End of a Two-Year Project
After two years of dedication, research, and on-the-ground efforts, the Tomato SAUCE Project, led by OI Pomodoro Nord Italia, is wrapping up. This initiative, co-founded by the EU and the AGRIP Program (AGRIP-SIMPLE-2022-IM-SUSTAINABLE) was designed to shine a light on the European processing tomato, with a special focus on the Northern Italian processing tomato supply chain, renowned for its sustainable practices and high environmental standards. Through live experiences, articles, and documentaries, our goal was to inform journalists, food bloggers, and the food industry’s operators with transparent and reliable data. If you’ve been following us from the start, we thank you for your interest and we hope that you gained valuable insights on many topics. Do you feel you missed out? Here below are the highlights of our project.
The Five Pillars of Sustainability Promoted by the Tomato SAUCE Project
Spanning from cultivation to processing, the Northern Italian tomato supply chain stands out for its commitment to sustainability at every stage. With a holistic approach, our system applies integrated farming methods, prioritizing environmental care. It blends integrated farming (representing 90% of production which allows an efficient use of agrochemicals and fertilizers, with mandatory land rotation) with organic farming (representing 10% of production which doesn’t employ synthetic chemicals). This combination ensures suitable productivity, environmental sustainability, and healthy products for the final consumers.
A key component of sustainability in our supply chain is its proactive approach to understanding its environmental impact, trying to minimize it year by year. In 2015, we were among the first ones to calculate the Product Environmental Footprint (PEF), which is the scientific tool identified by the European Commission to measure the impact of a product considering all the environmental aspects, especially carbon, water, and energy. Being so transparent about our footprint offers useful information on tomato production, from cultivation to processing.
In our supply chain, the distance between the field and the processing plants is less than 60 km: this contributes to a low carbon footprint.
OI Pomodoro Nord Italia also places significant emphasis on water saving. From 2013 to 2021, we significantly reduced water consumption in cultivation. This has been achieved through the implementation of more efficient irrigation systems, precision farming technologies, and monitoring of water use, demonstrating how modern techniques can help reduce resource consumption without sacrificing quality.
Sustainability extends beyond environmental factors to social issues, with efforts focused on legal labor and shared rules between producers and processors. These initiatives not only support workers’ well-being but also cultivate a sense of responsibility, equality, and collaboration within the supply chain at large.
Bringing It All to Life: Field Trips, Documentaries, and Data
One of the most impactful aspects of the Tomato SAUCE Project was the field trip press tour that brought journalists and food bloggers from renowned German and French magazines to the heart of the Northern Italian tomato production areas. The two-day immersive experience offered a firsthand look at the supply chain, giving participants the chance to meet local farmers and experts, learn about sustainable cultivation practices, and explore the green advanced technologies used in processing plants.
Additionally, we published a documentary series that further highlights the five key pillars of sustainability of the project. These documentaries provide an in-depth look at the innovative farming techniques, environmental data, and social initiatives that have been put in place to make the processing tomato supply chain one of the most sustainable in the world.
The project also presented regular updates on campaign harvest results, providing real-time data on the performance of the supply chain. Furthermore, we also highlighted the importance of having European common rules for sustainability standards in imported products, to guarantee fair competition with local production. Moreover, we had the chance to promote our project at leading food fairs and exhibitions such as Anuga in 2023, CIBUS, and SIAL in 2024.
Looking Ahead: The Future of Sustainable Tomato Production
Although the Tomato SAUCE Project is drawing to a close, our commitment to sustainability continues. One of the exciting next steps is the Tomato Water Project, which aims to have a territorial vision of the supply chain’s equilibrium between water needs and water availability, contributing to the EU Water Resilience Strategic Programme.
We hope that the insights shared during this project have given journalists, food bloggers, operators, and consumers the right elements to make their own considerations about tomato products, taking into account sustainability and supply chain features.
Keep in Touch!
Our journey toward a sustainable and transparent tomato supply chain is far from over. We encourage anyone interested in learning more about the Northern Italian processing tomato supply chain or exploring additional aspects to get in touch with us. Whether you’re a journalist, a food industry professional, a consumer, or simply someone passionate about sustainability, we warmly invite you to read about our project here.
For additional questions and inquiries, please don’t hesitate to reach out or engage on our LinkedIn page.
