Vilmorin & Cie - Annual report 2017-2018

ANNUAL REPORT Vilmorin & Cie 136 2017-2018 Social, environmental and societal INFORMATION 4 In addition to the discussions conducted with stakeholders to develop materiality analyses, the Group is building a genuine dialogue with them, particularly with the two main environmental NGOs in the region of its administrative headquarters in Auvergne. For the past four years, the Group and the Ligue de Protection des Oiseaux (League for the Protection of Birds) Auvergne have been running a pilot program, with the voluntary help of farmers and employees, aimed at preserving the Montagu's harrier, a protected species considered vulnerable in Auvergne and France. An annual follow-up meeting to monitor the effectiveness of the actions carried out is systematically organized in the fall. Every year, it enables imagining new avenues for progress and mutual assistance. At the same time, and for four years now, the Group has also been involved with the Conservatoire d'Espaces Naturels d'Auvergne (Auvergne Conservatory of Natural Spaces) . The main purpose of this partnership is to protect the Cœur marshes, which are located close to several of the Group’s facilities. This area, composed of continental, salty meadowlands, classified as a Natura 2000 zone, represents a very rare natural environment in France. It shelters, among others, a dragonfly of community interest, the southern damselfly, and 12 rare plants, some of which can only be seen here and at Mont Saint-Michel. The clean-up of this marsh was made possible thanks to the support of the Group and Michelin. On the strength of these links with the League for the Protection of Birds and the Auvergne Conservatory of Natural Spaces, and as part of its new environmental program (see 4.3.3.1. Overall environmental policy on page 120), Vilmorin & Cie asked these two NGOs to conduct a biodiversity diagnosis of its Saint-Beauzire site in summer 2018. 4.4. Building new patterns of relationship and creating value Vilmorin & Cie, alongside LPO , is contributing to the protection of the Montagu’s harrier in Auvergne The League for the Protection of Birds (LPO) in Auvergne is running a program to protect the Montagu’s harrier, a protected raptor which nests in wheat fields and whose young still inhabit the nest during harvest time. Vilmorin & Cie has chosen to take advantage of its strong ties with the farmer members of Limagrain, its reference shareholder, to commit to this program. Thanks to the natural observation talent of these farmers and a group of volunteer employees, 68 nesting couples of harriers were sighted in 2017 and their nests protected during harvest time. 64 young harriers were observed taking flight, including 61 thanks to the nest protection program put in place in the middle of wheat fields.