Horizon Milling’s resources to capture sustainable market opportunities

Consumers are bombarded with news and images that tie to sustainability issues – rising global temperatures, air pollution, concerns over water and other natural resources and animal welfare. In a study by the Natural Marketing Institute, 51 percent of consumers prefer to purchase products that are manufactured sustainably.¹ Sustainability, for the food industry, can be defined as the ability to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. Sustainability has penetrated the consciousness and purchasing behavior of consumers and industry needs to respond with creative, useful, sustainable products that consumers can afford.

As more consumers choose to buy from companies that set high standards for sustainable food production, Horizon Milling developed a customizable sustainability program. This program links precision agriculture technology through the supply chain, from the farmer to the bakery, to help customers execute against their strategic sustainability focus areas.

EcoFlour™ sustainability solutions open opportunities to create more eco-friendly products and to help achieve strategic sustainability goals. EcoFlour™ can help customers: 

• Develop new products to reach the growing audience of consumers concerned about sustainability
• Make improvements in reducing your company’s carbon footprint
• Source responsibly to enhance your company’s reputation
• Support your customers’ sustainability initiatives

The EcoFlour™ program combines unique ingredients, origination and supply chain capabilities. EcoFlour™ ingredients are made from exclusive Horizon Milling

identity-preserved wheat. Customers benefit from our advanced milling technology and strategically located wheat mills that produce consistent, high-quality EcoFlour™ ingredients to your specifications.

A technology called precision agriculture is employed with this program. Precision agriculture combines satellite imagery and soil samples to identify the best use of fertilizer on the farmer’s field. The farmer then uses this information to apply nutrients to the crop only where they are needed.  Studies have shown that precision agriculture uses less fertilizer than conventional practices, less energy, and reduces emissions while increasing the amount of wheat grown on the land. The EcoFlour program’s approach to precision agriculture can reduce energy use equivalent of up to 8 gallons of diesel fuel per acre.²

Interest is growing as to where products originate and whether they are produced in a sustainable manner. Horizon Milling considers sustainability to be part of the company’s commitment to conduct business with integrity and responsibility; to treat people with dignity and respect, and to help protect and conserve the environment.

¹ NMI (Health and Wellness Report), 2010
² Environmental Innovation at Cargill, 2010