NEWS FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE April 2022 17 nies evaluated: • 134 (89%) now acknowledge farm animal welfare as a business issue (compared to 71% of the 68 companies evaluated in 2012) • 122 companies (81%) have formal policies on farm animal welfare (compared to 46% of companies in 2012) • 119 companies (79%) have published formal objectives and targets for animal welfare (compared to just 26% of companies in 2012). • The benchmark’s top tier comprises two food retailers and two food producers – Marks and Spencer, Waitrose, Noble Foods, and Premier Foods. Despite these positive outcomes, the new BBFAW Impact Rating introduced in 2021 – where companies are ranked A-F on the 10 performance impact questions – shows that the implementation of animal welfare improvements continues to lag policies and governance. For example, while the most widely reported performance impact data relates to cage-free production for laying hens – where 88 companies (59%) report some data – only 23 companies (15%) report that 60% or more of the laying hens in their global supply chains are cage-free. Hendrix Genetics, a leading multi-species animal genetics and technology company, and Paine Schwartz Partners, a global leader in sustainable food chain investing, announced the completion of Paine Schwartz Food Chain Fund V’s strategic investment in the Company. With the transaction complete, the Company is poised to continue investing across its breeding programs, enhancing its technology and data capabilities, growing its global customer base and expanding into new markets. Paine Schwartz and its affiliated co-investors, including Mitsui & Co. and Rabo Investments (the investment arm of Rabobank Group), now hold 50% ownership in the Company with Hendrix Genetics’ co-founders, Thijs Hendrix and Antoon van den Berg, holding the remaining 50% ownership position in the Company. “With the completion of this investment, we are beginning Hendrix Genetics’ next phase of growth and success,” said Thijs Hendrix, Co-Founder and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Hendrix Genetics. “We are pleased to officially welcome the teams from Paine Schwartz, Mitsui & Co., Rabo Investments and our other new partners and look forward to benefiting from their expertise and support. Together, we will build on our strong foundation and provide our genetics and breeding solutions to customers across the global food chain.” Paine Schwartz completes strategic investment in Hendrix Genetics Netherlands-based Hendrix Genetics announced that the strategic investment by Paine Schwartz Partners has been completed.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTUxNjkxNQ==