WATER STEWARDSHIP
Matthew Frost
the field depending on the climatic and soil conditions . Therefore , they are able to yield more ,” explains Frost . “ All of this makes barley less risky for our farmers to plant , whether they ’ re in the Ugandan highlands or in Argentina with a fully automated farm .” The unifying element between its farmers , whether they are smallholders or large agricultural cooperatives , is the digital platforms that AB InBev provides . These platforms enable the company ’ s goal of financially empowering its farmers , with one example being a blockchain-enabled platform deployed in developing countries such as Uganda and Zambia . “ Blockchain gives smallholders a digital identity , making them credit-worthy and bankable ,” says Frost . “ They can then take out loans , grow their business and become more successful . With farmers in more developed countries , like the US or Argentina , AB InBev ’ s focus is on providing cost effective crop insurance and facilitating access to credit .”
WATER STEWARDSHIP
In addition to ensuring that clean water is available to communities surround-
25 EXECUTIVE PROFILE
Matthew Frost
A British National and trained Chemical Engineer , Frost has 30 years of End2End Blue Chip FMCG Supply Chain experience acquired through roles in Research and Development , Engineering , Manufacturing , Logistics and Procurement . Having worked in the UK , Germany , Russia , Switzerland and Africa , Frost has developed a holistic knowledge of procurement across a range of markets . Having served as Chief Procurement Officer at SABMiller , Frost was appointed as AB InBev ’ s VP Global Raw Materials Procurement and Sustainability when it acquired the firm in 2016 .
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