Volkert Engelsman: “Organic isn’t too expensive, chemical is too cheap”

The biggest threat to sustainability is anonymity. Recorded at the office of Eosta a conversation with Volkert Engelsman, CEO of Eosta, international distributor of fresh organic and fair fruits and vegetables

LISTEN TO THE CONVERSATION ON:

Volkert’s views:

  • “The biggest threat to sustainability is anonymity”
  • “If I don’t know you I can exploit you”
  • “Trade in our case is not about buying low and selling high, it is responsibly running a supply chain”
  • “Marketing sustainability automatically leads to monetising sustainability”

He prefers to talk only about profit but we have to factor in the costs of people and planet. So Eosta started measuring the 20% of the kpis which make up 80% of the impact to find the true cost of organic.

The true cost of organic

Organic apples are for instance 19 euro cents healthier per kilo compared to conventional apples. Only looking at the pesticide differences. 
By taking data from the EFSA European food safety agency on pesticide residue, and fed that data to the models of DALI disability life year calculation of the WHO.

“Organic is not too expensive, conventional (chemical) is too cheap”

To raise awareness for the proactive healthcare of food. Eosta will be looking at the health benefits of organic food with a campaign called: doctor Goodfood

Where to start investing in a food system for the future in quite simple according to Volkert:

We have to look after our:

  • Soils, farmers who are not building soil do not deserve investment capital
  • Water, invest in farmers who are building their water holding capacity
  • Biodiversity, a direct connection between biodiversity and the ability of a plant to withstand diseases
  • Climate Change, agriculture is with 40% one of the biggest contributors to climate change emissions, of that 40% meat production takes the biggest stake. We can’t keep eating meat like we are doing now.

As the demand for organic is soaring, supply has to catch up and there is a huge investment potential to scale up and convert growers.

“Freeing the farmers from being held hostage by the agro chemical input business, that parasites on farming like the pharmaceutical industry parasites on your health. By selling a few pills (or agrochemicals ) with a few side effects, for which they have new pills or agrochemicals again”

Standard and Poor’s acquires True Cost

Stranded assets in fossil fuels

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The above references an opinion and is for information and educational purposes only. It is not intended to be investment advice. Seek a duly licensed professional for investment advice.

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