The main rice production areas in Portugal: Mondego, Tejo and Sado, correspond to humid areas of high ecological importance, mainly in terms of waterfowl communities. NOVARROZ recognizes the value of biodiversity associated with rice production areas and the sensitivity of these ecosystems, highlighting the importance of reconciling rice farming with the conservation of natural values that contributed to its national and international recognition.
With the voluntary declaration of its Biodiversity Policy, NOVARROZ thus expresses its commitment to playing an active role in the face of the sharp decline in global biodiversity, seeking through actions and commercial policies, to contribute to its conservation, mainly at the level of ecological communities associated with rice farming.
In this sense, NOVARROZ adopts the following principles to guide its actions:
- Comply with all applicable environmental legislation and regulations and pursue the commitment to continuously improve the company’s environmental performance;
- Prioritize the purchase of raw materials from suppliers who maintain rice farming practices compatible with the conservation of the main ecological values present;
- Increase current knowledge about the importance of rice fields for bird communities, supporting monitoring studies in this ecosystem.
- Promote awareness of the issue of biodiversity loss, through a set of initiatives that allow targeted dissemination to different audiences, from consumers, suppliers and distributors.
Whenever appropriate, establish involvement commitments with other partners of the Business & Biodiversity Initiative, which enable development opportunities and other positive actions to promote and conserve biodiversity;
