Nestlé and Barry Callebaut Launch Net Zero Cocoa Project in Brazil

Nestlé and Barry Callebaut have unveiled a joint program to achieve net zero cocoa production in Brazil. The program, for a five-year period, will deliver 6,215 hectares of agroforestry and 7.7 million trees planted. It will improve the lives of new and current cocoa farmers through a blend of land preparation, funding, and smart agriculture technology.

The project will allow entrepreneurs to venture into cocoa cultivation and assist existing farmers to expand their activities in a climate-resilient approach. The project will also draw on the expertise of Barry Callebaut in seedling production and agro-sustainable systems. The three-programme components cover different issues affecting Brazilian cocoa farmers.

With the initiative, farmers will be provided with resources supporting climate-resilient practices such as land-use-improving methods and carbon-lowering methods. The initiative fits into a larger agenda of sustainability led by the two companies, following the announcement by Barry Callebaut on its net zero 2024 goals and Nestlé's ongoing efforts to make its cocoa supply chain sustainable.

This alliance is based on a present project in Côte d'Ivoire, on which the companies had previously worked an 11,500-hectare agroforestry project. The project has improved the lives of more than 6,000 farmers and potentially sequester 1.3 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent over a period of 25 years.

The new Brazil project is premised on a 25-year long-term agreement with the possibility to further extend for another 20 years. It is intended to produce measurable environmental benefits while driving cocoa industry growth through innovation and capacity building. The firms regard the project as a template that can be replicated in other parts of Latin America and elsewhere for other sustainable cocoa initiatives.

The project demonstrates an increasing trend among global agribusiness and food to address climate change at supply chain levels through direct investment in farm communities. The project by Nestlé and Barry Callebaut demonstrates their joint vision for a transition towards low-carbon and regenerative agriculture with a focus on long-term environmental sustainability and economic equity.

With the help of cocoa science, sustainability, and farmer engagement know-how, both businesses are working to minimize emissions, rejuvenate degraded land, and build a sustainable cocoa system. The program also supports global climate objectives by focusing on supporting broader industry initiatives to lower greenhouse gas emissions without sacrificing productivity or quality in cocoa farming.

Source: Net Zero News
Credit: Read original article at Net Zero News