Preferred by Nature

🤔 Did you know that our EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) self-assessment tool is available in multiple languages? 🌍 In addition to English, it’s now available in French, German and Spanish. If you’re unsure whether the new regulation applies to your business, this tool is ideal for you. Preferred by Nature’s EUDR self-assessment tool helps you identify your obligations under the new regulation and understand what they are. ✅ You can also explore the next steps if the EUDR applies to your business. 🔍 Get started here: https://ow.ly/l7ev50SIQGr

📅 This week, we held our final seminar of the year in Hørning, Denmark. The session explored the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) Chain of Custody standards and Trademark requirements. What made the day truly special was seeing both newcomers and seasoned professionals actively engaging, asking questions and exchanging insights. 💡It’s been a fantastic way to cap off a year of learning and collaboration. 🤝 Thank you to everyone who joined us! Photos by Pernille Hvid Pedersen / Preferred by Nature

🔔 Opolgraf S.A., one of Poland’s well-established printing houses, has strengthened its environmental initiatives by teaming up with Preferred by Nature to verify its climate impact through a newly earned certification. “Partnering with Preferred by Nature allows us to deepen our commitment to sustainability, ensuring that our efforts translate into measurable, positive changes for the environment,” shared Judyta Gralka, Marketing and PR Manager at Opolgraf. 🔍 Read more: https://lnkd.in/gMa6jF9V

🌱 Earlier this month, we collaborated with Nestlé Purina and Biosphere to organise a hands-on training for farmers in Letenye, Hungary, as part of our LENs initiative in the country. 🧑🌾 The event provided a good opportunity to share knowledge, explore innovative practices and promote sustainability. During the training, we: 🚜 Visited multiple fields to assess different farming environments 🌾 Conducted soil sampling and biomass screening for better crop management 🔬 Discussed the latest tillage studies and effective methods 🍇 Explored the benefits of cover crop plantations for soil health and biodiversity A big thank you to all the farmers who joined us and our partners for making this event a success! 🙌 💡 LENS Co. Ltd. (Landscape Enterprise Networks), developed by the Oxford-based B-Corp 3Keel and supported by Nestlé Purina PetCare Europe, PepsiCo, Cereal Partners Poland (CPP), Consorzio di Tutela della DOC Prosecco and Le Tenute del Leone Alato, is operated by Preferred by Nature in Italy, Poland and Hungary. LENs support farms and suppliers in implementing sustainable practices and scaling up the transition to regenerative agriculture. Photos by Giacomo Mencari & Giovanni Campanino / Preferred by Nature

📅 Join us next month in Denmark for a timely seminar on the latest EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) developments. 🔍 This event will provide a comprehensive overview of cost-effective, practical solutions to align with EUDR requirements and how to build robust, compliant systems with your suppliers and customers. You’ll also explore EUDR modules within the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) frameworks and explore how these options can enhance your certifications. 🌳 This seminar will be conducted in Danish. 📝 Secure your spot by completing registrations by 14 November: https://ow.ly/451550TU9I9

🌳 The Maliau Basin, one of the world’s last untouched rainforests in Borneo, is a critical ecosystem that plays a vital role in the fight against climate change and biodiversity loss. Since the late 1990s, Preferred by Nature has been working alongside the Sabah Foundation to protect this unique ecosystem from threats like logging and coal mining. 🌱 Despite the challenges, the dedication of conservationists and researchers in the Maliau Basin demonstrates the potential for successful ecosystem restoration. 🌍 These efforts highlight the importance of preserving irreplaceable ecosystems for future generations. 📹 Watch the video to dive deeper: https://ow.ly/R4gc50TU9wu

🌾 Our Low Carbon Rice project, in collaboration with the Central Java Food Security Agency, recently hosted a talk show and business matching event titled ‘Low Carbon Rice for Sustainable Food’ in Semarang, Indonesia. 📅 The event attracted over 200 participants, including farmers, rice millers, government agencies and consumer groups. Sumarno, Regional Secretary of Central Java Province, opened the event, emphasising the importance of sustainable rice production in the region. 🏭 Sutarto Alimoeso, Chairman of the Indonesian Rice Milling and Rice Entrepreneurs Association (PERPADI), highlighted the switch from diesel to electric-powered rice mills as a crucial step towards sustainability, alongside partnerships between farmers and millers. 🍚 According to Angga Maulana, our Low Carbon Rice Lead Project Manager, over 60 small rice mills have either completed or are undergoing this energy transition.👩🌾 Rahmat Setiawan, a small rice miller, noted that this change has not only improved environmental impact but also reduced operational costs by up to 30%, while delivering higher-quality rice. The project has also been the bridge for farmer-miller production partnerships developed across project districts, benefitting over 2,000 farmers across 11 farmer groups and covering 1,000 hectares of rice fields through the introduction of better cultivation practices and fairer grain prices. Dyah Lukisari, Head of the Central Java Food Security Agency, praised the project’s remarkable progress and encouraged further collaboration with government agencies to replicate these successes across Central Java. 🤝 The business matching session also helped connect 10 small rice millers with over 30 buyers, expanding their market access. 💡 Preferred by Nature, in partnership with Koalisi Rakyat untuk Kedaulatan Pangan (KRKP) and PERPADI, is leading the Low Carbon Rice project in Indonesia. Funded by the EU Switch-Asia programme, the project aims to reduce the climate impact of rice production by promoting sustainable post-harvest practices. Photos by Hafizh Mulia / Preferred by Nature

