09.17.21
A regenerative food system protects and restores the environment, improves the livelihoods of farmers, and enhances the well-being of farming communities, according to Nestlé. To support and accelerate the transition to a regenerative food system, Nestlé will invest CHF 1.2 billion over the next five years.
The company said it will work with its food system partners, including its network of more than 500,000 farmers and 150,000 suppliers, to advance regenerative farming practices at the heart of the food system. Nestlé will also initiate new programs to help address social and economic challenges of the transition.
The company’s announcement was made leading up to the UN Food Systems Summit in New York. It also follows a recent report from the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change that shows the climate crisis is intensifying.
"We know that regenerative agriculture plays a critical role in improving soil health, restoring water cycles and increasing biodiversity for the long term," said Paul Bulcke, Chairman of Nestlé. "These outcomes form the foundation of sustainable food production and, crucially, also contribute to achieving our ambitious climate targets."
"With our long-standing partnerships with farming communities globally, we want to increase our support for farming practices that are good for the environment and good for people," said Mark Schneider, Nestlé CEO. "In the spirit of enabling a just transition it is vital that we support farmers around the world that take on the risks and costs associated with the move towards regenerative agriculture."
Investment Priorities
The CHF 1.2 billion investment over the next five years aims to spark regenerative agriculture across the company's supply chain, using three levers to help farmers adopt regenerative practices:
Nestlé also detailed important regenerative farming practices its wants to promote, including: enhancement of biodiversity, soil conservation, regeneration of water cycles and integration of livestock.
Agriculture accounts for nearly two-thirds of Nestlé's total greenhouse gas emissions, with dairy and livestock making up about half of that. In dairy, for example, Nestlé is assessing cutting edge science and technology to reduce emissions at farm level. The company will start working with 30 reference dairy farms in 12 countries to test scalable, climate-friendly and regenerative agricultural practices that help achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions. Nestlé is also working with farmers to select and cultivate nutritious and tasty pulse varieties to be used as milk alternatives.
More information about the company’s regenerative agriculture priorities can be found here.
Supporting Farmers
Nestlé said it’s committed to supporting improved and diversified farmer incomes through its sustainability programs. The company will implement new living income programs for farmers in its value chain to make farming more attractive. Later this year, Nestlé will unveil specific plans for its coffee and cocoa supply chains.
To support young people who are passionate about farming, Nestlé is launching a new training platform in November to attract and train the next generation of farmers. The training will focus on regenerative agriculture practices and improving the resilience of farms to climate change for more than 40,000 farmers participating in one of Nestlé's agripreneurship programs.
The company said it will work with its food system partners, including its network of more than 500,000 farmers and 150,000 suppliers, to advance regenerative farming practices at the heart of the food system. Nestlé will also initiate new programs to help address social and economic challenges of the transition.
The company’s announcement was made leading up to the UN Food Systems Summit in New York. It also follows a recent report from the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change that shows the climate crisis is intensifying.
"We know that regenerative agriculture plays a critical role in improving soil health, restoring water cycles and increasing biodiversity for the long term," said Paul Bulcke, Chairman of Nestlé. "These outcomes form the foundation of sustainable food production and, crucially, also contribute to achieving our ambitious climate targets."
"With our long-standing partnerships with farming communities globally, we want to increase our support for farming practices that are good for the environment and good for people," said Mark Schneider, Nestlé CEO. "In the spirit of enabling a just transition it is vital that we support farmers around the world that take on the risks and costs associated with the move towards regenerative agriculture."
Investment Priorities
The CHF 1.2 billion investment over the next five years aims to spark regenerative agriculture across the company's supply chain, using three levers to help farmers adopt regenerative practices:
- Apply state-of-the-art science and technology, provide technical assistance: Leveraging its network of R&D experts and agronomists, Nestlé is, for example, developing higher-yielding coffee and cocoa varieties with lower environmental impact and assessing novel solutions to reduce emissions in the dairy supply chain. Nestlé will also offer agricultural training and help farmers exchange information and best practices that can be adapted locally.
- Offer investment support: The transition to regenerative agriculture comes with initial risks and new costs. Nestlé will support farmers by co-investing with them, facilitating lending or helping them obtain loans for specific equipment. The company will also work with partners to fund pilot projects to test and learn how best to advance regenerative agriculture.
- Pay premiums for regenerative agriculture goods: Nestlé will offer premiums for many raw materials produced using regenerative agriculture practices and buy bigger quantities. This means rewarding farmers not only for the quantity and quality of ingredients, but also for the benefits they provide to the environment through soil protection, water management and carbon sequestration.
Nestlé also detailed important regenerative farming practices its wants to promote, including: enhancement of biodiversity, soil conservation, regeneration of water cycles and integration of livestock.
Agriculture accounts for nearly two-thirds of Nestlé's total greenhouse gas emissions, with dairy and livestock making up about half of that. In dairy, for example, Nestlé is assessing cutting edge science and technology to reduce emissions at farm level. The company will start working with 30 reference dairy farms in 12 countries to test scalable, climate-friendly and regenerative agricultural practices that help achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions. Nestlé is also working with farmers to select and cultivate nutritious and tasty pulse varieties to be used as milk alternatives.
More information about the company’s regenerative agriculture priorities can be found here.
Supporting Farmers
Nestlé said it’s committed to supporting improved and diversified farmer incomes through its sustainability programs. The company will implement new living income programs for farmers in its value chain to make farming more attractive. Later this year, Nestlé will unveil specific plans for its coffee and cocoa supply chains.
To support young people who are passionate about farming, Nestlé is launching a new training platform in November to attract and train the next generation of farmers. The training will focus on regenerative agriculture practices and improving the resilience of farms to climate change for more than 40,000 farmers participating in one of Nestlé's agripreneurship programs.
