Agro Food Trading (Pty) Ltd is committed to transparent reporting in line with its duty to all stakeholders. In execution of its governance role and responsibilities, Agro Food Trading (Pty) Ltd adopts a stakeholder-inclusive approach that balances the needs, interests and expectations of material stakeholders over time. As such, the group engages regularly with stakeholders to understand their perceptions of Agro Food Trading (Pty) Ltd and pinpoint future trends, possible risks, determine material issues and areas for strategic development

The Group firmly believes that the sustainability of the business ultimately depends on the quality of relationships with the various stakeholders who are interested in and affected by the Group’s operations and who may have a material infl uence on the Group’s ability to create value. Management of stakeholder risk is an integral part of organisation-wide risk management. Engaging stakeholders forms a critical part of the design and implementation of Agro Food Trading (Pty) Ltd’s strategy. As Agro Food Trading (Pty) Ltd operates internationally, the Group is subject to various economic, social, regulatory, community and environmental infl uences. In prioritising the material stakeholders, Agro Food Trading (Pty) Ltd applies the following criteria:

- The degree to which Agro Food Trading (Pty) Ltd depends on the relevant stakeholder’s support in achieving its strategic goals
- The extent to which the relevant stakeholder can impact on Agro Food Trading (Pty) Ltd’s performance
- The relative importance of the relevant stakeholder for the Group as a whole
- The risk exposure for Agro Food Trading (Pty) Ltd by not engaging with the relevant stakeholder

Agro Food Trading (Pty) Ltd engaged during FY2018 with stakeholders on a continuous basis, for example by telephone conversations, emails, site visits, meetings and road shows. Stakeholders openly discuss relevant emerging issues and also entailed engagement with some of the dissenting shareholders regarding the remuneration policy as well as the major institutional shareholders. The Group finds the stakeholder engagement and management process open, transparent and effective. During FY2019 the Group will continue to embark on a focused process to identify and confi rm various priority stakeholder groups for attention and reinforce relationships with employees and unions, local communities, government, shareholders and investors, suppliers and customers. The table below provides an overview of Agro Food Trading (Pty) Ltd’s material stakeholders, why they are important, their respective interests in the business and how Agro Food Trading (Pty) Ltd engages with each group.

Agro Food Trading (Pty) Ltd and sustainability reporting

Governance of sustainability

The board is ultimately responsible for the key governance processes to ensure sustainable growth, acceptable performance and affairs of the Group. The board delegates to the Social, Ethics and Risk Committee (SERC) its responsibility for monitoring and managing the Group’s social and economic development, good corporate citizenship (including the promotion of equality as well as environmental, health and safety), good labour conditions and sound business ethics.

Sustainability vision

To manage health, safety, environmental, social and financial demands and concerns in order to ensure the responsible, ethical and ongoing success of the business. The Group subscribes to the principles of openness, integrity and accountability and the concept of the “triple bottom line”. These principles embrace economic, social and environmental relationships through an integrated, sustainable approach that encompasses all stakeholders – shareholders, customers, employees, suppliers, governments and the communities in which Agro Food Trading (Pty) Ltd operates. Agro Food Trading (Pty) Ltd continues to integrate economic development, environmental quality and social equity into the Group’s business practices so as to constantly improve performance in a sustainable manner. The Group’s approach includes the integration of sustainability into Agro Food Trading (Pty) Ltd’s corporate cultures that it will become fundamental across functions, including in the value proposition offered to the stakeholders.