Nestlé, a leader in the food and beverage industry, has announced a strategic partnership with Olam Food Ingredients (OFI) to significantly reduce carbon emissions and address deforestation issues in cocoa production.
This initiative spans Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, and Brazil, with the goal of supporting approximately 25,000 farmers in adopting climate-smart agricultural practices over the next five years.
“People are at the heart of our climate actions,” states Darrell High, cocoa plan manager at Nestlé. “By collaborating with OFI, we will assist farmers in transitioning to climate-smart farming. This shift toward a more regenerative food system will strengthen our cocoa supply chain and progress our shared climate objectives for 2030 and beyond.”
To ensure accountability, the carbon footprint of all transitioned farms will be monitored until 2055. OFI’s carbon experts anticipate that this initiative will lead to a reduction of approximately 1.5 million tonnes of carbon emissions over the next three decades.
Additionally, the project aims to cultivate over 72,000 hectares of agroforestry. This includes the planting of around 2.8 million trees, which will be third-party verified and monitored to guarantee compliance with the project’s sustainability goals.
Advancing Sustainable Cocoa Production
This ambitious project aligns with Nestlé’s Cocoa Plan and its 2050 Net Zero targets, while also contributing to OFI’s Cocoa Compass sustainability framework.
“We’re tackling climate challenges by placing farmers at the center of the solution,” explains Andrew Brooks, global head of cocoa sustainability at OFI. “By working closely with cocoa communities, we can equip farmers to adapt to and mitigate climate change, ultimately enhancing the supply of sustainable cocoa ingredients.”
Project Components
Initiatives are already in progress across Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, and Brazil.
Farmers are undergoing training programs focused on becoming more “forest-positive,” emphasizing the benefits of agroforestry and carbon capture techniques.
Key Components:
Training in Climate-Smart Agricultural Practices:
Farmers receive comprehensive training on sustainable farming methods, including the integration of shade trees among cocoa crops. Additionally, they learn effective practices for managing crop residues, like composting and mulching cocoa husks, which improves soil health and reduces greenhouse gas emissions.
Empowering Environmental Stewards:
The training also covers broader environmental and sustainability issues, including adherence to the African Regional Sustainability Standard (ARS) and European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). This initiative aims to deepen farmers’ understanding of their environment and empower them as stewards of sustainability.
Incentives for Financial Participation:
Farmers who participate receive financial incentives for planting and maintaining forest trees. This strategy encourages active involvement and commitment to achieving the partnership’s sustainability goals.
Assessing Carbon Capture Effectiveness:
Through efforts in reforestation and carbon capture, this partnership seeks to boost biodiversity and enhance soil health, creating a more sustainable and resilient cocoa supply chain. Data analysis will be conducted using OFI’s proprietary AtSource Digital Footprint Calculator.