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Regenerative agriculture

landscape with fields, woodland and mountains in distance

 

Our Net Zero Roadmap shows that nearly two-thirds of our global greenhouse gas emissions come from agriculture, so addressing these is essential for achieving our objectives.

We are supporting farmers and food producers to be part of this transformation by scaling regenerative agriculture, aiming to improve soil health, sequester carbon, support food security, restore water resources, and enable biodiversity.


Toward more regenerative practices on farms worldwide

15.2 %
20 %
50 %

What is regenerative agriculture?

Regenerative agriculture is a holistic approach to farming that actively supports the three agricultural resources – biodiversity, water, and soil – and which can benefit communities as part of a just transition.

The Nestlé model brings regenerative agriculture to life through five pillars: biodiversity; water security and quality; soil health; diverse cropping systems and livestock integration; collective and landscape action.

The main pillars of regenerative agriculture

  • Biodiversity
    We aim to support and increase biodiversity above and below the ground. Plant life can be enhanced with more diversified crops, intercropping or planting cover crops between harvests, while encouraging more abundant microbes, fungi and animal life – including invertebrates, insects and bird life – can contribute to improved soil nutrient cycles, pollination, fertility and productivity.

    Ecosystems that exist in this kind of natural equilibrium can also enhance farmers’ livelihoods and improve their resilience to climate change. In many farms and landscapes we source from, Nestlé is supporting farmers by providing shade and fruit trees that provide protection for crops.
    increasing biodiversity
  • Water security and quality
    Protecting the quality of natural waters and improved stewarding of scarce water resources is essential to regeneration. We recognise the need to play our part in helping to protect, restore and renew water sources throughout our agricultural supply chain and production operations, and in the communities where Nestlé has an impact.

    A more strategic approach to irrigation – from sprinkler, to drip and sub-service irrigation – minimises water evaporation compared to surface irrigation. Digital technology is also helping farms understand when land requires water, which can prevent over-use.

    We also aim to reduce chemical farm inputs and optimise organic fertilisation and biological pest control to reduce run-off.
    clean water
  • Soil health
    To grow the food that we and our pets eat, we need arable land and healthy soil. This vital resource has been often degraded by decades of changing land use such as urbanisation and deforestation. It has also suffered from the over-application of herbicides and pesticides and the practice of mono-cropping.

    We are helping to scale up farming practices that help protect soil health and increase soil organic matter by launching regenerative agriculture initiatives through our Farmer Connect program, which works closely with more than 500 000 farmers and 150 000 suppliers as well as local communities.

    Initiatives include crop rotation, mulching, organic fertilisers and minimising tillage. Organically ‘rich’ soils are more productive, maintain the integrity of land against soil erosion, retain more water and potentially store significant amounts of carbon.
    a hand holding healthy rich soil
  • Diverse cropping systems & livestock integration
    We aim to integrate livestock and optimise grazing in farming systems when feasible and relevant.

    Our work includes supporting farmers to use silvopasture – where trees are introduced into areas used for livestock grazing – alongside mixed farming of livestock and crops, cover crops to protect soil and improved manure management.

    Expected benefits include protection (for plant and animal life) from sun and wind, organic fertilisation, improved water management and habitats conducive to other species like insects and birdlife. These approaches can also provide additional sources of farm income.
    livestock on open pasture
  • Collective & landscape actions
    Regenerative agriculture practices can look beyond individual farms to entire landscapes to help protect endangered natural resources by, for example, regulating the use of common land, regional reforestation projects, protection of shared water resources and the creation of green ‘corridors’ aimed at fostering biodiversity.

    The benefits can be felt not just by farmers, but entire communities in terms of welfare, profitability, and reduced emissions.
    a river running through a green landscape

A just transition

Regenerative agriculture puts people at the centre, supporting solutions that are right for their regions and crops. We aim to enable people in our supply chains to support themselves and their families. Together with respect and promotion of human rights, we are striving to achieve a just transition to regenerative food systems.

Piloting success

Our Nestlé Regenerative Agriculture Framework, guided by agro-ecological principles and practices, is a holistic model that considers healthy, organically rich soil as vital to protecting and restoring land.

Our strategy begins with pilot studies at farms to validate new technologies and nature-based solutions. As pilots prove successful, we expand into reference farms of ‘agripreneurs’, or entrepreneurial farmers, in different countries and regions, as soils and climate requirements differ. Where possible, we are also encouraging industry alignment on common frameworks and metrics for regenerative agriculture.

Our income accelerator program for cocoa farmers and pilot financial support scheme for coffee farmers in Mexico, Côte d’Ivoire and Indonesia are good examples.  

Creating Shared Value and Sustainability Report cover