The joint project, funded by the Government of Flanders, trains rice farmers on Sustainable Rice Platform (SRP) standards to reduce the environmental impact of rice production
Globally, rice cultivation practices account for around 10% of anthropogenic methane emissions and more than a third of irrigation water worldwide[i]. This makes sourcing rice sustainably to produce high-quality ingredients for the food and feed industry an important challenge. Promoting sustainable agricultural methods and partnering with farmers is a key component of BENEO’s sustainability strategy, the Healthy Planet Plan. When it comes to its specialty rice ingredients, BENEO is collaborating with international non-governmental organisation, Rikolto, and climate technology company, CarbonFarm, in a three-year project, promoting sustainable rice production in Vietnam. It is funded by the Government of Flanders with approximately 800,000 Euros as part of the Flanders International Climate Action Programme.
The joint project was evaluated by a jury and selected by the Government of Flanders as one of seven out of 26 proposals for demonstration projects in 2024, highlighting its relevance for addressing global challenges related to sustainability, climate and environmental impact.
To encourage the transition to sustainable, climate-resilient rice cultivation, an integrated approach is essential. The project will train at least 1,000 farmers in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta as of summer 2025 on sustainable and climate-resilient agricultural practices in line with the Sustainable Rice Platform (SRP)[ii] standards. The Sustainable Rice Platform is a not-for-profit member association working to transform the global rice sector by improving smallholder livelihoods, reducing the social, environmental and climate footprint of rice production – and by offering the global rice market an assured supply of sustainably produced rice. The joint project includes guidance on efficient water management and responsible use of pesticides and fertilizers, with demonstration fields used to showcase practical applications of sustainable rice farming. Innovative technologies, such as satellites and digital logbooks, will be used to monitor the farming practices and scientifically measure emissions and water usage.
BENEO’s production site in Wijgmaal, Belgium, will process the SRP-certified rice into high-quality starch, flour and protein ingredients for the food and pet food industries. BENEO aims to process at least 10,000 tonnes of sustainably grown rice throughout the three-year project. BENEO is already sourcing SRP-certified rice from other origins, ensuring manufacturers can use BENEO’s high-quality ingredients to optimise texture and nutritional composition in a wide range of products.
The project is the next step in a series of sustainability initiatives at BENEO’s Wijgmaal site. In 2023 and 2024, BENEO has provided local rice farmers in Laos with harvesting and threshing machinery, improving the working conditions of more than a hundred small-scale farmers. In 2024, BENEO installed a large-scale industrial heat pump in its rice ingredient plant, allowing to recover energy from waste water to reduce CO2 emissions.
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[i] https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/rice-may-be-cheap-production-comes-cost
[ii] The Sustainable Rice Platform (SRP) is a global alliance dedicated to transforming the rice sector by improving livelihoods, reducing the environmental footprint of rice farming, and ensuring a sustainable supply chain. Since its launch in 2011, SRP has worked to empower farmers, promote climate resilience, and catalyse public-private action for sustainable rice production.
Supported by the government of Flanders