Mondelēz’s Harmony evolves into independent wheat sustainability initiative
The initiative has grown from a company-led sourcing project into a wider agricultural programme involving more than 1,200 farmers committed to sustainable wheat cultivation practices across Europe.
NETHERLANDS – Harmony, the wheat sustainability programme launched by Mondelēz International nearly two decades ago, is evolving into an independent certification scheme designed to expand sustainable wheat production across Europe.
The initiative, which began in France in 2008, will now be governed by the ProTerra Foundation, a nonprofit organization specializing in sustainability certification systems.
Mondelēz originally developed Harmony in collaboration with farmers, cooperatives, millers, NGOs, and environmental experts to encourage more sustainable wheat cultivation.
Over the years, the programme has expanded significantly and now involves more than 1,200 farmers committed to sustainable wheat cultivation practices across Europe.
Its transition to an independent certification scheme will open participation to eligible actors throughout the European wheat value chain, including farmers, cooperatives, millers and brands.
The certification is built around agricultural practices focused on soil health, biodiversity, water protection, responsible use of agricultural inputs and reducing greenhouse-gas emissions.
Harmony has increasingly incorporated regenerative agriculture into its approach, with its Ambition 2030 programme seeking to support farmers in adopting practices designed to improve the resilience of wheat-growing systems.
The initiative also emphasizes traceability and independent verification. Under the new structure, Harmony will operate separately from Mondelēz, with ProTerra responsible for governance of the certification system.
According to Mondelēz, the change is intended to broaden the programme’s impact beyond its own supply chain and make the framework available to a wider range of participants in European wheat production.
The move comes as sustainability claims and environmental labelling face greater scrutiny in Europe.
Mondelēz said Harmony’s transition is aligned with changing European regulatory expectations for sustainability labels, including the EU Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition Directive, which began applying on September 27, 2026.
The company said independent governance can provide greater transparency and verification as sustainability initiatives expand.
For farmers and other wheat-sector participants, the independent scheme could provide a common framework for documenting and certifying sustainability practices.
Harmony’s existing programme has already established a network spanning thousands of hectares, while its certification model is intended to support wider adoption of regenerative and environmentally focused wheat production practices.
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