2020 Highlights
In a challenging year for the Company and society, Minerva Foods achieved positive performance and worked for the well-being and integrity of employees and communities
A word from our leadership team
“Year after year, we at Minerva Foods have reaffirmed our purpose to supply high-quality food products through a business model that combines world-class operations, innovation, ethics and quality with industry-relevant social an environmental standards. We would like to thank each of our employees, partners and customers for your contribution to a successful journey in 2020.”
Fernando Galletti de Queiroz, CEO
Ibar Vilela de Queiroz, Chairman of the Board of Directors
R$ 2.14 bi of Ebitda
100% of operations analyzed on corruption risks
Operations and presence
19,000+ employees
40,000+ cattle supplier properties
Production in Brazil
390,000+ metric tons
Production in South American countries
670,000+ metric tons
25 slaughter plants
03 processing plants
14 distribution centers
OFFICES WORLDWIDE
16 commercial offices
Financials
Performance on material topics*
Ethics and compliance
100% of operations assessed for corruption risks
1,804 people trained on compliance topics
Food Safety
100% of operations covered by risk assessment and quality assurance programs
Animal welfare
99% conformity in third-party audits
Workplace conditions
30% 30% reduction in occupational injury rates and 2,200 fewer lost days resulting from work injuries
Some 12,000 employees participated in our cultural renovation program
Relationship management and local development
More than R$ 42 million invested in aid and support as part of our pandemic response
Business relationship
with more than 15,000 producers in South America
Supply chain monitoring
100% of direct suppliers monitored in Brazil and 75% of the paraguayan territory
Pioneering in the monitoring test of indirect suppliers
Water usage
13.7% in absolute water consumption in plants in Brazil
7.6% reduction in absolute water consumption in plants in other countries
Greenhouse gas emissions
38,000 metric tons of CO2removed from the atmosphere by planted trees
Zero Zero net scope 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions
* Our ESG approach to topics prioritized by stakeholders. For further information, read the complete report
A commitment to sustainable beef
Ethical and transparent relations, monitoring sensitive regions, and environmental efficiency are a focus of Minerva’s efforts
Pioneering in monitoring 100% of the Brazilian territory and in the expansion of monitoring programs to the entire Paraguayan territory
1st company to perform monitoring tests of indirect suppliers
Supply chain traceability
We use the best technology available to guarantee full traceability of our cattle suppliers, while also ensuring environmental, labor, and land-use compliance across our producer portfolio.
Our efforts in the Amazon:
Minerva monitors more than 9.6 million hectares in the Amazon
In 2020, 3,770 supplier properties were monitored
PIONEERING IN MONITORING 100% OF THE BRAZILIAN TERRITORY
In 2020, the Company was a pioneer in expanding geospatial monitoring to cover the entire Brazilian territory. Minerva monitored more than 2 million hectares in the Cerrado biome, and 250,000 in the Pantanal and the Atlantic Forest
Progress in Paraguay
Currently, 75% of cattle purchases in Paraguay’s Gran Chaco undergo social and environmental screening
Indirect suppliers
Minerva uses a platform called Visipec to screen indirect suppliers A pilot traceability project covers properties selling calves or stockers to Minerva’s direct suppliers
The pilot traceability project reaches calves´ or stockers´ owners that trade with suppliers that sell directly to Minerva Foods
Early pilot results:
3,314 indirect suppliers (Mato Grosso and Roraima)
99,9% compliance
Eco-efficiency
Environmental management spans across different areas and issues—from natural resource access and use to waste and emissions—and directly affects the Company's business strategy and related risks and opportunities.
In 2020, EMS systems were standardized across all plants in Brazil and in other countries
Environmental Management System (EMS):
In 2020, EMS systems were standardized across all plants in Brazil and in other countries.
