Latest news with #regenerative
The National
3 days ago
- Business
- The National
Grow more with less: Al Dahra chief plots global growth from the ground up
Arnoud Van den Berg, group chief executive of Al Dahra, is a man on a mission: to turn one of the Middle East's leading agribusinesses into the world's largest irrigated farming platform. From the company's headquarters in Abu Dhabi, Mr Van den Berg is leading a strategy of expansion, technology adoption, and sustainable transformation rooted in the belief that feeding a growing world population must go hand-in-hand with preserving its natural resources. 'We've only just begun,' he tells The National in an interview. 'We have the mandate, we have the capital, and we have the proof of concept. Now we are scaling.' The company, which operates in more than 20 countries and manages approximately 150,000 hectares of land, has set its sights on tripling that figure to 500,000 hectares in the years ahead, with potential to go even further. 'The global market for agriculture is so vast that no one has more than a one per cent share,' Mr Van den Berg says. 'There's space to grow – and a real need.' Regenerative Roots At the heart of Al Dahra's growth strategy is a commitment to regenerative agriculture, a term Mr Van den Berg admits lacks a definition, but one he is determined to help formalise. 'Like the term 'organic' before it, regenerative farming needs a framework,' he says. 'We are working with global organisations to define it clearly and apply it consistently.' Al Dahra's version includes core practices such as no-tillage farming, reduced pesticide and fertiliser use, and long-term soil health management. These practices are not only environmentally responsible, Mr Van den Berg says, but commercially smart. 'Healthy soil gives you better yields, requires less water, and lowers input costs. It's a win-win.' The company's newly updated sustainability report commits to farming 80 per cent of its land regeneratively by 2030. Today, it is at 35 per cent. 'We've set KPIs for every country we operate in,' he says. 'It's no longer optional. Every market must contribute.' Climate realities and data-driven farming A global water risk assessment recently completed by Al Dahra has revealed startling regional variations and growing unpredictability. 'In 2024, we had more rainfall in southern Egypt than in Romania. That's unheard of,' Mr Van den Berg says. 'It shows how fast things are changing. You can't farm like its 1990.' Precision and flexibility are key. Through investment in AI and farm management platforms, Al Dahra is building a digital infrastructure capable of tracking inputs, predicting weather shifts, and optimising planting schedules. For example, Mr Van den Berg says that such AI models can predict whether planting a crop a week earlier or later can change yields by 10 per cent. 'That's a 10 per cent increase in food with no increase in footprint.' The company is launching a unified digital farm management system across its operations in Romania, Serbia, Egypt, and Morocco. It's a complex process that requires synchronising equipment, methodology, and mindsets. 'First comes the philosophy,' Mr Van den Berg says. 'Then, the machinery.' Strategic farming focus crucial in the UAE Not all forms of agriculture make sense in the UAE, Mr Van den Berg says. 'I don't think it should be an objective for the UAE to do every potential form of agriculture.' For instance, growing rice or bananas is, he says, not a good idea. It's not sustainable. 'But we can pick the crops in the UAE that we can grow here. Well, for instance, vegetables in the green greenhouses, like potato tomatoes or cucumbers.' Al Dahra quit its joint venture with Pure Harvest, a high-tech greenhouse operator, last year to refocus on its core competency: large-scale, irrigated, rotational farming. The model is flourishing in countries such as Romania, where Al Dahra owns the largest contiguous farm in Europe, and Egypt, where desert land has been transformed into high yield, export-ready farmland. 'We see similar potential across Africa and Latin America,' Mr Van den Berg says. The company is now in discussions with 10 African governments for long-term land leases, aiming to build large-scale farms that can boost local food security. 'Ninety-nine per cent of food in Africa is grown by smallholder,' he says. 'But large-scale farming allows for capital investment, irrigation, and yields that are ten times higher. That's how you solve food insecurity.' Latin America, by contrast, is viewed more as a platform for export. Al Dahra plans to acquire underperforming farms in Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay, and upgrade them with regenerative methods. 'If we apply the regenerative practices that we typically do, we can upgrade the soils and have better yields. So we intend to invest to upgrade and bring these farms to full potential.' Looking ahead to 2030 In five years, Mr Van den Berg hopes, Al Dahra will be able to demonstrate that its strategy has delivered: tripling farmland, halving emissions, and a taking a major role is feeding the 25 per cent global population increase anticipated by 2050. 'We're not just growing crops,' he says. 'We're growing a platform. One that is digital, sustainable, and global in scope. And if we succeed, we'll feed more people using less land, less water, and fewer resources.'
WIRED
5 days ago
- Health
- WIRED
What Are Exosomes, and Why Are They in Your Skincare?
