Every grain of wheat travels a long road before becoming bread or pasta.
From farms to silos, mills, and ports, transportation plays a major role in the cereal sector’s carbon footprint.
The challenge for the coming decades is to cut emissions not only in fields but across the entire supply chain — and green hydrogen is emerging as a key solution.
Transport and Carbon Impact
Transport accounts for about 25% of global CO₂ emissions, and agricultural logistics contributes significantly.
In the wheat sector, the most impactful stages are:
- truck transport from farms to storage;
- port and maritime logistics;
- diesel use in harvesting and handling.
According to FAO (2024), one tonne of wheat transported 1,000 km by road emits 65–70 kg of CO₂, compared with 25 kg by rail and 10 kg by ship.
Decarbonizing means rethinking vehicles, fuels, and infrastructure.
Green Hydrogen: Clean Energy for Heavy Mobility
Green hydrogen is produced by electrolyzing water with renewable energy.
It emits no CO₂ during use and can power trucks, trains, and ships independently of fossil fuels.
In Europe:
- Germany’s H2Agrilog connects wind farms with hydrogen refueling hubs for agri-logistics;
- Italy’s Hydrograin Puglia 2025 links the Foggia–Bari–Taranto corridor using hydrogen-powered farm machinery and trucks;
- France and Spain are testing hydrogen freight trains connecting inland grain basins to export ports.
The JRC (2025) projects that replacing diesel vehicles with hydrogen ones could cut emissions in Europe’s cereal logistics by 60% by 2040.
Ports and Storage: Strategic Nodes
Ports like Ravenna, Bari, and Civitavecchia are key nodes in Italy’s grain trade.
The Hydrogen Port Network initiative is setting up:
- local electrolysis plants,
- cryogenic storage,
- and hydrogen refueling for short-range freight.
Under the EU TEN-T 2024 Regulation, every major port must have at least one hydrogen refueling point by 2030, paving the way for carbon-free grain routes.
Trains and Farm Machinery of the Future
Beyond logistics, manufacturers such as CNH Industrial and New Holland are testing hydrogen-powered tractors, cutting emissions by up to 90%.
Meanwhile, RFI is trialing hydrogen freight trains on Italy’s Bologna–Ravenna cereal corridor — a glimpse of the low-carbon future of agri-transport.
A Systemic Transition
Decarbonizing wheat logistics is more than a technological upgrade — it’s a territorial partnership.
If hydrogen production is powered by solar or wind energy from farms, the cereal chain could become energy self-sufficient and nearly emission-free.
This is the vision of agriculture as a producer of both food and clean energy — closing the loop of sustainability.
Scientific and Institutional References
- FAO (2024). Energy and Emissions in Agri-Food Logistics.
- JRC (2025). Hydrogen Corridors for Agricultural Supply Chains in Europe.
- European Commission (2024). ReFuelEU Maritime & TEN-T Regulations.
- ISPRA (2024). Emissions and Agricultural Transport in Italy.
- CREA (2025). Decarbonizing Cereal Logistics in Italy.