The latest news, trends, analysis, interviews and podcasts from the global food and beverage industry

Nestlé and Olam Food Ingredients (OFI) have announced their largest joint agroforestry initiative to date, a partnership aimed at transforming cocoa farming and tackling the dual threats of carbon emissions and deforestation.

Over the next five years, the programme will support approximately 25,000 cocoa farmers across Nigeria, Côte d'Ivoire and Brazil, helping them transition to agroforestry and implement climate-smart practices like crop residue management. Backed by a robust monitoring framework, the project is expected to reduce over 1.5 million tons of CO₂ emissions over a 30-year period.

The plan includes planting an estimated 2.8 million trees and establishing more than 72,000 hectares of agroforestry. These efforts form part of a larger regenerative agriculture push and will be tracked using OFI's AI-powered carbon stock monitoring tool to ensure trees are geolocated continuously and growing in line with set objectives.

This initiative builds on a 15-year partnership between Nestlé and OFI, centred around sustainable cocoa sourcing. It supports Nestlé’s Cocoa Plan and 2050 Net Zero Roadmap, while aligning with OFI's 'Cocoa Compass' targets and wider 'Choices for Change' sustainability strategy.

Implementation is already underway in all three countries, with training and education programmes helping farmers adopt forest-positive practices that enhance both environmental and economic resilience. Participants will receive hands-on training in climate-smart agricultural practices, such as planting shade trees and composting cocoa pod husks to enrich soil health and lower greenhouse gas emissions.

Farmers will also gain knowledge on broader environmental regulations and standards, including the African Regional Sustainability Standard (ARS) and upcoming EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) requirements.

“People are at the heart of our climate actions,” said Darrell High, cocoa plan manager at Nestlé. “We’re working with OFI to help farmers transition to climate-smart farming practices. By supporting a move towards a more regenerative food system, we can continue to build a more responsible cocoa supply chain and progress towards our shared climate goals for 2030 and beyond.”

Andrew Brooks, global head of cocoa sustainability at OFI, added: “We are thrilled to partner with Nestlé on this global climate action initiative. Together, we’re addressing climate challenges by putting farmers at the centre of the solution. Collaborating closely with cocoa communities, we can support farmers in adapting and mitigating climate change and help strengthen the supply of sustainable cocoa ingredients.”

Financial incentives will further encourage participation, rewarding farmers for planting and maintaining trees. These incentives are tied to long-term monitoring to ensure the success of reforestation and soil carbon capture, with outcomes measured using OFI's AtSource digital footprint calculator.