Lower Carbon Wheat Production Grew Rapidly in 2024
Dossche Mills, AGRAVIS, and OCI Nitrogen, a wholly owned subsidiary of OCI Global, are collaborating to scale up sustainable wheat production. This initiative significantly reduces the carbon footprint of bread and other wheat-based products. By using innovative fertilizers and eco-friendly farming practices, an impressive 14,000 tons of low-carbon wheat was harvested in 2024 – a massive increase compared to 2023.
Key Achievements:
- 10 times more sustainable wheat: 14,000 tons harvested in 2024, up from 1,400 tons in 2023.
- Up to 20% lower CO₂ emissions per ton of wheat: Innovative fertilizers help significantly reduce climate impact.
- Ambition to grow further: The partnership aims to triple sustainable production in the coming years.
- Benefits for farmers: Farmers can use sustainable solutions without changing their methods and receive a premium for their wheat.
How Are We Reducing CO₂ Emissions?
Food production accounts for 26% of global CO₂ emissions, with 9% coming from agriculture. Nitrogen-based fertilizers are the biggest contributor to wheat farming emissions. The partnership between Dossche Mills, AGRAVIS, and OCI Nitrogen tackles this issue by using innovative fertilizers with a much lower carbon footprint.
OCI Nitrogen produces these fertilizers using biogas instead of fossil fuels, which reduces CO₂ emissions by over 60% during production[1] and makes them a more sustainable alternative to traditional fertilizers. In 2023, these fertilizers were applied to 200 hectares of farmland. In 2024, the project expanded significantly to 1,700 hectares.
Benefits for Farmers and Consumers
Farmers from AGRAVIS participating in the project can use these more sustainable fertilizers without changing their usual practices. They maintain the same yields and quality while significantly reducing their carbon footprint. Additionally, Dossche Mills guarantees that they receive a premium for their low-carbon wheat, creating both ecological and economic benefits.
This partnership is part of the Dossche Mills footprint program called Terah. Within this program, Dossche Mills aims to work with partners across the value chain to not only achieve wheat with a reduced CO₂ footprint to make Terah Flour, but also to have a positive and tangible impact on biodiversity and soil health. For consumers, this means that products such as bread, cookies, and pasta made from Terah flour from the Dossche Mills footprint program become more sustainable without compromising on quality. This supports the transition to a more environmentally friendly food system.
Future Plans: More Sustainability
Beyond using innovative fertilizers, the partners are exploring additional ways to further lower emissions. This includes the use of biochar, a method that locks carbon into the soil, and the use of enhanced fertilizers that reduce production and use emissions even further.
The goal is to harvest 25,000 tons of low-carbon wheat in 2025 and cut wheat farming greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030.
Transparency and Certification
To ensure the sustainability approach is reliable and measurable, all OCI Nitrogen products are ISCC+ certified. Independent third parties verify the CO₂ reductions. AGRAVIS also monitors the environmental impact of participating farms. Both partners have aligned their external verification and use the ISO 14067 standard, ensuring that the benefits are fairly and transparently measured.
Working Together for a Sustainable Future
Through collaboration, Dossche Mills, OCI Nitrogen, and AGRAVIS prove that the food industry can become more sustainable without compromising quality or productivity. Thanks to innovative solutions and the commitment of farmers and consumers, we are already making significant strides toward a more sustainable future.
Article Credit: oci-global