Rosario, Argentina
May 10, 2021
- Havanna to Develop and Rollout Food Products Manufactured With HB4 Wheat in a Joint Effort to Reduce Carbon Footprint and Fight Climate Change
- Farm-to-Fork Process Will be Fully Traceable and Secured on Blockchain Technology
Bioceres Crop Solutions Corp. (“Bioceres” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: BIOX), a fully-integrated global provider of crop productivity solutions designed to enable the transition of agriculture towards carbon neutrality, has entered into a definitive agreement with Havanna SA (“Havanna”), a food production and retail company with a chain of over 300 stores across the America’s and Europe, to offer its customers HB4 wheat-based sustainable products.
The new agreement will give Havanna customers in Brazil and Argentina the option to choose food products with a significantly reduced carbon footprint and other environmental positive externalities that help fight climate change and preserve native ecosystems. Importantly, the farm-to-fork identity preserved process structured under the ongoing Generation HB4 program will enable partnered products to include field-specific information, climate facts and other key data of potential interest to consumers, all secured on blockchain technology.
On October 8, 2020, Bioceres received regulatory approval from Argentina’s Ministry of Agriculture for the Company’s HB4 Wheat ‘event’ for growth and consumption. Argentina is Latin America´s largest wheat producer and the world’s first country to adopt HB4 drought tolerance technology for this staple crop. Bioceres is committed to pursuing the development and commercialization of sustainable products and this agreement with Havanna represents the Company’s first consumer application.
Founded in 1947, Havanna distributes its products around the world including a variety of cookies, chocolates and cereal bars. In 1995 the company expanded its business scope, opening owned and franchised stores for its sophisticated customers to enjoy its baked goods through a comfortable and trendy coffeehouse experience. Today Havanna has become a leading player in the high-end coffee shops segment in South America, operating over 300 stores in premium upscale locations across Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Peru, as well as Spain and the United States.
ESG Initiatives
Today, agriculture is estimated to contribute close to one quarter of global GHG emissions. Wheat varieties with HB4 technology increase yields by 20% and CO2 sequestration by up to 7%, on average, during growing seasons impacted by droughts. Substantially higher crop yields through HB4 also reduce the need to expand agriculture’s global footprint, while aiding in the reversion of fragile agricultural land back to native ecosystems.Bioceres’ identity-preserved Generation HB4 program utilizes service contracts with growers who are committed to preserving the identity of the HB4 crop under a full production offtake agreement. The agreement includes regenerative agriculture practices which are enhanced by Bioceres’ technologies, significantly contributing to the transition of agriculture towards carbon neutrality.
About Havanna SA
Havanna (BCBA: HAVA) is an Argentine manufacturer of food products, mostly known for its alfajores. The company also operates its own system of franchise coffee stores and exports its products to Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, France, Israel, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Spain, the United Kingdom, the United States, Uruguay and Venezuela. Havanna’s history began in 1947 at a small bakery in Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Customers were highly impressed by the taste of the company’s chocolate and dulce de leche products. The company has now more than 300 coffee stores in addition to many distribution outlets around the world. Havanna products are also sold at premium retail chains, supermarkets and deli shops. For more information click here.
About Bioceres Crop Solutions Corp.
Bioceres Crop Solutions Corp. (NASDAQ: BIOX) is a fully integrated global provider of crop productivity technologies designed to enable the transition of agriculture towards carbon neutrality. To do this, Bioceres’ solutions create economic incentives for farmers and other stakeholders to adopt environmentally friendlier production practices. The Company has a unique biotech platform with high-impact, patented technologies for seeds and microbial ag-inputs, as well as next generation crop nutrition and protection solutions. Through its HB4® program, the Company is bringing digital solutions to support growers’ decisions and provide end-to-end traceability for production outputs. For more information, click here.
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