Harmony, the wheat sustainability programme launched by Mondelēz International in France, has become an independent certification scheme governed by the ProTerra Foundation. It is  now open to all actors in the European wheat value chain, moving it beyond a single company’s ownership after nearly 20 years.

A shared scheme

Announced from Utrecht on 28 September 2026, the change is one of ownership and governance.

Harmony began as a Mondelēz International initiative and has grown into what the announcement describes as one of Europe’s leading wheat sustainability initiatives, bringing together more than 1,200 farmers across Europe. It now covers approximately 57,000 hectares of wheat cultivated under the programme.

Under the new arrangement, Harmony is governed by the ProTerra Foundation, a nonprofit organisation specialising in sustainability certification systems. It is open to all eligible participants across the European wheat value chain, rather than being tied to one company’s supply base.

Three roles, kept apart

The structure rests on what ProTerra describes as a clear separation between governance, implementation and verification. Governance sits with the Foundation. Verification is carried out through third-party certification audits covering the entire value chain, from farm to finished product.

According to the announcement, this independent structure enhances transparency, credibility and trust, and is intended to support broader adoption across the sector.

A regulatory nudge

The timing is not accidental. The move reflects both the scheme’s maturity and growing expectations from consumers, customers and regulators for transparent, independently verified sustainability systems.

It also aligns with the changing European regulatory framework for sustainability labels: the EU Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition (ECGT) Directive begins to apply from 27 September 2026, introducing new requirements for independently governed and open sustainability labels.

Harmony, the announcement says, is evolving to meet those expectations.

What stays the same

The scheme is built on a science-based charter co-developed with farmers, scientific experts, NGOs and value chain partners.

It promotes practices that support soil health, biodiversity, crop diversification and responsible input management, while helping farmers strengthen the resilience, long-term performance and competitiveness of their operations.

Mondelēz International is not stepping away. While ownership evolves, Harmony remains a core pillar of the company’s sustainability ambition and strategy. It will continue to support innovation, pilot projects and farmer engagement, and will contribute to the scheme’s ongoing development as a member.

Guillaume Sauzay, MEU sustainable agriculture lead at Mondelēz International, said: “By evolving into an independent certification scheme, Harmony is now ready to scale its impact beyond Mondelēz International and contribute more broadly to the transformation of European wheat production.”

Emese Van Maanen, managing director of the ProTerra Foundation, said the Foundation looks forward to “welcoming new participants across the wheat value chain” and supporting Harmony’s growth as an open, credible and impactful scheme.

Framework 

In practical terms, “independent” and “open” describe who owns the rulebook and who can use it. Harmony’s standards and certification are a scheme with separate governance and external audit, which other businesses in the European wheat chain can join.

For those businesses, the announcement points to a ready-made, established framework rather than a new one. For Mondelēz International, it keeps a strategic programme alive while changing its status to that of a member.

The announcement does not set out eligibility criteria, membership terms or how the transition will work for existing participants. Those details will shape how quickly the wider value chain adopts the scheme.