Nestlé partners with IDH to boost local sourcing in West and Central Africa

Nestlé has partnered with the IDH Sustainable Trade Initiative to support farming communities and local sourcing practices in West and Central Africa, as part of IDH’s Grown Sustainably in Africa (GSA) programme.

According to Nestlé, the three-year partnership aims to support 25,000 farmers and 50 small and medium enterprises (SMEs), as well as open up new markets for these communities in Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana and Nigeria, increasing employment and food security.

IDH’s GSA programme encourages companies such as Nestlé to increase local sourcing and further incorporate local farmers and SMEs into their supply chains.

Under the programme, IDH partners with retailers, brands and buyers to form broader long-term partnerships, with the aim of improving the business operations of potential SMEs and farmers who can supply these companies.

Nestlé has stated that it wants to increase the amount of responsibly and regionally produced raw materials used in the local production of its Maggi, Milo and Cerelac brands from 60% to 70% by 2022.

To achieve this, the IDH-Nestlé partnership aims to encourage farmers and SMEs to efficiently produce high-quality and high-yield crops using best agricultural practices, and in turn, help to reduce their environmental impact and the need for natural resources.

Rémy Ejel, CEO of Nestlé Central and West Africa, said: “In line with Nestlé’s Creating Shared Value (CSV) approach, our new partnership with IDH will increase the capacity of farmers to produce high-quality crops that will enhance local supply and help develop local economies – this is all part of our commitment to improving 30 million livelihoods in communities directly connected to our business activities.”

Joost Oorthuizen, executive director for IDH Sustainable Trade Initiative, added: “This partnership pairs IDH’s technical expertise in agriculture value chain development and innovative financing through the €500 million IDH Farmfit Fund, with commitments from Nestlé’s supply chain.

“It will help to transform farmers and SMEs into long-term, sustainable operators and have a massive impact on building up the African economy, creating jobs and increasing food security.”