Sanderson Farms®’ Innovative Partnership with AGgrow Tech is Good for Poultry and Environment
CERTIFIED SUSTAINABLY GROWN POULTRY BEDDING SUPPORTS BIRDS’ WELL-BEING
GREENSBORO, N.C. – May 9, 2017 – Sanderson Farms® continues its commitment to animal well-being by partnering with AGgrow Tech. AGgrow Tech is the leader in supplying certified Sustainably Grown animal bedding fiber that comes from the production of Freedomâ Giant Miscanthus. AGgrow Tech has established an additional 2,300 acres of Freedomâ in eastern North Carolina specifically for the poultry market. As part of this innovative initiative, AGgrow Tech will supply 1.8 million cubic feet of volume per year of premium bedding to Sanderson Farms. “This investment into the birds’ well-being will provide a healthier environment to deliver the best possible conditions,” says Randy Pettus director of production for Sanderson Farms.
Sanderson Farms states that one of the major factors in the decision to add more volume from AGgrow Tech was the success they have consistently experienced using the product. “Our top priority is bird health. Bedding that reduces ammonia while improving comfort – it just makes sense.”
AGgrow Tech animal bedding fiber was certified based on a comprehensive independent evaluation by SCS Global Services under what is considered one of the world’s most rigorous sustainable agricultural standards. The certified farms were assessed for a variety of factors including: sustainable production, ecosystem management and protection, resource conservation, fair labor protection, and community engagement.
All of the certified Sustainably Grown product supplied to Sanderson Farms’ Kinston and St. Pauls locations will be grown, harvested and produced locally from the AGgrow Tech’s Seven Springs, N.C., supply center. This agreement not only benefits Sanderson Farms and AGgrow Tech but will also add local jobs in the transportation and manufacturing sectors.
About AGgrow Tech
AGgrow Tech is headquartered in Greensboro, N.C., with production in North Carolina, Georgia, Mississippi, Maryland, Oklahoma, Iowa and Wisconsin. AGgrow Tech is a leader in renewable agriculture technologies, and is committed to connecting fields of biomass to various markets. The company’s proprietary establishment technologies and novel business model enables farmers, landowners and customers to realize the value of biomass crops.
About Sanderson Farms
Sanderson Farms®, Inc., founded in 1947, is engaged in the production, processing, marketing and distribution of fresh and frozen chicken and other prepared food items. Employing more than 14,000 employees in operations spanning five states and 13 different cities, Sanderson Farms is the third largest poultry producer in the United States. As a company, Sanderson Farms is committed to adopting a fresh approach in everything that we do. Not only where products are concerned, but companywide as well. Though the company has grown in size, it still adheres to the same hometown values of honesty, integrity and innovation that were established when the Sanderson family founded the company back in 1947.
About SCS Global Services
SCS Global Services (SCS) has provided global leadership in third-party quality, environmental and sustainability verification, certification, auditing, testing, and standards development for more than three decades. Its programs span a wide cross-section of industries, recognizing achievements in green building, product manufacturing, food and agriculture, forestry, and more. Consistent with its mission, SCS is a chartered benefit corporation, reflecting its commitment to socially and environmentally responsible business practices.
Freedom® Giant Miscanthus is a licensed trademark of Mississippi State University and exclusively licensed to AGgrow Tech, LLC.