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We carry out agri-food production with respect for the environment, reducing greenhouse gas emissions at every stage of production. This is made possible by the business concept we have adopted and the technologies we have implemented. Read how we do this.
One of the factors that contributes to our emissions being half the average emissions of agricultural companies in the European Union is precision. This allows us to reduce transport as well as resource use.
We are supported in our precise operations by new technologies that allow us to collect and gather data from our fields. We use GPS technology and drones in combination with tools that allow us to measure the mineral content of the soil, as well as the yields of different parts of the fields, so we know exactly where fertiliser application is needed.
Biodiversity conservation and regenerative techniques play a key role in climate protection, which is why we take care to ensure that our crops do not harm flora and fauna, but serve the soil. To this end, we leave mid-field greening as natural ecosystems.
We also care for soil fertility by using a diversified crop rotation and fertilising with digestate - only where necessary and mostly directly into the soil (soil application), thus reducing evaporation and nutrient losses - and thus greenhouse gas emissions. This increases the soil's water-holding capacity, which also results in less water being used. Field work is reduced to a minimum by dispensing with ploughing, which prevents the release of nitrous oxide - one of the greenhouse gases.
Our efforts are focused on further refining and expanding a model based on the principles of sustainable agriculture and nutrition. An important pillar of this strategy is the generation of heat and electricity from agricultural biogas plants. At Goodvalley, biogas serves multiple functions: we use electricity to power our farms, heat energy to heat them, and sell the surplus to the public grid in one of the surrounding areas. We store the end product, organic fertiliser, in a digestion tank and then use it to fertilise the fields on which we grow crops to feed our animals. In this way, we realise an important part of our model - from field to table.
In 2005, we built and commissioned Poland's first biogas plant, and we currently operate eight biogas plants in Poland and one in Ukraine. Together with external partners, we plan to build more. Our ambition is to become one of the first companies in Poland to produce biomethane and feed it into the gas grid.
The farms and production facilities where we operate are located close to each other. This includes fields and farms, as well as biogas plants, feed plants and meat processing plants. This organisation allows us to reduce transport, shorten production chains and contributes to reducing our carbon footprint.
We package our products in recycled trays. This solution allows us not to contribute to the production of virgin plastic, but to recycle what has previously been produced. Recycled trays also mean lower greenhouse gas emissions.
Every product that leaves Goodvalley farms carries with it a story of responsible choices. For us, water, energy and soil are resources that we take care of every day. That's why we carefully control our water use, source our electricity from our own biogas plants and only use carbon-intensive fuel where it's really necessary. As a result, our agriculture is becoming more sustainable and the products that reach consumers' tables are made with the utmost care.
At Goodvalley, we care about animal health and welfare, which is why the highest standards of bio-assurance are in place on our farms. Restricted access from the outside, constant monitoring, staff training and carefully selected housing locations ensure that animals live in a safe environment. Uncompromising sanitary rules, transport controls and mandatory quarantine of new animals further protect our herds.
As part of the so-called ecoschemes of the EU Common Agricultural Policy 2023, we have sown honey plants on 900 hectares at Goodvalley in 2024. All with the aim of creating long-lasting, productive and species-diverse areas useful for bees and other pollinators. The measure aims to protect the presence of honeybees and wild pollinators and biodiversity. The scheme requires at least two species of honey-producing plants to be sown in designated areas. At Goodvalley we have chosen blue phacelia and spotted thistle. These are non-productive plants, i.e. they are not harvested and remain on the surface after flowering, providing valuable green matter to the soil and supporting biodiversity by providing food for insects and bugs.
At Goodvalley, we believe that animal welfare and high quality food go hand in hand. We pride ourselves on treating our animals with care and respect. To ensure that our animal welfare measures are continually maintained and improved, we consistently educate and train staff in the proper care of pigs. We have also put in place uncompromising bio-assurance practices that include careful monitoring of feed and animal transport.
