February 15, 2021

 

Bell & Evans enters sourcing agreement with Cargill to exclusively secure organic grain

 

US grain farmers have a new incentive to transition from conventional to organic practices, and Bell & Evans banks on many making the change.

 

Premium poultry producer Bell & Evans is experiencing significant growth in its organic chicken programme, increasing its need for US grown organic-certified corn and soybeans used in its organic chicken feed. The family-owned producer finalised a long-term sourcing agreement with Cargill to exclusively secure its organic grain and increase domestic organic grain supply.

 

Under the agreement, Cargill will incentivise US farmers to transition acreage from conventional to organic management through subsidised organic crop consulting services provided by organic pioneer Rodale Institute.

 

The Bell & Evans Organic Grain Initiative aims to transition 50,000 acres of US corn and soybeans to certified organic production over the next five years. Rodale Institute brings more than seven decades of scientific organic agriculture research to the partnership, offering added value and security to farmers that participate. This is the largest market-financed organic grain transition programme backed by science in the world, creating a model for the rest of the food industry, Cargill said.

 

Farmers with organic interest will benefit by the Bell & Evans US Organic Grain Initiative as it eliminates their most pressing organic-transition hurdles: knowing where to start, finding education and resources for successful organic land management and a guaranteed market after the three-year transition period.

 

Contracted growers will receive customised support to aid them through the transition including on-farm consultation, organic system planning, certification assistance, weed management guidance, crop rotation planning, record keeping guidance and inspection preparation.

 

Cargill will also offer market access for transition crops, and farmers are guaranteed a dedicated market for their certified organic grains through Bell & Evans.

 

"We want to establish trust, transparency and loyalty with our grain farmers for the success and longevity of the programme," said Bell & Evans' executive vice president, Margo Sechler. "The farmer wins from this partnership, as do Bell & Evans, Cargill, Rodale Institute and all Bell & Evans customers who pay a premium for our organic chicken and can trust they are getting true organic product."

 

Only 1% of total US acreage is certified organic; yet the organic food market is a growing US$50 billion industry.

 

National organic food sales rose 4.6% in 2019 according to the Organic Trade Association. In 2020, Bell & Evans experienced 25% growth in organic chicken sales and projects growth of 27% in 2021 and 17-20% each year after that, through 2024.

 

In 2020, Bell & Evans raised more than 63 million chickens at its partner broiler farms. That number will increase by more than 50% in 2022 with completion of its New Organic Harvesting Facility this year. 100% of Bell & Evans chicks begin on organic-certified feed at its Organic Chicken Hatchery. Nearly 50% of those chickens continue to be raised organic on organic-certified feed on the farms.

 

Bell & Evans has been committed to sourcing 100% US organic grains for its organic chicken feed since inception of its organic programme in 2009. The company is one of the largest US organic grain buyers and cites control, traceability and authenticity of the USDA organic-certified label as reasons for its commitment to domestic grain. That care and commitment to true organic chicken begins with authentic organic grains and extends all the way through Bell & Evans' organic processes and facilities. 100% of Bell & Evans' processing facilities are certified organic including its hatchery and rendering facility.

 

Bell & Evans aims to source 100% organic seeds for its organic grain in the long-term, an investment that will take their organic commitment to another level.

 

Cargill, a long-time supplier partner to Bell & Evans, is uniquely positioned to help the company meet its growth projections through its robust specialty markets capability and extensive network of farmers.

 

"Cargill has a long history of providing growers with consistent access to new and emerging markets," said Jeff Vassart, managing director for Cargill's agricultural supply chain in North America. "We're proud to partner with Bell & Evans and Rodale Institute to offer an innovative sourcing solution that not only helps to support their projected growth, but also can remove the barriers for farmers in their transition to organic and access to specialty grain markets."

 

"It has always been a part of Rodale Institute's mission to help farmers transition to organic production," said Sam Malriat, director of Rodale Institute's Organic Crop Consultancy. "Our decades of research and on-the-ground experience have shown us that organic agriculture is a robust and profitable system that can improve soil health. With this initiative, we can expand our support network and ensure that every farmer has the resources they need to be successful."