HUNGARY—Global snack and confectionery giant, is expanding its Harmony program in Hungary, as it progresses towards its goal to grow 100% of the volume of wheat needed to produce its biscuits across its EU business unit under the Harmony charter by end 2022.
The company is aiming for a higher local wheat content for its biscuits produced at its Győr biscuit factory in Székesfehérvár in central Hungary.
The Harmony Program, established in France more than 10 years ago, promotes biodiversity and good environmental practices in European wheat production.
Last year, 91% of their biscuits produced in Europe were made from raw materials produced under the Sustainable Wheat Program.
By the end of this year, it is expected to be the standard practice for all biscuits produced in Hungary, including Győri Édes products, according to the statement.
Global biscuit brands from Mondelēz’s global biscuit brands such as belVita and Dörmi biscuits are already made from Harmony wheat.
The company will extend its sustainability program to local brands, so that the market-leading sweet Győr biscuit (which celebrated its 70th anniversary in 2020) and the Vanilla hoop, Korpovit and Pilota will be made from sustainably produced wheat.
Gábor Mayer, MD of Mondelez Hungária Kft., said in a statement the Székesfehérvár facility produces around 16,000 tons of biscuits a year.
Today, more than 1,500 farmers and 18 mills in Belgium, the Czech Republic, France, Hungary, Poland, Italy, Spain, and Hungary are participating in Harmony collectively producing around 290,000 tons of Harmony wheat annually.
With further expansion of the programme, Harmony wheat production in Europe is expected to increase to 385,000 tonnes by the end of 2022.
Currently, 67 Hungarian farmers have joined the programme, placing around 3,500 hectares under Harmony wheat production, mainly in the south-east and north-west of the country. The first Harmony wheat was sown in Hungary in 2019 and harvested in July 2020.
The programme provides full transparency on sustainable wheat production practices and guarantees the preservation of local biodiversity.
Participating farmers receive a premium if they meet the strict criteria of the Harmony Charter, such as reducing the use of pesticides, carbon emissions and water use, and encouraging natural fertilization by dedicating 3% of their land as flower meadows to be pollinated by bees.
Mondelēz International has a footprint in 48 European countries, employing around 3,100 people in Czechia, Slovakia and Hungary. Through initiatives such as Harmony, Cocoa Life and Mindful Snacking, the company has committed to contributing to the transformation of the food systems in which it operates.
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