Pesto Barilla presents Accademia del Basilico, the new education program for basil farmers
18 March 2025
As basil sowing begins, Barilla launches its new initiative Accademia del Basilico, a training program specifically designed to empower farmers and teach techniques and practices for sustainable basil cultivation. With demand for pesto rising globally, the pesto market experienced a 17% growth in volume from 2023 to 2024 , Barilla places its hero ingredient, basil, at the heart of its sustainability story.
Crafted from a 100% Italian basil supply chain, Pesto Barilla is produced with sustainably farmed basil, which is ISCC Plus certified as part of the Barilla Basil Charter, a set of guidelines verified by RINA, an independent third party. This concept of sustainability is therefore further strengthened by the new Accademia del Basilico. All production takes place at the Rubbiano sauce plant in Parma province.
Accademia del Basilico
In collaboration with DINAMICA, a local organization based in Emilia Emilia-Romagna region and specialized in agri-food training with the support of Open Fields Srl, Barilla has developed this comprehensive program, launched in January 2025, consisting of seven lessons aimed at enhancing farming practices across the basil supply chain. Topics covered include soil preservation care, disease prevention and Agriculture 4.0, equipping participants with the skills to reduce their carbon footprint while maintaining food safety and quality. The program fostered collaboration among 21 key partners across the entire basil production process, culminating in experimental trials and roundtable discussions focused on innovative solutions for future challenges in basil cultivation. The vision of this one-of-a-kind educational program is twofold: fostering long-term, meaningful relationships with farming communities and bringing value to the Barilla basil supply chain.
"Our Accademia del Basilico isn't just about farming. It is about creating a community of growers who can share knowledge, collaborate, and adopt sustainable practices that improve the basil supply chain,"says Matteo Gori, President of Condiments at Barilla. "This initiative underscores Pesto Barilla's ongoing commitment to sustainability, restoring biodiversity, supporting the people who work it, and fostering a responsible and innovative approach to agriculture."
Starting with an overview of the main phytosanitary issues, the lecturers who took turns during the various sessions of the Basil Academy analyzed the economic and productive impacts of diseases and pests that can damage basil crops. They explained how to recognize the symptoms of certain diseases, identify infestations of major insect species, and adopt key prevention and control techniques. Moreover, the topic of Agriculture 4.0 provided an opportunity to discuss the potential of "precision" agricultural management. In general, the application of digital technologies in agriculture proves useful in supporting the planning of strategies for farming activities. Thanks to increasingly sophisticated digital tools, such as Decision Support Systems (DSS) for managing basil diseases, it is possible to implement measures tailored to the specific needs of the plant, using the right tools at the most suitable times.
Simone Bernardi from the company Agricola Bernardi confirms this, explaining: "If just a few years ago the use of certain tools was unthinkable, today technology is increasingly becoming an important part of our work, because it allows us to optimize time and produce high-quality raw materials. Being the primary actors in the supply chain is a source of pride for us basil farmers, but it also comes with great responsibility; continuous training and digitalization are essential to pursue goals of quality and sustainability."
Alessia Bonati, from the agricultural company La Felina, also shares how the agricultural world, traditionally rooted in the past, is increasingly embracing innovation: "This doesn’t mean rejecting traditions, but adopting new agricultural practices that are more respectful of the environment through new knowledge. From experience, I can say that the presence of many women in a traditionally male-dominated world is a symbol of positive change, bringing new approaches and perspectives in an atmosphere of sharing and mutual collaboration."
A Basil from Sustainable Agriculture
As the global leader in the pesto market with a 40.4% global value share, Pesto Barilla is made with basil from sustainable agriculture, according to ISCC Plus. Established in 2020, Barilla Basil Charter is Barilla’s initiative, including stringent requirements, such as ISCC Plus third-party certification for suppliers and annual audits, along with crop rotation practices that support biodiversity. Additionally, Barilla invests in farming communities through multi-year contracts and offers decision-making support via a Barilla-owned platform, Barilla farming, helping farmers optimize harvesting times, water use, and fertilization.
Packaging with recycled glass and Basil Traceability
In 2024 Barilla has introduced a new packaging made from recycled glass- The Half Flint Jar is made with up to 65% recycled glass and is already used in over 43 million pesto jars, a figure that aims to grow in the following years. Created in collaboration with Zignago Vetro, our partner for over thirty years, The Half Flint Jar significantly reduces raw material consumption, energy use, and CO₂ emissions. An Environmental Product Declaration (EPD), a certified report detailing a product’s life cycle impact, confirms that these jars lower emissions by 28% compared to standard white glass, assuming the same electricity supply source between the two productions.
Additionally, since June 2023, Pesto Barilla alla Genovese has enabled consumers to trace the basil’s journey from field to jar via blockchain. This traceability is made possible by the QR code on the packaging, allowing consumers to scan and access detailed information about the basil’s origins and journey through the supply chain. In July 2024, this functionality expanded to 14 other European markets.
With Accademia del Basilico, Barilla is contributing to set a new industry benchmark for sustainability in basil production, striving to ensure that every jar of Pesto Barilla reflects the company’s unwavering dedication to quality, innovation, and environmental sustainability.
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