Focus topics
Water stewardship
13.7% reduction in water consumption at plants in Brazil and 7.6% in other countries
| Consumption (m³) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | |
| Minerva Foods | 6,478,855.70 | 5,112,464.29 | 4,493,368.50 |
| Athena Foods | 5,630,278.00 | 7,444,218.00 | 6,914,830.00 |
| Total | 12,109,133.70 | 12,556,682.29 | 11,408,198.50 |
Emissions
The inclusion of scope 3 emissions in 2020 resulted in a 34% increase in total emissions
Zero net scope 2 emissions achieved by purchasing international Renewable Energy Certificates (i-RECs), such as from hydro or solar power projects
More than 38,000 metric tons of CO2e offset by planting trees in reforestation areas
| Greenhouse Gas Emissions (tCO2e) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | |
| Scope 1 | 340,413.47 | 192,897.10 | 233,274.66 |
| Scope 2 | 16,514.82 | 17,292.05 | 14,590.81 |
| Scope 3 | - | - | 34,541.27 |
| Total | 356,928.29 | 210,189.15 | 282,406.74 |
Energy
1,471 solar panels installed in corrals at the Bucaramanga operation in Colombia
| Total energy consumption (GJ) | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minerva Foods | 591,421.64 | 255,180.00 | 258,351.45 |
| Athena Foods | 365,477.54 | 665,759.39 | 657,699.95 |
| Total | 956,899.18 | 920,939.39 | 916,051.40 |
Quality and animal welfare
Respect for life combined with high standards of food safety and product quality to ensure high standards in these areas
99% compliance in thirdparty audits
42 animal welfare indicators under monitoring
Safe, certified products
100% of operations certified to the British Retail Consortium Global Standard (BRCGS) in Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. In Argentina, our Pilar and Rosário operations are also certified.
New export certifications
- All plants in Brazil are certified to export raw materials to Japan
- New certifications received for exports to: the US, Mexico, Canada and Lebanon
100+ Producers engaged in the organic beef supply chain
Animal welfare
Animal Welfare Policy and Program
Our Animal Welfare Policy and Program apply international standards and a stringent, zero-tolerance approach to animal abuse, negligence or cruelty, striving at all times to implement the best handling practices, training for those involved and continuous verification at all stages of production. Implementation is monitored by our Animal Welfare Committee
An average of 99% conformity in third-party audits
42 Program indicators monitored in 2020 in Brazil, 25 more than in the previous year
R$ 1,15+ million invested in animal welfare initiatives
466 animal welfare training sessions in 2020,
attended by 460 direct
and 1,158 third-party employees
41.61% of animals raised on pasture
10.91% in semi-confinement
7.65% in pasture confinement
39.83% in confinement
Pasture-based cattle farming is predominant in South America. Semi-confinement and pasture confinement are growing and finishing strategies in which animals spend 100% of the time on pasture and receive additional nutrition (feed) in troughs. Confinement is a finishing method in which animals are confined during only 8% to 10% of their lifetime, considering the average slaughter age of 30 months. Even in confinement, the breeding and backgrounding stages are entirely pasture-based.
Certifications
People and culture
Our presence in different countries and geographies strengthens Minerva’s role as an employer and challenges us to evolve our way of doing things and working
Culture transformation
Some 12,000 employees engaged in a corporate culture assessment that re-articulated our purpose and values
48 culture ambassadors selected to represent employees in disseminating and championing our values
Our purpose
To create a sustainable food future for our planet.
Our values
- Sustainability
- Recognition
- Reconhecimento
- Commitment
- Results orientation
Employees
Minerva Foods*
* All contracts are for an indefinite term and all employees are full time.
Athena Foods
Health and safety
100% of our plants Equipped with outpatient care services and health professionals
COVID-19 response: key steps taken
- Created a committee to oversee implementation of a COVID-19 prevention protocol developed in collaboration with specialists from Albert Einstein Hospital, ensuring employee safety against virus spread;
- Enhanced sanitary protocols, with plant employees separated into small clusters;
- Implemented physical barriers for segregation and reorganized the plants;
- Installed new sanitary barriers for hand washing, with accompanying instructions;
- Reduced shuttle bus occupancy by 50%, with standardized seating arrangements;
- Assigned all eligible employees to work from home;
- Suspended all travel;
- Launched engagement and awareness campaigns.
Zero fatalities in all our operations
30% reduction in occupational injury rates
No-lost-time injuries
204 at Minerva Foods
101 at Athena Foods
Lost-time injuries
26 at Minerva Foods
255 at Athena Foods
Impact on surrounding communities
R$ 42+ million Allocated to purchasing products and equipment for the pandemic response in surrounding communities
Programs and projects
- Operação Acolhida – 31 Venezuelan nationals hired at Minerva
- Education for transformation – school materials about inclusive and equitable education; in 2020, 5,900 employees were benefited by the initiative
- Rural Community Aid Program (PASCOR) – approximately 4,000 masks produced and distributed to communities