Climate & Nature measures are implemented at farm level and aim to reduce climate impact and promote biodiversity in cultivation. However, these measures do not affect grain as a raw material in itself, such as the use of renewable fuel or the establishment of larch plots and flowering zones. Therefore, the mass balance principle is applied in the programme.

Mass balance means that grain grown on farms connected to the Climate & Nature programme is mixed with other grain in Lantmännen's existing product flow. This means that the grain is not separated all the way through the chain, and that it is therefore not possible to trace the raw material in an individual product back to a specific farm that has grown according to Climate & Nature.

Instead, Lantmännen ensures that the volume of grain sold as Climate & Nature never exceeds the volume contracted and grown within the programme. For each volume sold, corresponding cultivation measures on arable land are financed, which means that the climate and nature benefits are always created on the farm. An independent third party is tasked with reviewing the management of the mass balance so that Lantmännen does not sell more volume than they actually grow.

Why is mass balance used?

Keeping cereals separate all the way through the chain – from farm to finished product – would require a separate infrastructure for storage, transport and production. This would entail significant additional costs without producing any real difference in the quality or nutritional content of the product.

Such a solution would in practice make the transition significantly more expensive, reduce demand and thus slow down the pace of the transition to more sustainable agriculture. The mass balance model instead makes it possible to develop Climate & Nature on a large scale, while actual measures are implemented where they are most beneficial.

What does this mean for you as a consumer or customer?

• You can be sure that the grain volume required for the product has been grown according to Climate & Nature
• Actions have no impact on the quality of the product. 
• The climate and nature benefits have been created through actual measures on arable land
• By choosing Climate & Nature-connected products, you contribute to more farmers being able to participate in the transition

The mass balance is monitored and checked on an ongoing basis, and the management is reviewed by an independent party.