Contract growing in the Starch segment

At its starch mills and bioethanol plants in Austria, Hungary and Romania, AGRANA processes around two million tonnes of cereals per year and therefore is a major market player as a result of its purchases of regional surpluses in its key procurement markets of Austria and Hungary.

The procurement of waxy corn, organic corn, organic waxy corn as well as certified GMO-free corn and wet corn is largely based on growing contracts. A proportion of the requirements of ethanol wheat and ethanol triticale are met through growing contracts. At its potato starch mill in Gmund | Lower Austria, AGRANA processes starch and food potatoes (organic and non-organic) to make puree and dough-based products. Starch potatoes are sourced under growing contracts.

Sustainability Documentation Starch

SAI FSA in Potato & Corn Contract Growing
Procurement of raw materials for wheat starch & bioethanol production

Implementation of the FSA in potato & corn cultivation

AGRANA Starch has grouped its Austrian contract growers of potatoes and specialty corn into two so-called Farm Management Groups (FMGs). Previously, in 2017, the sustainability performance of these groups was externally audited in accordance with FSA requirements for the first time after completion of the Farm Sustainability Assessment. In the 2023|24 financial year re-verification audits were held. Almost 100 % of the farms in the AGRANA Starch FMGs achieved at least FSA Silver level.

Procurement of raw materials for wheat starch and bioethanol production

When it comes to procurements of raw materials for the production of wheat starch and bioethanol, AGRANA has for years relied on the International Sustainability and Carbon Certificate (ISCC) and the Austrian Agricultural Certification Scheme (AACS). Both the ISCC and AACS are accorded FSA silver equivalent.