LONDON, June 6 (Reuters) - Nestle (NESN.S) is piloting a scheme to give cash to coffee farmers who grow beans sustainably as part of its plan to halve greenhouse gas emissions in its coffee business by 2030, the food company said on Tuesday.
The move comes as major consumer goods companies face increased reputational and legal pressure to clean up their supply chains globally.
Nestle, the world's largest packaged food company has pledged to spend $1 billion by 2030 on its plan to source coffee sustainably, which now includes efforts to boost farmer income.
The company said it has, under the plan, offered some 3,000 coffee farmers in developing countries like Ivory Coast, Indonesia and Mexico conditional cash incentives to encourage them to transition to regenerative agricultural practices.
These include using organic fertilisers to improve soil fertility, planting shade trees that protect coffee beans and intercropping to preserve biodiversity.
Persons:
Maytaal Angel, Bernadette Baum
Organizations:
Nestle, Rainforest Alliance, European Union, Fairtrade, Technoserve, Thomson
Locations:
Ivory Coast, Indonesia, Mexico