Nestlé U.S. Enhances Wheat Sustainability
Nestlé S.A.
Nestlé U.S. has made a significant announcement, revealing its investment in promoting regenerative agriculture practices within the wheat farms associated with its DiGiorno pizza brand supply chain.
The company is providing financial support, technical resources, and assistance to wheat farmers, enabling them to adopt regenerative agriculture practices such as cover cropping, reduced tillage, and minimised pesticide usage. These practices contribute to improved soil health, fertility, water conservation, and biodiversity preservation.
The initiative aims to implement regenerative agriculture practices across more than 40,000 hectares of farmland, equivalent to over 53,000 football fields and almost double the land required for the wheat used in DiGiorno pizzas.
Nestlé has partnered with ADM and Ardent Mills, key wheat flour suppliers for DiGiorno, to extend the benefits of this investment to wheat farms located in Kansas, North Dakota, Indiana, and Missouri. Through this initiative, Nestlé is accelerating the transition to regenerative agriculture within its supply chains.
Steve Presley, CEO of Nestlé Zone North America, emphasised the company's commitment to creating a regenerative and sustainable food system while also supporting local farming communities. Nestlé seeks to generate shared value across the entire ecosystem, benefiting the company, farmers, consumers, and the planet. This investment in wheat producers exemplifies their dedication to implementing sustainable practices throughout the supply chain.
ADM evaluated regenerative agriculture methods and observed positive outcomes. In 2022, wheat farms in the programme that utilised cover crops or living roots were found to have sequestered over 3,800 metric tonnes of CO2, equivalent to the annual emissions of nearly 850 gas-powered cars.
Scott Stroberg of Stroberg Farm in Hutchinson, Kansas, an ADM wheat grower, has already embraced regenerative agriculture practices on his farm. With the assistance of ADM and Nestlé, he has introduced cover crops and transitioned from synthetic fertilisers to natural alternatives. Stroberg highlighted the environmental and financial benefits he has experienced from implementing these practices.
Currently, the majority of Nestlé's global greenhouse gas emissions are linked to ingredient sourcing, primarily in agriculture. As part of its comprehensive roadmap to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, Nestlé aims to source 20% of key ingredients through regenerative agricultural methods by 2025 and increase that to 50% by 2030. This strategic approach underscores Nestlé's commitment to sustainability and its determination to drive positive change within the industry.
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Source: Nestlé
