Team Up for Sustaining Tomorrow: How to Drive Change in Regenerative Agriculture Through Collaboration
Three key ingredients companies—Puratos, Raffinerie Tirlemontoise (part of the Südzucker Sugar Division) and BENEO (part of the Südzucker Group), collaborate on a joint Climate Farming Project. The initiative supports Belgian farmers in implementing more sustainable farming practices and promotes regenerative agricultural principles that contribute to enhancing soil health and reducing environmental impact. We had the chance to speak with Puratos’ Sustainability Director Francesca Angiulli, about why this initiative is important to Puratos as well as the key takeaways and benefits of this project.
Südzucker: Could you describe your role at Puratos and explain the company’s role in the Climate Farming Project?
Francesca Angiulli: I’m Francesca Angiulli, Sustainability Director at Puratos, where I lead the global sustainability strategy and its integration across all areas of our business. At Puratos, our purpose is to move the planet forward by developing innovative food solutions for the health and well-being of people everywhere. Together with my team, I ensure that our actions across the value chain support both environmental sustainability and the people who drive our food systems.
For us, sustainability is about walking the talk and through our Climate Farming Project with Raffinerie Tirlemontoise and BENEO, we’re doing just that—working hand-in-hand with farmers to regenerate the land and integrating these practices into our supply chain, so that sustainability is embedded in the way we source, produce, and deliver food.
Südzucker: How and why was this collaboration between Puratos, Raffinerie Tirlemontoise and BENEO started?
Francesca Angiulli: All three companies—Puratos, Raffinerie Tirlemontoise and BENEO—are connected through the same regional supply chain and work with farmers in the same area. BENEO and Südzucker have been long-standing, trusted partners and Raffinerie Tirlemontoise brings a strong connection to the farming community, which is essential for driving meaningful change on the ground.
This collaboration was born out of a shared belief: we can achieve more together than alone. By joining forces, we aim to provide stronger support and accelerate the transition to regenerative agriculture. For Puratos, it all began in 2022 with the launch of our first regenerative agriculture pilot, initially focused on the wheat flour supply chain. However, to truly make a difference for bakers, pastry chefs, and chocolatiers, we realized we needed to go beyond wheat. Sugar and gluten are also key ingredients, and reducing their environmental impact has become a natural next step.
Südzucker: What current and future challenges is Puratos hoping to tackle with this collaboration and the Climate Farming Project?
Francesca Angiulli: We’ve all experienced extreme weather events—clear signs that climate change is disrupting agriculture. At Puratos, we are deeply committed to food innovation for good: reimagining how food is grown and sourced to nourish both people and the planet for generations to come.
This project is designed to future-proof our supply chain and meet the rising expectations of our customers. Insights from our Taste Tomorrow consumer research programme reveal that people are asking for responsibility, transparency and action from food companies:
- 70% of consumers believe companies should take responsibility for the future of food.
- 72% want to know where their food comes from.
- 66% are actively seeking food that’s better for the planet.
This collaboration is our response to those expectations and we believe it is our duty to do so as a responsible food company. Together, we build transparent, regenerative supply chains and turn sustainability into action—by supporting farmers directly and making a difference.
Südzucker: Why is Regenerative Agriculture such an important component of a more sustainable future, for you?
Francesca Angiulli: Regenerative Agriculture is at the heart of sustainability—it’s about restoring balance in our ecosystems, and it is about thinking with a long-term mindset about the needs of the present. It helps rebuild soil health, enhance biodiversity, and empower farmers to lead the transition toward more responsible practices. And more importantly, it’s a hopeful, human-centered approach that protects natural resources and ensures a better future for all.
Francesca Angiulli
Sustainability Director
Puratos“For us, sustainability is about walking the talk and through our Climate Farming Project, we’re doing just that—working hand-in-hand with farmers to regenerate the land using sustainable agricultural practices.”
Südzucker: What has been your key takeaway from this project and the collaboration, so far?
Francesca Angiulli: First of all, we have noticed that every farmer, every crop, and every season is different. That’s why we need to align on clear, flexible metrics—so we can measure impact meaningfully across different plots and practices. And very importantly, farmers are part of the solution—not the problem. They’re doing incredible work, often under challenging conditions, and they bring deep knowledge and innovation to the table. And above all, trust is essential. Building long-term relationships with farmers and partners is what makes real progress possible. It’s not just about data—it’s about dialogue, respect, and shared goals.
Francesca Angiulli is Group Sustainability Director at Puratos, where she leads global initiatives to build regenerative and transparent supply chains. With a long experience in sustainability, technical & regulatory affairs, and environmental chemistry, she has worked across different industries—from Agfa and AISE to the European Chemicals Agency. Francesca holds degrees in Environmental Chemistry and she obtained a certification in Business Sustainability Management from the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership’.
Südzucker: What is the greatest benefit for you and Puratos, in such a strategic partnership with Südzucker, when it comes to sustainability?
Francesca Angiulli: It’s about scale — with purpose. Meaning that Südzucker’s reach allows us to amplify the impact of regenerative agriculture across more farms and raw materials. Today we are still at a pilot phase with 15 farms in Belgium already part of the Climate farming project. We are building strong know-how together with the objective to go to scale up. The insights generated are already being used by Raffinerie Tirlemontoise in the scale-up process across their farms in Belgium, since 2024, on a voluntary basis.
And even more to add: our partnership goes beyond sustainable farming. When you consider that cultivation represents up to 41% of the total environmental footprint while manufacturing accounts for up to 52%, it is easy to see why Südzucker is also committed to reducing the environmental footprint of sugar production, tackling energy-intensive processes and driving innovation in manufacturing.
By joining forces, we’re shaping a food system that’s more responsible, more resilient and more aligned with the needs of people and the planet—today and for generations to come.
Südzucker: Thank you for these interesting insights.
