Adnkronos Rome, April 17 – (Adnkronos) – Over 8.500 farms involved, 67% of strategic raw materials purchased from responsibly managed supply chains and rigorous specifications to guarantee quality and respect for the environment. This is the snapshot of Barilla's commitment to sustainability along its supply chain which, on the occasion of Earth Day on April 22, reaffirms its commitment to increasingly sustainable agriculture that is attentive to the element from which the future of food begins: the soil.
Barilla adopts five specifications for sustainable cultivation, developed in collaboration with scientific bodies, NGOs and agricultural communities, to combine production quality, respect for the environment and concrete support for farmers. In 2020, the Durum Wheat Manifesto was introduced in Italy, a decalogue dedicated to the sustainable cultivation of durum wheat grown in 13 Italian regions that promotes crop rotation, the rational use of fertilizers and plant protection products, and the improvement of soil fertility. In Italy, the Carta del Mulino has been active since 2018, developed with WWF Italia, the University of Bologna and the University of Tuscia: 10 rules that aim to protect biodiversity (for example, dedicating 3% of fields to flowers for pollinators), reduce the use of chemicals and support the work of agricultural communities.
In France, the Harrys Charter defines 40 agroecological practices for the sustainable cultivation of soft wheat; it involves 738 farms for a production of almost 120.000 tons of flour. The Basil Charter covers 100% of purchases of exclusively Italian basil intended for the production of Barilla Pesto alla Genovese and all the brand's pestos, sauces and gravies. The key principles: sustainable agriculture, protection of biodiversity and valorization of local farming communities, contributing to the conservation of typical crops and the resilience of ecosystems. In 2023, the Wasa Charter was also added, which proposes six fundamental rules to farmers and supply chain operators, including the absence of glyphosate, adoption of the best agricultural techniques and the use of energy from renewable sources, which guarantee a responsible and sustainable approach to the entire rye supply chain.
Barilla supports farmers and technicians with advanced digital solutions, starting with Granoduro.net, a platform that provides information and alerts useful for the management of durum wheat, based on objective parameters such as weather conditions, agronomic data and field surveys. Since 2018, the group has also supported the Cnr-Ibe (National Research Council - Institute for BioEconomy) in the development of AgroSat, an innovative and free platform designed to support the management of nitrogen fertilization through precision agriculture techniques.
In 2021, in collaboration with Cnr-Ibe, Cnr-Isti (Institute of Information Science and Technology) and Yoo-No Lab, Barilla launched GranoScan2: an application based on artificial intelligence, free and designed for all operators in the supply chain, which allows the recognition of the main wheat adversities in the field.
Thanks to these initiatives, in 2023 Barilla supported the production of over 390.000 tons of durum wheat grown according to responsible agricultural practices.
Accademia del Basilico is Barilla's initiative dedicated to training basil growers for Barilla pesto, with the aim of promoting sustainable and precision farming practices from the early stages of sowing. Created with Dinamica and Open Field, the program involved 21 partners including farmers and stakeholders in a training course on phytopathology, agriculture 4.0 and reduction of the use of agrochemicals. The initiative strengthens the bond between Barilla and its supply chain, enhancing experience in the field and sharing innovative skills.
“If until a few years ago the use of some tools was unthinkable, today technology is increasingly an important part of our work, because it allows us to optimize times and obtain a quality raw material – says Simone Bernardi of the Bernardi Agricultural Company – Being the first actors in the supply chain, for us basil growers is a source of pride, but it is also a great responsibility; continuous training and digitalization are essential to pursue quality and sustainability objectives”.
Giuseppe Bonati, from the La Felina farm, adds: “Before being part of the Pesto Barilla basil supply chain, no one knew what sustainability was. Today we have a different awareness and we prefer natural alternatives to the use of agrochemicals, which allow us to obtain beautiful and healthy basil”. On the path of the Basil Academy, Giuseppe states: “It was not just an opportunity for training, but a real moment of exchange and comparison between us basil growers. While before each of us was focused only on our own work, today instead we feel like one family, part of the same network of relationships, where the only rule is mutual support”.
Barilla and xFarm Technologies have also digitized the entire basil supply chain, improving emissions calculation, traceability and production efficiency. Active since 2023, the project involves 25 farms on 310 hectares of cultivated land, with the integration of the DSS developed by the Cnr within the Barilla Farming platform. The technology simplifies the work of farmers and allows them to track every phase of the process, from sowing to packaging. Thanks to the blockchain and the collaboration with Connecting Food, consumers can access, via QR code, a real basil identity card, with certified data on the path from the field to the jar.
The collaboration between Barilla and Davines Group continues with the joint project “Bello e Buono”, created to promote sustainable agriculture through crop rotations between cereals and aromatic plants. Tested on 10.000 square meters in Parma, the project aims to restore soil fertility, increase biodiversity and create a replicable model for other supply chains. An initiative that unites two sectors – food and cosmetics – with the common goal of restoring value to the land, generating positive impacts along the entire value chain.