Volkert Engelsman Eosta

Volkert Engelsman

Dutch fresh produce group Eosta has signed an agreement to achieve completely carbon neutral management, in a ceremony involving Jacqueline Cramer and former US presidential candidate-turned environmental campaigner Al Gore. 'We have long been inspired by Al Gore's call to give more consideration to climate change,' said Eosta director Volkert Engelsman at the event.

The agreement was signed along with 12 other Dutch companies, including Pricewaterhousecoopers, PGGM, ANWB Wegenwacht, Triodos Bank and others.

'According to the UN Food and Agriculture Association, current forms of agriculture are responsible for around 30 per cent of all greenhouse gas emissions, and fertilisers are one of the most significant culprits,' said Mr Engelsman. 'Organic farming replaces fertilisers with compost and other sustainable forms of soil improvement. Consequently, organic farming makes a considerable contribution to turning back the climate problem.'

Eosta had already moved earlier in the year to bring a range of Nature & More certified fruit and vegetables to the European Market, a quality mark showing the publication, reduction and compensation of greenhouse gas emissions associated with production, transportation, refrigeration and packaging of products.