Nestlé forays into regenerative coffee farming

HILLARY MUNEDZI

Food giant, Nestlé Zimbabwe is assisting  farmers in Honde Valley, Manicaland Province,  to produce Arabica  coffee in a sustainable and environmentally friendly way  through regenerative agriculture.

Nestlé global public relations manager, Delphine Bourseau, told Business Times that  regenerative agriculture also referred to as ecological farming, was the panacea to climate change.

The traditional coffee production, Bourseau said, was threatening the planet due to its milling process that uses significant amounts of freshwater to de-pulp and wash the coffee.

About 140 litres of water is needed to produce just 125 millimetres  of coffee, according to the Water and Energy Footprint Network latest report. However, with  regenerative, farmers can design an agroecosystem that will improve soil health, biodiversity, the carbon sequestration rate, and increase the economic resilience of farmers.

It is a holistic agricultural system that works in harmony with its local environment.

“We define regenerative coffee agriculture as a profitable coffee agriculture which addresses the challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss and community resilience,” Bourseau said.

She added: “The AAA Programme is Nespresso’s unique coffee sourcing programme designed to ensure the continued supply of high-quality coffee while improving the livelihoods of farmers and their communities, and protecting the environment.”

Bourseau said Nestlé was working alongside partners including Rainforest Alliance to ensure “we minimise the negative impact of coffee growing and instead generate positive environmental impact by focusing on preserving nature through initiatives such as water preservation and improving soil health”.

She said the Nespresso AAA Programme provides technical assistance to producers regarding sustainable agricultural practices, offering training on topics including protection of key ecosystems, and managing waste water from milling. All these practices are based on the Rainforest Alliance Standard, Bourseau said.

“At a higher level and as part of our NetZero commitment, Nespresso is working to reduce emissions, even as our business grows, through the transition towards greater use of regenerative agriculture,” she said.

The development comes at a time when rising temperatures, owing to climate change, are threatening coffee production in Honde Valley.

Bourseau said it was critical to implement climate resilient initiatives to protect the environment for future generations.

Arabica coffee, Bourseau said, was a delicate crop which grows under specific climatic conditions.

However, there are other species that can be adapted in Honde valley in order to suit the ever-changing climatic conditions.

“Contrary to the Robusta, the Arabica varieties that farmers are planting and growing in these regions are Catimor 129 and SL varieties – are already very well adapted to long dry seasons,” she said.

Nestle is incentivising farmers in Honde valley to take up coffee farming, following the firming of the crop’s prices on the international market. Local farmers who are into Arabica coffee farming have experienced a perfect storm of events that has given coffee farmers a boost with analysts expecting the bullish trend to continue all the way into 2023.

The development also comes  at a time when Manicaland Province is likely to face a serious water crisis as water levels in its supply rivers dwindle due to climate change  induced droughts.

“We have realised that water levels in our supply rivers are dwindling. So this year, we are doing a feasibility study for the Osborne water project with a view to use it to look for funding because it’s a capital intensive project.

We need to start it now because in the next 10 years, there will be a serious water crisis in the city. There is going to be a feasibility study particularly targeting the Osborne water project,” acting Mutare City town clerk, Blessing Chafesuka, said.