By; MATTHEW UKACHUNWA Lagos
Nestle has launched Nescafe Plan 2030 to help drive regenerative agriculture, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve farmers’ livelihood.
“Nescafé, Nestlé’s largest coffee brand and one of the world’s favorite coffees, outlined today its extensive plan to help make coffee farming more sustainable: the Nescafé Plan 2030.
“The brand is working with coffee farmers to help them transition to regenerative agriculture while accelerating its decade of work under the Nescafé Plan,” Bola Audu, Corporate Communications Specialist of Nestle Nigeria PLC, wrote in a press statement.
Audu reported that the brand is investing over one billion Swiss francs by 2030 in the Nescafé Plan 2030.
According to him, this investment builds on the existing Nescafé Plan as the brand expands its sustainability work. “It is supported by Nestlé’s regenerative agriculture financing following the Group’s commitment to accelerate the transition to a regenerative food system and ambition to achieve zero net greenhouse gas emissions,” the Nestle communications chief elaborated.
He pointed out that climate change is putting coffee-growing areas under pressure, stressing: “Building on 10 years’ experience of the Nescafé Plan, we’re accelerating our work to help tackle climate change and address social and economic challenges in the Nescafé value chains.”
David Rennie, Head of Nestlé Coffee Brands, said that rising temperatures will reduce the area suitable for growing coffee by up to 50 per cent by 2050.
According to Rennie, at the same time, around 125 million people depend on coffee for their livelihoods and an estimated 80 per cent of coffee-farming families live at or below the poverty line.
He declared that action is needed to ensure the long-term sustainability of coffee.
“As the world’s leading coffee brand, Nescafé aims to have a real impact on coffee farming globally,” Philipp Navratil, Head of Nestlé’s Coffee Strategic Business Unit, said. “We want coffee farmers to thrive as much as we want coffee to have a positive impact on the environment. Our actions can help drive change throughout the coffee industry.”
In a Press release dated 4th of October, 2022, Nestle Nigeria PLC said, “Supporting farmers’ transition to regenerative coffee farming:
Regenerative agriculture is an approach to farming that aims to improve soil health and fertility – as well as protect water resources and biodiversity. Healthier soils are more resilient to the impacts of climate change and can increase yields, helping improve farmers’ livelihoods.”
Nestle promised that it will provide farmers with training, technical assistance and high-yielding coffee plantlets to help them transition to regenerative coffee farming practices. Some examples of regenerative agriculture practices include the following:
“Planting cover crops helps to protect the soil. It also helps add biomass to the soil, which can increase soil organic matter and thus soil carbon sequestration.
Incorporating organic fertilizers contributes to soil fertility, which is essential for good soil health.
Increasing the use of agroforestry and intercropping contributes to biodiversity preservation.
“Pruning existing coffee trees or replacing them with disease and climate-change resistant varieties, will help rejuvenate coffee plots and increase yields for farmers.
Focusing on origins from where Nescafé sources 90% of its coffee
Nescafé will be working with coffee farmers to test, learn and assess the effectiveness of multiple regenerative agriculture practices.
“This will be done with a focus on seven key origins, from where the brand sources 90% of its coffee: Brazil, Vietnam, Mexico, Colombia, Côte d’Ivoire, Indonesia and Honduras,” the food and beverage producing firm wrote.
