After nearly twenty years under Mondelēz International’s wing, the Harmony wheat sustainability program is breaking away to become an independent certification scheme, a move poised to reshape sustainable wheat farming across Europe.
Launched in France back in 2008, Harmony has grown from a corporate initiative into a network of more than 1,200 farmers committed to greener cultivation methods. The ProTerra Foundation, a nonprofit focused on sustainability certification, now takes the reins.
Mondelēz originally built Harmony alongside farmers, cooperatives, millers, NGOs, and environmental specialists. The goal: encourage wheat production that treads lighter on the land. Since then, the program has woven regenerative agriculture into its core, with its Ambition 2030 plan pushing farmers toward practices that strengthen the resilience of wheat systems.
Under the new structure, Harmony operates separately from its corporate founder. ProTerra oversees governance, while the certification opens doors for players throughout the European wheat value chain. Farmers, cooperatives, millers, and brands all become eligible to participate.
The certification targets measurable outcomes. Soil health, biodiversity, water protection, responsible input use, and lower greenhouse gas emissions sit at the center of its standards. Traceability and independent verification also feature prominently.
Why now? European regulators are tightening scrutiny on sustainability claims. The EU’s Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition Directive, effective September 27, 2026, raises the bar for environmental labels. Mondelēz sees independent governance as the path to greater transparency and credibility as these initiatives scale.
For wheat-sector participants, the new scheme offers a shared framework for documenting and verifying sustainable practices. Harmony’s existing footprint already spans thousands of hectares. Its independent certification model aims to accelerate adoption of regenerative, environmentally focused wheat production well beyond Mondelēz’s own supply chain.
