As the Regional Sustainability and Business Development Manager for LATAM for Boortmalt, Michiel was responsible for driving all sustainability initiatives in Argentina.

Michiel started his assignment with a strategic assessment of green energy and sustainable barley opportunities in Argentina. He then moved on to implementing both large- and small- scale initiatives. Among his key achievements were shaping major decarbonization projects, including a waste heat recovery opportunity at the Bahía Blanca plant—projected to reduce 12,000 tons of CO2 emissions annually—and launching a biomass energy strategy for the Rosario plant. Michiel also developed a regional carbon pricing model and initiated a low-carbon fertilizer program in collaboration with industry partners, achieving a 20% CO2 reduction in barley production. Seven months into his project, his scope expanded to include sustainability initiatives for Boortmalt’s North American operations, while remaining based in Argentina.

Taking full ownership of projects was a key part of Michiel’s development journey. Being the sole driver of sustainability initiatives in the region, he had to advocate for his projects and navigate challenges independently. He embraced a “fail-fast” approach, balancing careful planning with rapid experimentation. On a personal level, immersing himself in Argentine work culture allowed him to adopt a more informal communication style and build stronger interpersonal relationships with colleagues.