🌳 Looking to complete Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Chain of Custody auditor training or simply keen to expand your knowledge? 🌍 Join our Expert Course next month in Berlin, Germany! This in-person course includes an online component followed by an intensive three-day classroom training, where you’ll dive deep into FSC standards and systems for Chain of Custody and Controlled Wood certifications. 🎟️ We also offer exclusive discounts for NGOs, FSC Network Partners and university/college staff and students. 🔗 Learn more & sign up here: https://ow.ly/6IHO50TT2sZ

🌱 Join the BiobasedCert cluster for an insightful online workshop on the costs and benefits of certification in bio-based industries on 11 November! 🔍 The event will explore life cycle costing (LCC) and examine real-world case studies, such as the biopolyethylene value chain, to highlight how certification impacts both economic and environmental sustainability. Participants will also have the opportunity to discuss the challenges that bio-based businesses face in adopting certification schemes. 🗨️ These discussions will contribute to strategies that will be transformed into recommendations for the European Commission, aimed at making these schemes more cost-effective. 💡 Learn more & register here: https://lnkd.in/g25nV55j 🤝 Preferred by Nature is a proud partner in the HARMONITOR Project, which, together with STAR4BBS and SUSTCERT4BIOBASED, forms part of the BiobasedCert cluster behind this event. ℹ️ The HARMONITOR project, funded by the EU, aims to enhance the effectiveness of certification schemes and labels.

🌿 Recently, we hosted a Farmers' Field Day at the Vallevecchia demo farm in Caorle, Venice, in collaboration with Veneto Agricoltura, as part of our LENs initiative in Italy. 🧑🌾 Farmers from the Veneto and Friuli regions gathered to expand their knowledge of regenerative agriculture practices. The session began with a presentation by Lorenzo Furlan from Veneto Agricoltura, who explained the science-based approach to restoring soil structure and increasing organic matter through field-scale studies conducted on Veneto Agricoltura's pilot farms. 🐛 Next, Massimo Zaccardelli from CREA delivered an insightful presentation on the critical role of organic matter in regenerative agriculture. Our Preferred by Nature team concluded the session by discussing the rapid growth of the LENs initiative in Italy. Technicians from Veneto Agricoltura led practical demonstrations in the Vallevecchia fields, showcasing innovative machinery and equipment for reduced tillage and the mechanical termination of cover crops. 💧 Additionally, Andrea Fasolo, a consultant agronomist from Veneto Agricoltura, conducted a slake test, demonstrating how soil aggregates respond to water exposure. Stable soils, supported by biological processes such as earthworm activity, root growth, and microbial exudates, allow for better water infiltration and minimise erosion. 🚜 In contrast, tillage disrupts the soil, depletes organic matter, and weakens soil aggregates, leading to runoff and erosion. Comparing soils from tilled and untilled areas provided insights into the negative impacts of tillage on soil structure. 🌎 Preferred by Nature’s annual Board meeting, held in Caorle, coincided with this Farmers' Field Day, offering Board members a unique opportunity to witness the LENs initiative in action. They gained insights into the LENs goals and methodologies while observing practical demonstrations of regenerative agriculture techniques during the farmers’ training. Landscape Enterprise Networks (LENs Company Ltd) is a methodology designed to connect the supply and demand of ecosystem services within a specific territory. 🛠️ Developed by Oxford-based B-Corp 3Keel, LENs is operated by Preferred by Nature in Italy, Hungary, and Poland. In Italy, LENs is funded by Nestlé Purina PetCare Europe and Consorzio di Tutela della DOC Prosecco, with project partners including Veneto Agricoltura, CSQA Certificazioni, WBA Project, xFarm Technologies, Agrinnovazione, and Le Tenute del Leone Alato. 💡 Learn more about the programme: https://lnkd.in/eKf4rwdM Photos by Pierluigi Marchesan #regenerativeagriculture #LENsItaly #sustainablefarming #soilhealth #naturebasedsolutions #VenetoAgricoltura #purina #proseccodoc