Potatoholics love to work hard and our bees do too. On our site in Harelbeke and Wielsbeke, you’ll find a buzzing beehive, home to thousands of busy bees working in perfect harmony. Just like our Potatoholics, each bee plays its part to keep the colony thriving.
From the queen bee, who sets the tone and keeps the colony strong, to the worker bees that pollinate plants and produce honey — every member contributes to the success of the whole. It’s a perfect natural system and one we can learn a lot from. Because just like our bees, Agristo relies on teamwork, balance and respect for nature to grow and thrive.
Once a year, our Potatoholics roll up their sleeves to help with the honey harvest. It’s a sweet reward, quite literally, but also a moment to reflect on the importance of biodiversity and balance.
During the harvest, we learn about how the bee colony functions — how the queen ensures the survival of the hive, how the worker bees tirelessly collect nectar and how every tiny contribution adds up to a thriving ecosystem.
Much like Agristo itself, where every Potatoholic plays a role in keeping our Potatoverse healthy and growing. And just like in the hive, we know that we’re dependent on nature. That’s why it’s so important for us to give back, support biodiversity and invest in sustainable practices that benefit the entire ecosystem.
And of course, no honey harvest is complete without a taste! 🍯 After helping with the collection, our Potatoholics get to sample the fruits of their teamwork — straight from the hive.
Our efforts to support biodiversity, such as our beekeeping initiatives, are part of a broader sustainability strategy. As a food producer, we recognise our responsibility to operate in an environmentally conscious way and to contribute to a healthier ecosystem. This commitment is reflected in concrete actions across all our sites.
As a food producer, we’re deeply connected to nature. Without healthy soil, clean water and a rich biodiversity, there would be no potatoes — and no Potatoverse. That’s why we take responsibility for giving back to the environment that gives us so much. Across all our sites, you’ll find green spaces where nature can flourish: from the charming green courtyard in Harelbeke to the flower-rich surroundings of our other locations.
At Agristo, we strive to make full use of every single potato. Thanks to innovative processes, 100% of our potatoes are utilized. Residual streams, such as smaller pieces and peels, are transformed into potato flakes for mash or crisps, or used as animal feed. In addition, we use biogas, produced from potato starch, to heat our fryers. This way, we combine efficiency with environmental friendliness.
Water is essential to our production processes. In Wielsbeke, we use purified water from the River Leie, saving over 1.4 million m³ of municipal water every year. With real-time monitoring, our employees can quickly respond to peak consumption, allowing us to manage our water usage efficiently.
Our commitment to sustainability is also reflected in our energy supply. In Wielsbeke, we are replacing natural gas with residual heat and biogas, reducing our gas consumption by over 9 million m³. In addition, thousands of solar panels on our rooftops generate renewable energy for our production.
