Royal DSM, a multinational purpose-led science-based company, announced the first audited findings of its progress in addressing important societal and environmental concerns related to how the globe produces and consumes food.
DSM's initial findings provide a criterion by which to assess improvement between now and 2030 as the company strives for accessible, affordable, healthy nutrition as well as healthy livelihoods within planetary boundaries in the first full year since announcing a series of ambitious, measurable, long-term food system commitments.
DSM's food system commitments focus on areas where the company feels it can have the greatest positive impact and support the UN SDGs 2, 3, 12, and 13. DSM is one of the first companies in the consumer ingredients sector to make its societal impact explicit, with KPMG offering the highest degree of assurance on the 2022 conclusions:
Health for People
1. Closing the micronutrient gap of 642 mn vulnerable people in 2022
DSM assisted millions of society's most vulnerable, many of them are mothers and children with particular nutritional needs, through staple food fortification, public health campaigns, and emergency relief supplements. DSM will broaden its effect by collaborating with partners such as the World Food Program, UNICEF, and Sight and Life to help close the micronutrient gap for 800 mn people by 2030.
2. Supporting the immunity of 321 mn people in 2022
In 2022, DSM's vitamin C and D solutions, which were used in multivitamins and direct supplements, helped to strengthen the immune systems of about a third of a billion individuals globally. As it strives to help 500 mn people by 2030, the company continues to educate and inform about the critical role of micronutrients in maintaining a healthy immune system.
Health for Planet
1. Enabling a marked reduction in on-farm livestock emissions in 2022
DSM's animal feed solutions allow clients to minimize farm emissions such as ammonia from swine farming (20.0%), phosphorus eutrophication from poultry farming (6.8%), and greenhouse gases from dairy production (20.5%). DSM aims for double-digit reductions by 2030 by investing in scientifically and economically proven solutions such as feed enzymes and eubiotics such as VevoVitall® and Digestarom®, as well as its methane inhibitor Bovaer®, which received various regulatory approvals throughout the world in 2022.
2. Reaching 62 mn people with plant-based foods in 2022
DSM's expanding portfolio of plant-based food ingredients enabled its clients to serve millions of consumers in 2022 who desired nutritious, delicious, and sustainably produced meat, dairy, and fish alternatives. DSM announced the VertisTM portfolio in December, which includes the world's first textured vegetable protein that is a complete protein, soy-free, and gluten-free, with the goal of reaching 150 million people by 2030.
Healthy Livelihoods
1. Supporting the livelihoods of more than 60,000 smallholder farmers in 2022
DSM worked with partners such as World Vision and its Africa Improved Foods joint venture to help farmers in Rwanda and Sub-Saharan Africa maintain and improve their livelihoods. DSM is now expanding its activities in Africa, Central America, and Southeast Asia in order to reach 500,000 smallholders by 2030.
Geraldine Matchett and Dimitri de Vreeze, DSM Co-CEOs, commented: “The initial results are humbling- millions of people around the world already benefit from DSM’s scientific expertise and manufacturing prowess – but also make clear there is much more to be done. The way food is produced and consumed currently contributes to major global challenges, such as climate change, malnutrition and poverty. Urgent change is needed.”
“Quantifying our impact provides a robust benchmark from which we can work towards our 2030 ambitions. We can now reassess if any targets can be revised upwards and, together with our partners, do even more to ensure accessible, affordable, healthy nutrition and healthy livelihoods within our planet’s boundaries,” she added.
