After completing his MSc in Business Administration at the University of Groningen, Volkert worked for Cargill Inc. USA before founding Eosta. The company is currently the largest distributor of organic fruit in Europe. One of Eosta’s focus areas is the development of organic and regenerative agriculture projects in the Global South and the tropics. Volkert was appointed Officer of the Order of Orange-Nassau in recognition of his significant contribution to the international growth and development of organic agriculture.
Nature & More
All Eosta products feature a Nature & More (QR) code that provides full transparency about the unique grower story and the ecological and social impact of the product.
The underlying sustainability policy of Nature & More 4M (measuring, managing, marketing and monetizing impact) has evolved into a leading principle for the sector and has received strong support from stakeholders and beyond.
Climate Neutral
Eosta was the first company to obtain CO2 credits for organic farming practices and to offer climate-neutral products on the European food market. In 2022, it founded the Business Alliance for Regenerative Agriculture, a global community of practice aimed at accelerating financial incentives for ecosystem services.
During the United Nations Year of Soils 2015, Eosta initiated the Save Our Soils campaign together with the FAO, 200 partners and numerous VIPs, including Desmond Tutu, Julia Roberts, the Dalai Lama and Sioux Chief Arvol Looking Horse.
Food Prices
In 2016, Eosta launched the True Cost of Food initiative. It promotes the principle that food prices should reflect the true cost of food, including hidden environmental and social costs and benefits. While international policymakers are still discovering the promise of full-cost accounting, Eosta brings True Cost to the workplace.
Eosta’s latest initiative brings guarantees for living wages to the shelves of leading retailers across Europe.
Other Companies
Volkert co-founded various other CSR-focused companies, including Soil & More Impact, Vitalis Organic Seeds, Ecos Del Agro Costa Rica, Florganic Europe, Biofresh Belgium, TOSC UK, Red Sea Organics Israel and sourcing offices in South Africa, Argentina and Peru.
Awards
Eosta has received various awards, including the Public Eye Award for corporate social responsibility at the World Economic Forum in Davos and the Dutch Innovation Award. Volkert himself was ranked number one in the Trouw Sustainability Top 100 in 2017 and received the King Willem I Prize for Sustainable Entrepreneurship in 2018 and the European Business Award for the Environment in 2019.
