Grafite and low-carbon development
As part of Soufflet Négoce by InVivo, Grafite aims to connect agro-industrial stakeholders with producers of low-carbon agricultural raw materials. Set up as part of the group's intrapreneurship programme (see p.49), this subsidiary promotes practices implemented by farmers to reduce emissions and provide carbon capture in the soil, while meeting the growing and specific needs of manufacturers: the biodiesel sector, for example, in demand of low-carbon oilseeds to produce fuels in line with regulatory requirements, or agri-food companies committed to voluntary carbon reduction initiatives. With more than 160,000 tonnes recovered in 2022 and 40 cooperatives receiving support, Grafite has emerged as one of the European leaders in the sector.
"At InVivo, this ability to identify talent, stimulate innovation, build trust and retain customers is both a strength and a value. With our support, the Grafite team has been able to transform an idea into a project that has already proved its worth."
CEO in charge of Human Resources, Communications and Strategic Projects of InVivo.
"In line with TERRE, the CAL Group's CSR strategy, our cooperative's CSR, agronomy & innovation, quality, execution and sales teams worked alongside Grafite's traders to identify and implement appropriate solutions to encourage and promote low-carbon practices by our farmers."
Grain Marketing Manager, CAL Group.
Productive synergies within the group
Being part of a large group also enables us to use a pooling approach with shared customers. This is the case within the agri-food business for AIT Ingredients, which works closely with Soufflet Négoce by InVivo to seek out and support milling customers. It is also the case with Malteries Soufflet, which sells malt obtained from barley grains marketed by the Other Products area to breweries.
FOCUS SURTHE ACADÉMIE DU PAIN
In 2023, the Soufflet Négoce by InVivo Wheat area and AIT Ingredients partnered with the two main millers in Côte d'Ivoire to inaugurate a vocational training centre dedicated to baked goods, viennoiserie and pastry-making. Called the Académie du Pain (Bread Academy), it has modern, high-tech equipment to provide free, accredited training leading to a vocational qualification certificate. Between 200 and 300 apprentices are expected to be trained each year, encouraging local recruitment in partner customers' bakeries.
FOCUS SURTHE DEVELOPMENT OF A SUSTAINABLE BARLEY-MALT SUPPLY CHAIN
As a subsidiary of the Heineken group, Malteries Alken is a long-standing customer of Soufflet Négoce by InVivo and was able to support it very early on when it was purchasing sustainable barley for its production units in Portugal and Belgium. This initiative has flourished, with the Belgian unit at Ruysbroeck boasting a capacity of 270,000 tons of malt. In addition to this successful partnership, the creation of this supply chain also reflects the group's determination to actively support the transition to more sustainable agricultural and food models.