Bread with low-carbon wheat closer to store shelves

This occasion marks the beginning of a full-value chain certification for wheat products with the aim of reducing the carbon footprint of bread, from wheat field to store shelves. The collaboration involves fertilizer producer OCI Global, agricultural trader Agravis, and Maalderij Dossche Mills, all working together with the common goal of reducing the CO₂ footprint of bread production.

The harvesting of low-carbon wheat for flour this summer not only represents a step forward for the partners involved but also for the broader industry in its pursuit of carbon neutrality. It brings the concept of bread with a certified lower carbon footprint one step closer to consumers and will serve as a critical data source for the certification of flour and wheat products with a reduced CO₂ footprint throughout their entire production process.

Calculating emissions across the value chain

A calculation of CO₂ emissions across the entire value chain for low-carbon wheat flour has been made possible by combining all relevant data from the cultivation and harvest phases of wheat grown with ISCC PLUS certified low-carbon fertilizer. After thorough research and assessment, an agreed-upon methodology for determining and certifying the Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) has been established. Taking into account the requirements of this methodology, GHG accounting will be mapped out in the future as part of ‘Ackerprofi’, a farm management software developed by AGRAVIS investment company Land24 GmbH.

The partners are now taking the next steps to expand the project, discussing quantities and making plans for cultivation and harvest in 2024. At this stage, more farmers are being invited to participate in the project, working together to achieve a lower-carbon wheat harvest in the coming year.