Cosun is an international agrifood cooperative of about 8,000 Dutch growers and processes plant-based raw materials, such as sugar beets and potatoes, into food, nutritious ingredients, and circular solutions. Cosun is one of the largest biogas producers in the Netherlands.
The company will make major investments in electrifying its production sites in Vierverlaten (Groningen) and Steenderen (Gelderland). In Venray (Limburg), investments will be made not only in electrification but also in producing certified green gas. The financial contribution from the State amounts to a maximum of €73 million.
By 2030, this custom agreement will reduce CO₂ emissions by 167 kilotons compared to the reference period 2018-2021. This reduction is comparable to the natural gas consumption of approximately 70,000 households. Additionally, a significant reduction in nitrogen emissions (44 tons per year) will be achieved at these three locations combined, and ammonia emissions in Groningen will decrease by 42 tons per year. This reduces the companys impact on local residents, the living environment, and nature.
Although Cosun is not among the 20 largest CO₂ emitters in the Netherlands, it is one of the companies with which the government also wants to make agreements through the custom approach, due to the important contribution Cosun can make to the future-proofing of the industry and agrifood sector in the Netherlands.
Minister Sophie Hermans: “With these investments, Cosun takes a big step towards making its production sites future-proof. This financial support not only contributes to the sustainability of industrial production in the Netherlands, but also provides a solid foundation for important agricultural value chains, and that is pure gain.”
State Secretary Thierry Aartsen: “This custom agreement is a great example of how a healthy economy and a healthy living environment can go hand in hand. Less emission of ammonia and nitrogen oxides means less odor nuisance and better air quality for local residents. It is good that the government can support an ambitious company like Cosun to accelerate sustainability. It shows that the custom approach delivers a win-win-win.”
Hans Meeuwis, CEO of Cosun: “At Cosun, we are building a future-proof, sustainable company. Three elements are crucial for this: a strong business model, a relevant plant-based portfolio, and a future-proof chain. The custom approach, cooperation with the government, and conditions to remain competitive are indispensable in responsibly achieving our sustainability goals.”
The agreement between the Dutch government and Cosun is part of the custom approach whereby the national government supports companies in sustainability and reducing their impact on the living environment.
Last year, a custom agreement was made with the largest salt manufacturer in the Netherlands, Nobian. This year, letters of intent followed with chemical company AnQore and steel manufacturer Tata Steel (TSN). Discussions are currently ongoing with Alco Energy, Zeeland Refinery, and OCI regarding the custom approach. Additionally, it is being considered whether a custom trajectory is feasible with waste processing companies (AVIs) AEB and AVR.