Natalia, how have you faced this new challenge after your long career at VIA FERTYSEM?
With great enthusiasm and modesty. I must say that when the Group proposed it to me, I had no knowledge in this area and I was first offered the chance to train. Over the past year, I have been taking a master’s degree in Sustainability, which has provided me with the basic knowledge to understand this extensive, new subject known today as sustainability.
It’s been like changing companies, but staying in the same place. How do you feel?
I am very honoured that the Group thought of me to lead this area. Despite not being a specialist in any of the specific sustainability issues (environmental engineering, regulatory, etc.), the Group valued my many years of experience in the sector over and above these shortcomings. It also allows me to get to know the Group as a whole, whereas before I was more focused on VIA FERTYSEM.
From now on, an exciting new stage is beginning…
You’re right, it is exciting. Agriculture and sustainability must go hand in hand to ensure our contribution to sustainable food remains relevant. All the key factors of sustainability have a full-on impact on our market, agriculture: Climate disruptions such as the drought we are suffering, the lack of generational change, inequality in regulations between different cropland areas worldwide, etc.
However, agriculture plays a fundamental role in maintaining ecosystems, fixing carbon in the soil, fighting erosion, and repopulating empty Spain… in addition to its main role, which is to feed the population.
We are part of the agricultural value chain, and we cannot forget that, without synthetic fertilisers, the world’s population could not have reached the almost 8 billion we are today.
The fertiliser industry is currently being blamed for a significant part of the greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture, but DFGRUPO is taking steps to design a range of fertilisers with very low carbon emissions. We also believe that efficient fertilisation combines the environmental friendliness and profitability requirements that our farmers demand.
Are you finding it difficult to adapt to your new role?
A little bit, yes. I have spent my entire working life in sales. Moving from that environment of immediacy, with frenetic everyday campaigns, thousands of calls, and issues to solve on the spot… to a more strategic environment, studying and analysing issues that do not involve short-term results, is a very radical change.
The fact that you have taken this step and assumed this new responsibility says a lot about you as a professional and about DFGRUPO as a company…
I usually say that sustainability was already present in the DNA of DFGRUPO, albeit implicitly. DFGRUPO has always had a long-term vision, which is its commitment to the future. The aim of sustainability is precisely the durability of the company over time, through its adaptation to the environmental and climate situation, ensuring it has the best professionals to develop its activity and equipping itself with the best policies and tools for its good governance.
Can you tell us about your role? What will be your challenges and which will involve sustainability?
Sustainability groups company policies and strategies into three areas: Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG). It therefore covers a wide number of very cross-cutting issues, such as the environmental policy of the company and its facilities, the adaptation of product ranges to current environmental requirements, and talent management and attraction, innovation, etc. As I said, I am not an expert in any of these areas, but there is more than enough knowledge in the Group. My job will be to coordinate this internal knowledge in order to define joint goals, draw up strategies, and outline the lines of action in these three fields, which will enable us to meet these goals.
The big challenge is to identify where we can add value to all our stakeholders, both internal and external: employees, customers, suppliers, local communities… and to carry out the necessary actions and strategies to this end.
For those who don’t know, the position of Sustainability Officer is becoming more and more common in companies…
It is. In designing actions for sustainability, whether due to external requirements, new non-financial reporting regulations or internal conviction, companies already have this type of role standardised to a greater or lesser extent, either with an in-house department or integrated into others.
It is very enriching work, isn’t it? You are in some way looking out for the future of everyone…
This is how sustainability is defined: How to meet the needs of today without jeopardising those of future generations.
But I don’t think it’s just down to me. As part of the agricultural value chain, all of us at DFGRUPO, when we do our jobs efficiently, whether in an office or warehouse, or selling to customers, are doing our bit in this mission of providing food.
