To translate new agricultural sciences into concrete applications and identify the most promising agricultural technologies, Nestlé will create the Nestlé Institute of Agricultural Sciences.
The new institute will be based in state-of-the-art facilities in Lausanne (Switzerland) and will be formally inaugurated at the end of the year. You will focus on the areas of science you study Plants, Dairy Farming, and Agricultural Systems Science. In close collaboration with partners internal and external, the center will evaluate and combine science-based solutions to improve the nutritional and sensory qualities of agricultural raw materials and their environmental impact.
It builds on Nestlé's existing work and knowledge in agricultural science that is already being implemented in major programs. For example, plant science experts have been contributing to the Company's sustainable cocoa and coffee sourcing plans ─Nestle Cocoa Plan y Nescafe Plan─ even with scientific findings such as the coffee varieties recently announced high-yielding, drought- and disease-resistant varieties. The team of experts is also working to identify the most suitable legumes and cereals to provide alternatives. plant based low-carb meat, seafood, and dairy. This strong focus on plant science will be further strengthened and extended to other crops.
The institute will also accelerate work with partners to help reduce emissions on dairy farms, develop regenerative agriculture practices, and improve biodiversity and soil health. In addition, the center will explore new approaches to recycling agricultural secondary streams to reduce nutrient loss and food waste throughout the agricultural value chain. The institute will work closely with academic institutions and research organizations, as well as start-ups, partners from industry and farmers to assess and develop science-based solutions and adapt them for implementation and scale-up throughout the company's supply chain, while positively impacting farmers' livelihoods and incomes. It will build on new and existing collaborations, such as the research program with ETHZ to reduce the carbon footprint of agricultural products.