By now, you've probably seen 'exosomes' wafting across your For You Page, maybe sandwiched between a promo code for snail mucin and someone rendering beef tallow. Scroll through SkinTok long enough, and you'll hit a flood of videos hyping exosome therapy, exosome serums, and exosome treatments promising the skin health of a cherub. Skincare companies have seized the term. Marketed as miraculous regenerative agents, you'll find them on $300 facial menus, in post-micro-needling procedures, and across influencers' skincare routines. TikTok content This content can also be viewed on the site it originates from. What Are Exosomes? An exosome is a teeny sac inside a cell, or what a scientist might call an extracellular vesicle. They act as tiny mailbags, shuttling mRNAs, lipids, and other genetic material through the cell membranes from one cell to another. Exosomes are a part of the body's internal messaging system, regulating everything from cell growth to hormone production and gene expression. They're microscopic, measuring about 40 to 100 nanometers across, so small they make a red blood cell look massive in comparison. Scientists first discovered them under a microscope back in the 1960s, but they didn't gain significant attention until the early 2000s. Why Are Exosomes Controversial? In medicine, exosomes are being studied for cancer therapies, neurodegenerative diseases, and drug delivery systems. Because they reflect the state of the cells from which they originate, cancer cells often release exosomes that contain unique molecular fingerprints. Scientists are already using these biomarkers to assist in the early diagnosis of conditions like prostate cancer. The potential for early, non-invasive detection across a range of diseases is substantial. Because exosomes can cross biological barriers and deliver cargo, researchers are also exploring them as vehicles for targeted drugs. Additionally, they hold potential for wound healing, inflammation reduction, and tissue regeneration. Naturally, the beauty industry caught wind. Now, exosomes are in moisturizers, serums, and hair injectables, promising to repair your skin barrier, boost collagen production, and reverse aging.
Associated Press
19-05-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Leadership Spotlight: Q&A With Kim Frankovich, Global VP of Sustainability, Griffith Foods
Q: How would you describe Griffith Foods' Progress on Sustainability? A. We've built strong momentum. I'm very proud of all our Griffith Foods' team members worldwide that have driven the progress we annually report. It is a holistic, cross-functional and sometimes messy effort that touches all corners of our business. Since sharing our Foundational Goals in 2020, we've embedded sustainability across our operations and have integrated goals into four core functions: manufacturing, purchasing, research & development, and human resources. The teams embraced the challenge, implemented new processes, tools, and cross-functional ways of working to turn ambition into action. As we shift from our Foundational Goals to the 2030 Aspirations phase, we expand to all functions and are grounded in the progress we've made and energized by what's ahead. With the right people, plans, and mindset in place, we're well-positioned to drive meaningful, long-term impact. Q: How do you build sustainability knowledge throughout Griffith Foods? A. Our people will drive achievement of our Aspirations. We are investing in them to ensure they have the knowledge, capabilities and tools to deliver sustainable and regenerative transformation. This includes in-person and online learning and development, prioritizing personal growth plans, and updating all functional capabilities to include sustainability. We also expanded technical expertise and evolved existing jobs and responsibilities to be accountable for sustainability, not only those in the sustainability function. We've expanded career pathways and capabilities in areas like climate, human rights, product carbon foot-printing, nutrition, sustainable sourcing, alternative proteins, and impact reporting. In 2024, we started rolling out sustainability courses through WBCSD's Academy and launched a custom curriculum for customer-facing teams. We also created bundles of sustainability learning courses through LinkedIn Learning® and will soon begin manufacturing-focused upskilling via ISO 14001 implementation and custom huddle trainings. It's all part of fostering a culture of continuous learning, inclusion, and shared purpose. Q: Where do you see headwinds? A. The global challenges —climate change, biodiversity loss, water scarcity, growing inequality, human rights risks, and providing diverse and inclusive work environments for all—are complex and evolving. Rather than obstacles, at Griffith Foods, we view them as powerful opportunities to drive positive change. They inspire us to innovate, collaborate, lead with our values, and continue with more urgency on our journey to Blend Care and Creativity to Nourish the World™. By embracing these challenges, we future proof and grow our business, drive product innovation with our customers, partner with suppliers and farmers to scale regenerative farming, uplift our people, and contribute to thriving communities for all. Q: Looking ahead, what's next for Griffith Foods' sustainability strategy? A. To scale, we must more quickly identify and build resilient partnerships and ecosystems with like-minded partners. Central to our product portfolio transformation is the roll out of an improved innovation process that has nutrition and sustainability built in. This will provide more sustainable, nutritious, and delicious products for our customers, and support the adoption of alternative proteins. Finally, people will remain at the center of our work to implement new business models to deliver affordable and accessible nutrition for all and our net-zero road map, so that no one is left behind in the transition to a lower carbon world. We believe food can nourish people and the planet. Our 2030 Aspirations provide the path forward, one that centers on innovation, resilience, and diverse perspectives to create a sustainable food system where everyone can thrive. View original content here. Visit 3BL Media to see more multimedia and stories from Griffith Foods
