Barilla helps farmers to become more sustainable

Building a certified supply chain from farm to food product

Barilla has reached the third year of the La Carta del Mulino project at the heart of its commitment to sustainable agriculture. In 2021, the company could source 100% of its soft wheat from ISCC PLUS-certified farms. Barilla has worked with ISCC since 2018, starting with the wheat for one specific biscuit in 2019 and some items of the bread range that are part of the Mulino Bianco brand. With the 2021 harvest, Barilla covered more than 100 products with the Mulino Bianco brand, such as further biscuit products, breads, cakes and snacks.

Scaling sustainable sourcing across the Mulino Bianco range

The ISCC PLUS certification covers the whole supply chain from wheat to the final food product. In 2021, it encompassed around 370,000 tonnes of wheat, making 244,000 tonnes of flour from 2,600 farms throughout Italy and other parts of Europe. In certification terms, this means more than 80 first gathering points, 14 mills and six Barilla production plants.

The physical segregation ensures that the certified wheat and flour for Mulino Bianco products are kept completely separate from non-certified raw materials. One farmer, Paolo Pizzoccheri, working at the ISCC-certified Mulino mill, stresses that “By now the importance of guaranteeing sustainability in agricultural production is known to all. The adhesion of my farm to a supply chain such as that of Carta del Mulino which has among its rules that of complying with ISCC requests, represents an excellent opportunity in terms of visibility of my business and at the same time allows me to be able to access an interesting economic valorisation of my wheat”.

Biodiversity at the heart of the farming approach

The sustainability journey starts at the farm with specific measures to improve biodiversity and support wildlife habitats. Farmers follow a rotation plan that includes a minimum of three different crops over five years to enhance soil fertility. One legume or one oilseed is mandatory. At least three percent of the wheat’s planting area is cultivated with wildflowers and left untreated with chemicals to favour pollinating insects. Through this approach, about 1,800 hectares could be returned to nature by 2021. WWF, one of the project’s technical
partners, has helped select the flowering species most suitable for promoting pollinating insects. The objectives are to ensure the insects’ food supply and revive wild species such as poppy, cornflower, clover and chamomile.

Helping farmers drive change

ISCC PLUS has allowed Barilla to help small farms change their working methods and focus more on managing natural resources and ecosystems. Certification has brought important indirect social impacts and spillover effects too. According to the company, the voluntary ISCC PLUS certification standard also motivates young people who care about responsible production to stay working on the family farm.

Additionally, Barilla pays a price premium on sustainable wheat to ensure a fair return on their suppliers’ efforts. The price is calculated by adding an agreed sustainability value to the economic value of the product.

Demonstrating commitment through certification

Barilla is proud to publicise its ISCC PLUS certification both on the website and on product packaging. The company is the largest soft wheat buyer in Italy, which brings responsibility and desire to contribute to the well-being of farmers and the cultivated land. ISCC PLUS certification is, therefore, a solid and measurable demonstration of their commitment to responsible agriculture.

“The adhesion of my farm to a supply chain such as that of Carta del Mulino which has among its rules that of complying with ISCC requests, represents an excellent opportunity in terms of visibility of my business and at the same time allows me to be able to access an interesting economic valorisation of my wheat”.