The Basil Charter
Our Company
Basil is at the heart of what we do. Taking care of the basil supply chain means guaranteeing the quality of our products, working side-by-side with our producers and protecting biodiversity.
Our commitment to sustainability
BASIL FROM SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE
Since 2020, our basil has been sourced from sustainable agriculture. This means that every actor in our basil supply chain is annually audited and complies with the criteria of the ISCC PLUS certification system.
PROTECT BIODIVERSITY
Taking care of our basil means taking care of the fields where it's grown. We protect soil health through continuous crop rotation and areas of biodiversity. Through these actions, it is possible to increase the fertility of the soil and combat pests.
Our farmers, our family
We have built strong relationships with our farmers over the years and work closely together to produce high-quality products.
The Basil Card
It is based on a set of agronomic, quality, and supplier relationship rules, defined in collaboration with scientific partners (University of Bologna and the agricultural experimentation and assistance center of the Riviera Ligure Chamber of Commerce (CersaA)).
It is made up of 9 rules designed to ensure we produce quality pesto, support the farming communities and protect biodiversity.
01
RELATIONSHIP WITH FARMERS
All members of the Basil Charter benefit from direct medium and long-term contracts that protect the distribution of value along the supply chain, through a sustainability bonus for each actor involved.
02
VARIETAL CHOICE
All members of the Barilla sustainable basil supply chain must use only varieties indicated in the specifications, which have been selected to be naturally tolerant to fungal diseases.
03
CROP ROTATION
All members of Barilla sustainable basil supply chain on an equivalent surface (*), must adopt a crop rotation plan that includes at least no basil regrowth.
*Surface area equivalent to the quantity of basil destined for Barilla, with a precautionary increase of 10%.
04
PHYTOSANITARY DEFENSE
All members of the Barilla sustainable basil supply chain must apply the guidelines recommended in the specifications, which are more restrictive than current regulations.
05
SOIL HEALTH
All members of the Barilla sustainable basil supply chain must monitor the biological quality of the soils intended for basil, every 2 years, on at least 20% of the equivalent surface area (*) through specific analyses (QBSAR and organic substance).
06
IRRIGATION
All members of the Barilla sustainable basil supply chain must adopt precision irrigation systems aimed at increasing efficiency and saving water use.
07
BIODIVERSITY AREAS
All members of the Barilla sustainable basil supply chain, must plant an area equal to 3% of the equivalent surface area (*) with plant essences to create habitats for pollinating insects (flower strips, hedges, tree rows, or a combination of the previous alternatives).
08
COLLECTION STANDARDS
All members of the Barilla sustainable basil supply chain are required to cut the plant to a maximum length of 30 centimeters.
09
DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEMS-FIELD AND DIGITIZATION OF THE SUPPLY CHAIN
All members of the “Basil Charter,” must adopt the decision support systems, available in Barilla Farming, in order to optimize agricultural inputs according to the principles of sustainable agriculture.
Look for the logo on the shelves of your local supermarket "Basil from Sustainable Agriculture"
Barilla's commitment to sustainability, outlined in the Sustainable Agriculture Code, certifies basil production globally.
We are proud to collaborate with
Barilla Pesto is delicately prepared with high-quality ingredients.
Find out moreFREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHAT IS THE ORIGIN OF BARILLA PESTO BASIL?
Every year, more than 7,000 tons of basil arrive in our factory in Rubbiano, which is then combined with the other ingredients and transformed into our Barilla Pesto. Every single basil leaf in our Barilla Pesto is 100% Italian and comes mainly from fields and situations near our factories to minimize the time between harvesting and processing.
DOES THE USE OF BASIL FROM SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE IMPACT THE TASTE OF BARILLA PESTO?
No. We have preserved the quality of our Pesto sauces and their delicious taste while still certifying our basil comes from sustainable agriculture.
Discover different flavors of Barilla Pesto
Since its beginnings in Parma, Italy, the Barilla family has been passing down the secrets to great-quality Italian food including pesto. Barilla pesto sauce delivers a burst of Italian flavor to a wide range of dishes including pasta, pizza, sandwiches and many other delicious recipes!
Barilla pesto sauces are made in Italy with high-quality ingredients and provide irresistible flavor that will transport your taste buds to the Mediterranean.