Cargill & General Mills ask if Wheat can be More Sustainable

The wheat production industry faces considerable scrutiny over its contribution to greenhouse gas emissions.

This is alarming for the manufacturing sector that relies heavily on agricultural outputs. The Yield Enhancement Network indicates that wheat crops are major contributors to emissions in agriculture.

Consequently, initiatives to curb these emissions are gaining traction globally.

Jean-Manuel Lévêque, President of the Industrial Bakers Association (AIBI), emphasises the importance of transitioning wheat farming to sustainable practices: “As a sector we want to take our responsibility for helping our wheat farmers transition to sustainable agriculture.

"This is essential to meeting our sustainability goals and to safeguarding the resilience of the European industrial bakery value chain in the face of climate change.”

The role of sustainable wheat Europe

The Sustainable Wheat Initiative Europe is at the centre of efforts to align the bakery industry, flour millers and farmers in reducing carbon outputs.

This organisation has published a manifesto, garnering commitments from CEOs across European bakeries, millers and stakeholders.

Those committed to the manifesto aim to cut wheat and flour emissions by 30% by 2030, thereby producing sustainable high-quality wheat flour in significant quantities.

Working with the AIBI, the initiative seeks to instill strong commitments towards regenerative agriculture.

Jean-Manuel Lévêque underscores the need for a unified vision among bakeries, flour mills and agricultural sectors to enhance efficiency through aligned efforts: “A shared vision is needed between bakeries, flour mills and the agricultural sector, as well as the involvement of our downstream distribution channels, to move forward in a more efficient and coordinated way in a framework of mutual trust.

"That’s why the CEOs of the leading European industrial bakery companies joined forces in the Sustainable Wheat Initiative Europe. Our goal is to facilitate and accelerate the transition to low-carbon wheat flour.”

Impact on European companies

Lantmännen Unibake exemplifies a company committed to the manifesto.

The organisation recognises that farming makes up 60% of flour’s environmental impact, with carbon emissions generated throughout the flour supply chain, notably during planting, irrigation, harvest, milling and chipping.

The company reports that 62% of its total emissions originate from supply chain activities, with flour as a major contributor.

To achieve net zero, Lantmännen Unibake must address emissions in its supply chain, focusing on soil fertilisation as a primary area of action.

Carsten Thomsen, President of Lantmännen Unibake, says: “At Lantmännen Unibake, we’ve gained valuable experience through our Nordic Climate & Nature program, supported by 10 years of grain data and verified carbon footprint reductions of up to 45%.

We know that sustainability starts in the field – with smarter cultivation methods, precision farming, fossil-free fertilisers and fuels and other field-level innovations. But this is not a journey we can take alone. The real impact will come when customers, suppliers and even competitors move in the same direction.”

Strategies for emission reduction

Globally, reducing emissions within wheat production is becoming essential to strengthening the sustainability of the manufacturing sector.

General Mills is another corporation leading the effort. The company targets a 39% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from row crops, with a focus on employing regenerative agricultural techniques to improve soil health and diversity while minimising disturbances.

Measures include better nutrient management, renewable fertiliser usage, reduced tillage and crop coverage, which also contribute to preventing deforestation.

Jeffrey L. Harmening, Chairman and CEO at General Mills, adds: “As a food company, General Mills depends on the health and well-being of our planet and we are investing in landscapes and ecosystems to build resilience for nature, climate and communities.”

Additionally, Cargill, headquartered in the US, has launched the Seafurther programme to reduce its seafood carbon footprint and production emissions.

The company actively pursues regenerative agriculture, working in projects that span a considerable area, such as the coverage of over 15,700 hectares of wheat and rapeseed which resulted in emissions reduction by 10,200 tonnes of CO₂.

For manufacturing executives, these initiatives present a blueprint for integrating sustainable practices into the core of operations, thereby ensuring the industry’s future viability amidst growing environmental challenges.