Cristal Union, a French cooperative that brings together 9.000 sugar beet and alfalfa growers, is pursuing an agricultural decarbonization strategy that involves the entire production chain. By 2030, the goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 27,5% compared to 2019, a goal validated by the Science Based Targets (SBTi) initiative.
All members are now certified according to the best international sustainability standards Gold or Silver SAI and have received a complete assessment of their carbon balance. Thanks to a platform developed with MyEasyFarm, each farmer will be able to access their data and personalized suggestions for improvement.
On an operational level, Cristal Union has implemented several virtuous practices: from pre-unloading 80% of the beets to reduce transport, to the use of localized fertilizers with slow-release solid nitrogen, which together allow for a reduction in emissions of between 18 and 20%.
In 2025, for the second consecutive year, financial rewards will be paid to 700 farmers engaged in regenerative and low-emission practices, thanks to the commercial program Amplify, which also involves industrial customers in three- or five-year partnerships.
According to William Huet, deputy agricultural director, “shared training and a collective approach are the key to moving towards effective and inclusive decarbonization”. Julien Coignac, RSE director, highlights the impact of the Cristal Vision smart sugar beet system, introduced in 2015, and now expanded with digital tools for environmental monitoring.
