From raw material to product:
The AGRANA value chain in the
StarchSegment

Raw material procurement
in the Starch segment

Sustainability is an integral element of AGRANA’s corporate philosophy. For us, this commitment begins long before the industrial processing of agricultural raw materials, namely during their procurement. In our EU-based Starch segment, we mainly process corn, wheat and potatoes into premium starch products for the food industry, as well as for non-food applications. The production of climate-friendly bioethanol for blending with petrol is also part of the Starch segment. We offer a wide range of GMO-free and organic products.

The 2014|15 financial year saw the first steps taken in our Starch segment to implement the AGRANA principles for the procurement of agricultural raw materials and intermediate products for potatoes, sourced from contract growers in Austria to be processed in our potato starch factory in Gmünd, in Austria.

Membership in the SAI:

AGRANA Starch has grouped its Austrian contract growers of potatoes into a so-called Farm Management Group (FMG). Previously, in 2017, the sustainability performance of the group was externally audited in accordance with FSA requirements for the first time after completion of the Farm Sustainability Assessment. In the 2020|21 financial year the re-verification audits, which are valid for three years, were held. One hundred per cent of the farms in the FMG achieved at least FSA Silver level.

With regard to sourcing grain from contract growers, we meet our needs primarily with specialty corn (waxy corn, organic corn and certified GMO-free corn) to be processed at our corn starch factory in Aschach, Austria.

AGRANA Starch has grouped its contract growers of corn into a so-called Farm Management Group (FMG). In the 2020|21 financial year re-verification audits, which are valid for three years,were held. One hundred per cent of the farms in the FMG achieved at least FSA Silver level.

When it comes to sourcing grain for wheat starch and bioethanol production, we have been putting our trust in raw materials certified according to the International Sustainability and Carbon Certificate (ISCC) and the Austrian Agricultural Certification Scheme (AACS). Both the ISCC and AACS are accorded FSA silver status equivalent in the SAI system.

The corn processed in our starch plant in Aschach, Austria, is grown in the EU and procured from traders.

ISCC:

Transportation
in the Starch segment

Even though the transportation of raw materials and starch products has a comparatively low impact on the carbon footprint of our products depending on the calculation method and country, we still try to keep transportation as sustainable as possible both in terms of the infrastructure and commercial viability.

AGRANA starch production

As a result of our high level of dependence on agricultural crops, we feel a particular obligation to protect all natural resources. We have taken this self-imposed obligation and created the AGRANA environmental policy, which covers major aspects such as energy use and emissions, water and waste management.

As an energy-intensive processor of agricultural raw materials, we strive to optimise our energy consumption, improve our energy efficiency and reduce emissions on an ongoing basis. In order to achieve these objectives, we are integrating an energy management system, based on standards such as ISO 50001, into our existing quality management system.

ISO 50001 zertifiziert:

AGRANA IS COMMITTED TO PHASING OUT THE USE OF FOSSIL ENERGY SOURCES IN ITS PRODUCTION ACTIVITIES (SCOPE 1+2) BY 2040

  • Energy mixIn the 2022|23 financial year, we met approximately 39% of total energy needs (scope 1+2) with natural gas, 35% with steam, and 24% with energy from renewable sources (electricity, biogas and biomass).

  • Greatest possible use of waste heatFor instance, we have been operating a heat recovery system in the feedstuff drying operations in Pischelsdorf, Austria since 2013|14, which saves around 8,000 tonnes of CO2 per year.

  • Supplying ourselves with energySince the wheat starch plant started operations at the combined site in Pischelsdorf, we have been using fermentation gas from the waste water purification system to produce biogas.

  • Continuously and systematically reducing our energy consumption and emissionsWe have set targets contributing to AGRANA's climate strategy.

Pursuant to our AGRANA environmental policy, we ensure the sustainable use of water and waste water at our starch factories. The water is purified and reused time and again.

In our combined bioethanol and wheat starch production facility in Pischelsdorf, Austria, we no longer use freshwater to produce bioethanol during normal operations since the wheat starch factory was commissioned, as the water required for the mashing process is obtained from condensed steam or the slurry from the wheat starch factory.

Starch segment 2022| 23
Water withdrawn in m3 per tonne of core and by-products 4.69
Water discharged in m3 per tonne of core and by-products 4.17
Water consumed in m3 per tonne of core and by-products 0.52

It is our operating principle to maximise the utilisation of agricultural raw materials by making valuable by-products, contributing to our economic and social bottom line.

Starch segment 2022 | 23 in tonnes
Waste disposed 19,918
of which hazardous waste 81
Kilogramme waste per tonne of product 13.2 kg
Gramme hazardous waste per tonne of product 54 g


* Based on the "input-output analysis" for AGRANA's corn starch plant in Aschach, Austria in the 2012|13 financial year. The values are based on dry weight.

An average of 1,183 employees (headcouont)worked in our Starch segment during the 2022|23 financial year. They are a key factor for success due to their commitment, range of skills, experience and views.

AGRANA endeavours to offer interesting work, opportunities for professional and personal development and training, and a workplace environment in which employees feel integrated, respected and connected.

Employees in the Starch Segment (at the balance sheet data of 28 February 2023)

Non-permanent staff

47

36.2 %

Permanent staff

1,135

25.7 %

Blue-collar718

13.1 %

White collar417

47.5 %

Managers

70

22.9 %

Of which Executive Leadership

2

50.0 %

Total

Female



Workplace safety in the Starch segment

At the end of the day, it is important that all of our employees return home safely. We strive to achieve this objective by means of regular trainings on safe working processes, implementing best practice cases and providing workplace safety materials as part of our zero accident policy.

In the 2013|14 financial year, we have started to collect workplace safety data across all business segments by means of uniform worldwide criteria.

Injury rate 22 | 23(number of accidents/ 100 employees p.a.)

3.9

1.9

4.5

Rate of high-consequence injuries 22| 23(high-consequence injuries/ 100 employees p.a.)

0.0

0.0

0.0

Rate of fatalities 22| 23(fatalities/ 100 employees p.a.)

0.0

0.0

0.0

Total

Female

Male

Working conditions and their verification

In the 2021|22 financial year, we revised the AGRANA Code of Conduct, which establishes minimum (social) standards and rules of conduct for all employees around the world.

SEDEX:

As part of our membership of Supplier Ethical Exchange Database (SEDEX) since 2009 all our production sites carry out a SEDEX self-assessment every year. In order to underpin our commitment in this area, we had 4-pillar SMETA audits carried out by independent third parties at our Austrian production sites in Aschach, Gmünd and Pischelsdorf in 2020. The audit reports can be accessed by SEDEX members on the organisation's online platform.

Employee training hours

The education and training, as well as the personal development, of our employees is important to us. Employees in the Starch segment completed an average of 12.7 training hours in the 2022|23 financial year. In total, 80.2 % of employees completed a training course.

Ecovadis

In 2021|22, AGRANA Starke GmbH updated its sustainability data (first provided in 2014) for the purposes of EcoVadis, the international supplier evaluation platform. AGRANA Starke GmbH achieved a silver rating.

Diverse range of starch products

We manufacture GMO-free native and modified starches, saccharification products, alcohol/bioethanol, conventional and organic feedstuffs and fertilisers. Our products find a range of different uses in the food industry, as well as in the paper, textile, building materials, pharmaceutical, cosmetics and oil sectors. They are also used as feedstuffs for animals or fertilisers for farming.

Some of our certifications:
Core products:
By-products:

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