Barilla Sustainable Agriculture Project

Barilla Adds New Initiative to Sustainable Agriculture Project Work in Turkey

As arable agricultural land diminishes with each passing day and the need for accessible and sustainable food increases, the importance of food sustainability carries greater weight than in previous years.

Barilla, which pursues its work with the mission of "Good for you, Good for the planet," has added another initiative to its work in Turkey within the scope of its "Sustainable Agriculture Project" in the field of food sustainability.

Barilla published the "Durum Wheat Production Handbook" prepared in cooperation with the Bahri Dağdaş International Agricultural Research Institute (Bahri Dağdaş ITERI) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of the Republic of Turkey.

For nearly a decade, Barilla has been working to identify the most efficient agricultural systems in the countries where it sources agricultural raw materials, particularly durum wheat, to reduce environmental impact and improve farmer income. The published "Durum Wheat Production Handbook" includes 10 golden rules that form the foundation of sustainable durum wheat production.

Research Underlying the Handbook Conducted at 5 Locations

The research work that served as the source for practical information in the Durum Wheat Production Handbook was conducted between 2014 and 2016 at 5 different locations in the Central Anatolia Region.

Within the scope of the research, traditional agricultural techniques were used in half of the selected plots with identical field conditions, while recommended sustainable techniques were used in the other half. Over two years, savings were achieved in inputs such as diesel, seeds and fertilizer while yield was maintained; conversely, environmental harm and carbon emissions were reduced.

Following data obtained in the work jointly conducted by Bahri Dağdaş ITERI and Barilla and previous research, methods recommended for application in durum wheat cultivation in the region were tested, refined and published in handbook form.

The 10 golden rules presented in the handbook, which will be distributed to farmers, opinion leaders, and organizations and institutions in Turkey in the coming days, are important for widespread adoption among durum wheat growers, improving product quality, reducing harmful effects on the environment, and making soil more productive and usable for years to come.

Through this work prepared in line with the European Union's widely accepted new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP 2014-2020), the goal is to promote widespread sustainable agriculture, produce sufficient and quality food at reasonable costs, increase economic vitality in global agriculture, protect the environment and natural resources, improve the welfare of the world population, and ensure that agricultural enterprises receive adequate returns for their efforts through efficient, stable and sustained production.

10 Golden Rules in Durum Wheat Production

The Durum Wheat Production Handbook, which includes recommendations on how cultivation activities should be planned and optimized, lists the 10 golden rules as follows:

Selection of ecology and land suitable for durum wheat, soil preparation, crop rotation, use of the most suitable variety, use of certified seeds, sowing at the right time, use of the correct seed rate, appropriate fertilization, weed control and disease management.

The handbook also includes differences in climate requirements among wheat varieties, actions necessary for success in agriculture, matters to be considered in crop rotation, and techniques that increase productivity in plant production.

Barilla has successfully reduced farmers' production costs by 30 percent and increased production yield by 20 percent through projects it has implemented in countries where it applies the "Sustainable Agriculture Project." The handbook prepared for Turkey includes key information in this direction.

The Durum Wheat Production Handbook details certified seed use, the cost-yield-quality relationship, early and late sowing, and the consequences of using too little or too much seed; it also addresses issues that are seen as significant problems in agriculture.

The handbook also shares with farmers topics such as fertilization, yield losses caused by weeds, and management of diseases and pests.

Farmers' Role is Crucial in Agricultural Sustainability

The 10 golden rules recommended in the handbook form the foundation of good agricultural practices that leave a more livable world to future generations and cause less harm to nature while protecting it as much as possible.

The prepared work underscores that farmers' efforts alone will not be sufficient, and that cooperation and support from the public sector, industry and civil society will be effective in expanding the implementation scope of sustainable agriculture.