Arie van der Linden, director of quality and environment at The Greenery, receives the award from Professor Gert van Dijk, president of Cogeca

Arie van der Linden, director of quality and environment at The Greenery, receives the award from Professor Gert van Dijk, president of Cogeca

The Greenery has won the European Award for Co-operative Innovation in the Food Chain.

The award is presented to the most innovative European co-operatives by Copa-Cogeca, the European umbrella organisation for agricultural and horticultural co-operatives.

The Greenery was awarded the prize in recognition of its unique residue management system and innovative collaborations with partners throughout the supply chain. The jury made special mention of the co-operative’s exemplary role and strategic importance, and of the broad application of its innovations. The residue management system is an excellent example of how European co-operatives can strengthen their competitive position though innovation.

Arie van der Linden, director of quality and environment, accepted the award at a ceremony in Brussels. He said: “The Greenery is incredibly proud to have received this award. It’s a recognition of our global efforts to produce the safest possible fruit and vegetables in collaboration with our partners.”

Each year, The Greenery conducts more than 4,500 analyses to determine residue levels in the vegetable and fruit products it produces and sells. The results are gathered in a unique digitised residue management system, which now contains more than 20,000 analysis results. It allows The Greenery to set up targeted projects aimed at reducing the use of crop protection products in collaboration with the various supply chain partners, such as crop protection agent manufacturers and retailers.

There are currently more than 40 food chain partnership projects involving collaborations with various crop protection agent manufacturers and natural pest control suppliers.

This year marked the first presentation of the European Award for Co-operative Innovation by Copa-Cogeca. The bi-annual award was created to promote innovation by European co-operatives and stimulate the implementation of these innovations among the cooperatives. The European Award for Co-operative Innovation is presented in recognition of achievements in five categories: food processes, non-food processes, environment, member services and food chain.

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