Fertilisers, commonly used in agriculture to enhance productivity, have been found to have detrimental effects on the environment. Recent research indicates that conventional fertilisers contribute to approximately 5% of global greenhouse gas emissions. In response to this concern, Nestlé UK & Ireland and Cargill, in collaboration with CCm Technologies, are embarking on a new project to revolutionize fertiliser production by utilizing cocoa shells, an unconventional source.
Cocoa shells are typically considered waste in cocoa production and are either left on cocoa plantations or used as animal feed. However, studies have shown that cocoa shells can be upcycled into various valuable products, such as food additives, biofuels, and even fertilisers for agricultural use.
In this regenerative agriculture project by Nestlé and Cargill, the conventional mineral nitrogen found in fertilisers is being replaced with naturally occurring organic nitrogen from cocoa shells. According to Matt Ryan, the regeneration lead at Nestlé UK and Ireland, this innovative approach aims to enhance crop production while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
CCm Technologies, based in Swindon, is collaborating with Cargill by supplying processed and pelletised cocoa shells for the production of fertiliser. Over the next two years, Cargill and Nestlé will evaluate the impact of this low carbon fertiliser on crop production, soil health, and greenhouse gas emissions reduction.
These trials are being conducted on arable farms in Suffolk and Northamptonshire, which supply wheat to Nestlé, and are overseen by Fera Science Ltd, based in York. The evaluation will compare the effects of the low carbon fertiliser on soil diversity and greenhouse gas emissions to those of conventional products used on the same farms.
If the trial proves successful, it is estimated that up to 7,000 tonnes of low carbon fertiliser could be produced and made available to farmers in Nestlé’s UK wheat supply chain. This would account for approximately 25% of Nestlé UK’s total fertiliser usage for wheat.
Richard Ling, farm manager at Rookery Farm in Wortham, Norfolk, which supplies wheat to Nestlé’s pet food brand Purina, has already completed a season’s wheat cultivation using the new fertiliser. He attests to the effectiveness of the cocoa shell fertiliser, stating that there was no significant difference in yield compared to the conventional fertiliser.
Regarding the potential expansion of this project, Nestlé aims to prioritize its supply chain but remains open to opportunities to collaborate with other partners. The company is also exploring the use of other waste streams and hopes to scale up the technology to make low carbon fertilisers accessible to a larger proportion of UK farmers.
In conclusion, through the use of cocoa shells as an alternative source of nitrogen in fertilisers, Nestlé and Cargill are spearheading a project to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve sustainability in the food and beverage industry. By leveraging innovative solutions, these companies aim to redefine fertiliser production and contribute to a more environmentally conscious agricultural sector.
