Good pasta is a product of all the parts of a supply chain working together in a coordinated manner.
Durum wheat pasta, a typical product of the Italian culinary tradition, has achieved great international acclaim as a result of the rise of the Mediterranean diet. This success has also had a positive effect on the Italian trade balance.
Many different types of workers contribute to the production of pasta (seed producers, farmers, stockists, millers, pasta makers, etc.), and each one provides a specific and essential contribution towards a quality manufacturing process. The interaction of these people gives rise to the "durum wheat and pasta manufacturing supply chain".
Because quality is generated through a supply-chain process, Barilla operates by integrating itself with the various stages of the manufacturing chain. The development of new varieties of durum wheat and the complementary activities of monitoring the progress of new products on the market, allows Barilla to "sow seeds", not only selecting but also to designing its own ingredients.
Breeding companyA seed production company takes at least 8-10 years to breed a new variety. The selection process starts with the choice of the parent lines to be crossbred based on specific supply chain objectives that will make the sale of the new variety possible.
The main characteristics that contribute to the success of a variety are:
Barilla has invested in this sector by entering into agreements with the "Società Produttori Sementi Bologna" (Society of Seed Producers of Bologna) for the selection of new varieties, as well as on an international level by highlighting the importance of characteristics such as protein content, gluten quality and yellow pigment content.
New varieties must therefore satisfy the requirements of the farming community as well as the food industry.
Seed multiplicationThe "Società Italiana Sementi" (SIS) (Italian Seed Society), a farmers’ cooperative based in Bologna sells so-called "technical seeds" to agricultural businesses. In this way it carries out the role of a seed grower, allowing the large-scale production of the grain varieties they produce.
FarmerThe degree to which the qualitative-quantitative potential of a grain variety is achieved depends greatly on the environment and agricultural techniques employed. This is why the farmer performs a fundamental role in the durum wheat production process, determining the result of the harvest in terms of quality and quantity. The main choices faced by the farmer are:
the farmer aims to maximize production, but is also responsible for the qualitative characteristics of the grain.
Storage facilitiesThe stockist’s role has always been carried out in the space between the worlds of agriculture and industry. With the rise of the supply chain concept, this figure has undergone a profound evolution to offer an improved and increased range of services. A modern grain storage facility allows durum wheat to be partitioned on the basis of specific qualitative parameters. Another fundamental aspect of grain storage is preservation. This allows the raw material to be kept over time, maintaining a fundamental qualitative characteristic: wholesomeness.
From sowing to harvesting, Barilla is "out in the fields", checking that the parameters agreed with the farmers are correctly applied. Even the "design" stage of the raw material, in this case durum wheat, is closely followed by Barilla in collaboration with highly specialised bodies.