AAK sustainability report 2018

37 provide up to eleven months of ground cover to restrict the harmful effects of wind and water erosion on soils over the vulnerable winter months. It can also provide valuable late summer protection against moisture loss. Rapeseed has additionally shown to have an overall positive effect on crop health and therefore causes a decrease in risks and costs on farm level. From a broader environmental resilience perspective rapeseed can be beneficial for farmland wildlife. Its thick and relatively long-term overhead canopy with stiff stems provides an ideal environment for a wide range of bird species and populations of invertebrates. However, large-scale farming of rapeseed can also pose a challenge for insects, since food is available in large quantities during a small period of time and scarce for a large period of the year. Buffer strips along the fields with wild flowers and shrubs are therefore highly recommended in order to increase insect biodiversity. In AAK we are using Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) to analyze the impact of our rapeseed supply chains globally, but also in comparison to other oil crops. This way we get full insight into the climate impact of our supply chains and can work towards minimizing it and offer the best solutions to our customers. 37