Casper Kaastra: Sollio Agriculture's new Chief Executive Officer
Casper Kaastra, CEO of Sollio Agriculture, shares the vision that will guide him in his new role. He offers his views on various challenges and, most importantly, explains how he intends to translate his vision into concrete actions that will support the prosperity of farmers.
Farming has always been the focus of my life. I grew up on a farm, and if you browse through my résumé, you can see that I’ve dedicated my career to agriculture—and only agriculture—for over 25 years, and I intend to keep it that way.
My seven years of experience as a manager for Sollio Agriculture’s Crop Production team and my years with Cargill and the Agromart network have made one thing clear: farmers are skilled professionals, always eager to learn more about agronomy.
Farmers are entrepreneurs who tackle fierce competition and operate in a demanding industry. Every day, their lives become more complex, and the high expectations of governments and citizens put them under constant pressure. These challenges are why I am committed to increasing the sustainable prosperity of farmers.
More than ever before, farmers need to team up with competent partners who understand the realities of the field. The cooperative model of Sollio Cooperative Group is the solution to this vital challenge, and it is one of Sollio Agriculture’s main competitive advantages.
Over the next few months, my goal is to effectively orchestrate the management of Sollio Agriculture and work closely with cooperatives and farmers.
How? By focusing on operational excellence, financial performance and customer experience. This is the key to ensuring our stability and securing Sollio Agriculture’s role as a trustworthy ally for farmers.
Why? It’s because the direct contact with cooperatives and our retail networks across Canada allow us to identify the real needs of farmers. The more we offer relevant products and services at the right price and at the right time, the more we can help famers efficiently manage their operations. For entrepreneurs, staying competitive is essential for the long-term survival of their farm and the well-being of their family.
The profitability of farmers goes hand in hand with reducing the environmental impact of farming activities. Sollio Agriculture’s network of specialized agri-advisors support farmers by offering cutting-edge expertise in animal nutrition, herd data analysis, animal behaviour and field crops and forage plants. We also conduct research on new products and technologies. In addition, Sollio Agriculture has implemented a pragmatic corporate responsibility action plan, in which measurements and data feature prominently.
This is the ambitious program I have set for myself and for which I have the support of a team of 1,200 employees across the country.
I am honoured to work on the behalf of farmers with the cooperative network. You can count on my team and I to fulfill our obligations.
About Casper Kaastra
With over 25 years of experience working for major players in the farming industry, Casper joined Sollio Agriculture in 2014, where he held the position of General Manager of the Crop Production sector. Under his leadership, the 235 employees of this key sector of the Agri-business Division generated $998 M in sales –an increase of more than $100 M in the last five years.
Casper holds a Bachelor of Arts in Science degree with majors in Agriculture Business, Animal Science and Plant Science from Dordt University in Sioux Center, Iowa. His rich academic background has given him a broad perspective of the agricultural business environment and the challenges that farmers face.
Source : Coopérateur