Mondelēz International has announced that it will expand its Harmony wheat sourcing programme so that 100% of the wheat used by its biscuit brands in the European Union is sourced sustainably by 2022.
Initially established ten years ago, the Harmony programme was set up after the company consulted with farmers, NGOs, agronomists and environmental specialists to ensure that farmers conserve water, care for soil, protect biodiversity and reduce carbon emissions when producing wheat.
Currently, the Harmony programme includes 1,700 farmers across Belgium, the Czech Republic, France, Italy, Poland and Spain, who produced 177,000 tons of wheat for the company’s biscuit brands in 2017, accounting for 60% of the company’s European biscuit production.
Mondelēz’s expansion of the programme would increase the amount of sustainably-sourced wheat produced by farmers to 288,000 tonnes every year, which would cover the company’s entire European biscuit portfolio.
Hubert Weber, Mondelēz International executive vice-president and president Europe said: “European consumers increasingly equate high-quality products with sustainable production. They’re aware of the impact of their food choices on the environment and have high expectations of manufacturers to take their share of responsibility.
“As Europe’s largest biscuit baker, we can play a role in tackling challenges like climate change and resource shortages by promoting sustainable farming practices and improving biodiversity in our supply chain.
“In doing so, we contribute to creating a fairer, more transparent and integrated supply chain, in which good quality for consumers means a good impact on farmers and society.”
Romeo Lacerda, president of biscuits at Mondelēz Europe added: “Harmony is much more than an agreed set of sustainable wheat farming practices.
“It’s a movement that connects everyone involved in our supply chain with others seeking to increase the positive impact we can make on our environment and biodiversity.
“By bringing NGOs and farmers to work together, we can implement farming practices that are both effective and pragmatic. In doing so, we can act as a catalyst for positive change.”
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