The perfect sustainable Neapolitan pizza

ADM has teamed up with Ooni to deliver a high-quality pizza flour while advancing ADM’s regenerative agriculture program. Launched in 2023, this initiative was designed to partner with farmers and focus on “an outcome-based farming approach that protects and improves soil health, biodiversity and water resources while also supporting business development” explained Ashley Fuller, ADM’s commercial director.

Regenerative Agriculture: a sustainable future for farming

As farmers face increasing economic challenges, regenerative agriculture emerges as both an environmentally and financially sustainable solution. “Our programs are designed to support growers with the cost of the risk of implementing these actions on the ground,” introduced Allie Hesketh, ADM’s Climate Smart Ag UK country coordinator. “We also know that in the UK farm support is changing. Our UK program aims to dovetail into changing and evolving UK farm support, just so growers can draw down as much support as they need at this difficult time for UK farming.” she adds.

ADM’s partnership with Map of AG, a leading global data platform, has been pivotal in the program’s success as it has “some amazing data analysis that kept us ahead of the curve when launching our program” Hesketh added. The program incorporates advanced remote data collection systems, thorough validation processes, and robust verification practices to ensure high standards.

For farmers like William Bradley from J G Owen & Co, the regenerative agriculture program presents an opportunity to stay at the forefront of sustainable farming. “For me, it made complete sense because a lot of the stuff that’s in the scheme is stuff we’re already doing. Regenerative practices not only make financial sense for us but also, they’re good for the environment,” he explains.

Over the last five years, Bradley’s Yorkshire farm has experienced reductions in its carbon footprint, fuel costs, and labour, alongside improvements in soil health and livestock integration. “We’re getting more organic matter into the soil and […] livestock integrated into the system. It’s a really nice cyclical way of everything going back in and is making big improvements to our soil.” Will adds. “It’s certainly tough times at the moment for farming but schemes like this are a way of grabbing the little bits where you can and make the most of it”.

OONI: redefining pizza with purpose

Ooni, known for its pizza ovens, identified a gap in the market for premium pizza ingredients and entered the space in 2021, transforming home pizza-making experiences.

The project “is the first of the licensing plan that we have now to partner with experts such as ADM.” Claire Grant, senior project manager, groceries, Ooni Pizza Ovens explains. “It’s been a way to bring the product to match retail where we know customers are shopping and they’re getting their pizza ingredients – and to do so with a product that can feed into our sustainable business plan. “

Despite not being traditionally a pizza company, the company recognises the significance of flour — accounting for 57% of a pizza’s composition. “We have around 400,000 customers in the UK and we know they’re making pizza once or twice every month,” Grant adds. “This is a small part of our business but it’s a huge opportunity to create a product that can deliver amazing pizzas but also do so with a good purpose.”

Ooni type “00” pizza flour

In the past year, Ooni  has committed to evolving into a regenerative business, for the company “it means being one that is generating profiting whilst creating value for people and planet, rather than extracting value.” Kate Upshon, head of regenerative business, Ooni, explains.

“We started by identifying and articulating the outcomes that we want to see for the world and then walking backwards to identify what that means that we have to do today. And this partnership is a great opportunity for us to start implementing,” she adds.

The collaboration has led to the creation of Ooni’s double zero flour, specifically crafted for high-heat baking and longer fermentation — essential for the perfect Neapolitan-style pizza.

With over two million ovens sold globally and over 400,000 customers in the UK alone, Ooni aims to keep expanding its offerings. The company is set to launch a frozen pizza dough made exclusively from regenerative wheat into the UK market.

This partnership between ADM and Ooni not only enhances the home pizza experience but also sets a benchmark for how food companies can integrate sustainability into their products.

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