Mexico’s Grupo Bimbo has partnered with the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT) on a number of sustainable agriculture production initiatives.
Two pilot programmes relating to the responsible supply of wheat and corn have been formalised in Mexico with Bunge and Cargill for maize and wheat, respectively. Participating producers will supply Bimbo with 50,000 tons of wheat and 25,000 tons of maize, grown with sustainable agricultural technologies and practices.
Pilot Project
The pilot project for maize will take place in the Hidalgo and the Bajío areas, during three crop cycles (three years), across a surface of approximately 2,200 hectares, directly benefiting 400 producers. The wheat pilot will last for 3 crop cycles (3.5 years) in the states of Sinaloa and Sonora, across a surface of about 8,000 hectares and benefiting 600 producers.
The pilot projects will combine existing methodologies in CIMMYT with specific objectives to implement a responsible supply trade model that is competitive and can be escalated or replicated in other regions.
The results will promote the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices throughout the agrifood chain, leading to higher yields and the appropriate management of natural resources, the company says.
© 2017 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Branislav Pekic. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine
