livestock,
- improve the nutrition of human beings (omega 3 and other deficient nutrients from oilseed / protein crops),
- improve the nutritional quality of animal products
The Proleval project has been recognised by three competitiveness clusters and is in review as a PSPC project (Defining projects for competitiveness).
In the case of specific sectors, we integrate environmental and social requirements into our specifications. Examples:
- La Nouvelle Agriculture® rabbit, bred without antibiotics, fed without GMOs and preferably on local food,
- quality label productions engaged in biodiversity.
Agri-supplies are purchased by the national procurement centre AgriHub, via Catelys Union whose listings reflect the ecotoxicity of phytosanitary products and nitrogen fertilisers.
it is the product’s eco-toxicological profile that defines which product is chosen when two products are technical identical for a particular use.