In its commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions on the farms that provide milk, Nestlé has continued to make progress since 2021, the year in which it began collaborating with the Global Nature Foundation, in the development of a pilot project to reduce emissions in the farms. farms with which it works, more than half of the farms that supply milk to the Company have implemented measures to achieve this. As a result, these farms, located in Galicia, Asturias and Cantabria, will be able to reduce CO2 equivalent emissions by more than 43,600 tons by the end of this year.
To achieve this, more than 90 farms have established different measures to reduce emissions and improve animal welfare, which have involved an investment of more than 2.5 million euros by Nestlé. In this way, around 38 farms already have solar panels in their facilities, while around 25 have covered the pits where slurry is stored.
In addition, some 55 farms have implemented animal welfare measures focused on improving the air conditioning of stables to maintain production in summer, through the installation of fans, insulated ceilings and humidifiers.
Less methane
Nestlé has also championed itself as one of the first companies in Spain to supplement cattle rations with a food additive that reduces between 30% and 40% the methane emitted by cows in their digestion process, one of the largest sources. emissions from a farm.
Thanks to this measure, more than 8,000 cows from some 92 farms, which provide a volume of more than 91,000 tons of milk, have already begun to receive this additive. Thus, since its use began in 2023, these farms have managed to reduce the CO2 equivalent emissions emitted by their livestock by around 10,500 tons.
Likewise, to thank the efforts made by farmers who collaborate with Nestlé in the implementation of more sustainable measures on their farms, the Company already rewards some 85 farms with an economic premium on the price of milk for having developed practices aimed at regenerating the quality of the soil.
«At Nestlé, we continue to take steps in our commitment to reduce emissions in order to move towards sustainable food. Thanks to the collaboration developed with the Global Nature Foundation and, especially, to the involvement and professionalism of the farmers who provide us with milk, Nestlé continues working on its path to reduce the carbon footprint generated in the production of our products,” he highlighted. Eduardo Fernández, expert in agricultural development at Nestlé Spain.
For his part, for Jordi Domingo, head of the Sustainable Agriculture department at the Global Nature Foundation, “the work carried out with livestock farmers shows that our food system has a very relevant margin to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.” In his opinion, “the transition towards more environmentally friendly systems is an unstoppable trend and experiences like these allow us to demonstrate that the benefits are multiple.”
Regenerative agriculture
Nestlé has also implemented, together with the farmers it works with, regenerative agriculture measures on the crops that provide food for the cows. Thus, individualized fertilization plans have been made for each farm in order to know the contribution of nutrients that previously exists in the soil and slurry and to establish actions to fertilize what is only necessary. Reduced tillage has also been promoted compared to traditional tillage, as well as direct sowing and crop rotation. In addition, the planting of legumes has also been promoted, which has led to reducing or eliminating the need to use other fertilizers.
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