Nestlé Panama promotes regenerative agriculture for a sustainable dairy industry


News from Panama / Friday, July 5th, 2024

In order to promote sustainability and work for a supply chain free of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, the Nestlé company is incorporating the implementation of regenerative agriculture practices into its Dairy Development Plan.

With this plan, the company makes available to national producers, agricultural technicians who advise and train them to develop good practices regarding the quality of milk, milking techniques, nutrition and animal health, among others.

The company initiated the Regenerative Farms program with its dairy suppliers, with regenerative agriculture being an agricultural system that aims to conserve and restore agricultural land and its ecosystem.

This practice maintains, sustains, improves and restores what has been degraded in the past. The results of regenerative agriculture form the basis of sustainable food production.

The General Manager of Nestlé Panama, Rodrigo Romera, explained that the reduction of GHG emissions is due to practices such as: minimum ploughing, soil cover, manure management and reduction of the use of agrochemicals.

On the other hand, the sequestration of GHG emissions is due to practices such as: the planting of improved and multi-species pastures, rotational grazing systems, conservation of existing forested areas on the farm, planting of living fences such as leucaena, and also plantations of forest or fruit trees.

“We work intensively to support the adoption of regenerative practices and provide support and technical accompaniment to milk producers to boost productivity, efficiency, milk quality and good practices that regenerate soils and ecosystems,” Romera said.

He added that this not only improves the quality of its products, but also promotes a regenerative food system, and its global goal is that 20% of its key ingredients come from regenerative agricultural practices by 2025, and 50% by 2030.

In addition, the company has invested in training programs for ranchers, for example, on ecological restoration and silvopastoral systems, helping them to adopt regenerative practices and demonstrate the long-term benefits in terms of productivity and sustainability.