Novinka - 30 Červen 2022 23:00

Mondelēz International expands its Harmony Program for sustainable wheat production in Hungary

Győri édes, Hungarians most loved biscuits joining Harmony Program
The company is close to achieve its aim of 100% of the volume of wheat needed to produce its biscuits across our EU business unit grown under the Harmony charter by end 2022

30^th June, 2022 – Mondelēz International progresses to achieve its aim of 100% of the volume of wheat needed to produce its biscuits across its EU business unit grown under the Harmony charter by end 2022 for all its European bakery brands. In 2021, 91% of the volume of wheat needed to produce biscuits in Europe was grown according to the company’s signature program for sustainable farming. By the end of this year this should be the standard for all biscuits products made in Hungary, including local jewel brands like Győri édes (Hungary’s most loved biscuit), Pilóta, Háztartási and Albert biscuits and global brands like belVita and Dörmi.

Created more than 10 years ago in France, the Harmony program champions biodiversity and good environmental practices in wheat production in Europe. Co-created along the wheat supply chain with farmers, cooperatives and millers, the program seeks the commitment of partner farmers to follow sustainable practices in the growing and processing of wheat in return for a premium on their crop. Harmony farmers choose to protect biodiversity, care for the soil, reduce carbon emissions, and preserve water quality. The Harmony Charter for sustainable wheat farming involves local farmers located as close as possible geographically from the company’s biscuit factories.

Harmony wheat progress

Today, the Harmony program involves more than 1500 farmers and 18 millers across Belgium, the Czech Republic, France, Hungary, Italy, Poland and Spain. Harmony wheat was first planted in Hungary in 2019, Harmony wheat was harvested for the first time in July 2020.

“As the world's leading biscuits producer, we are responsible for our planet, protecting the nature, our natural resources, preserving biodiversity. Our company’s slogan is “Snacking made right”. By further expanding our Harmony program to our full biscuits portfolio in Hungary we make sure that all our customers and consumers are aware, we are committed to producing our high-quality biscuits more sustainably and the right way. I am proud that Győri édes, Hungary’s No. 1 biscuit and our entire biscuits portfolio produced in Hungary successfully joined the Harmony Program.” – said Gabor Mayer, Managing Director of Mondelez Hungária Ltd.

Pioneering biodiversity protection

The Harmony Charter of 35 sustainable practices was developed together with NGOs, agronomists, environmental specialists, and farmers. The Harmony program’s partner farmers protect and promote biodiversity by dedicating 3% of their wheat fields surface to melliferous flowers or hedges to attract and feed precious pollinators such as bees and butterflies. Indeed, protecting pollinators is key to maintain our food system and ecosystems. Ecological habitats created by the Harmony program also provide a great environment and sustenance for insects that could be key allies in the fight against pests. Overall, this greater biodiversity leads to a stronger and more resistant environment.

External Audits are regularly conducted to monitor farmers’ compliance with the Harmony Charter. 100% of mills, 100% of storage bodies and 10% of partner farmers are audited every year, with a result of over 310 audits performed in 2021 in Europe. The impact of the practices on the environment is also measured along agro-environmental performance indicators, such as nitrogen balance, greenhouse gases emission or eutrophication of water. Pollinators populations, as well as butterfly species and melliferous flowers surface are also tracked to safeguard biodiversity. In 2021 1810 hectares of land was reserved to protect and enhance the biodiversity with melliferous flowers area in Europe.

„We joined the Harmony Program because we are committed to protecting the nature. We’ve already learned a lot by participating in the Harmony program. I am especially proud of my contribution by supplying high-quality and more sustainably grown ingredients for love brands like Győri édes.” – said András Szalai, Owner of Rábca Agrártechnika Ltd.

“Goodmills Hungary joined the Harmony Program in 2019. We work with dozens of farmers who all see a great potential in Harmony wheat production. Not only because they earn a premium by applying the quite demanding requirements of the program, but also because they can contribute to a more sustainable production of biscuits consumers are searching for. Goodmills Hungary partners with Mondelez International because they share the same belief: we need to act together to preserve our nature and biodiversity for the future generations.” – said Tibor Halasi, Quality Insurance Director of Goodmills Hungary.

Looking ahead, Mondelēz International is building a renewed ambition for the program, hand in hand with the wheat supply chain, with a focus on two key areas: contributing to net zero emission goal by 2050, and ensuring the company stays at the leading edge of protecting biodiversity in Europe, as highlighted in Mondelez’s annual Snacking Made Right report. Full report can be found here: Mondelez Snacking Made Right 2021

For more information about Harmony Programme please visit https://harmony.info/hu-hu