Pesticides and fertilizers : as little as possible... as much as necessary
Nestlé procures a large share of its agricultural raw materials through the commodities trade on the open market. However, there are some classes of raw materials where this is not possible because of strict limits for quality that are imposed either by Nestlé or by national food legislation. Vegetable and fruit purée as well as cereals used in foods for infants and young children are a case in point.
In Germany for many years, legislation had set very strict limits for pesticide residues in the finished product (10 ppb), as well as for heavy metals and nitrates. To meet these limits, Nestlé has set up a strategy for contract farming, using optimal agricultural practices.
Nestlé’s specialists select growing regions that are ideal for the intended crops, and identify farmers who are willing and able to fulfill the technical requirements. They advise farmers on the minimum use of pesticides and fertilizers to remain within the limits, but which still give the required quality in the crop. They also provide advice on the production of healthy crops and on the avoidance of environmental contamination.
Based on the surface used for the production of the agricultural raw materials needed, which was 15 500 ha in 1999, the tonnage of fertilizers used per year was reduced by 4000 tonnes (50%) and the quantity of pesticides used per year was reduced by 30 tonnes (60%).
To ensure that instructions have been followed by the farmers and that the raw materials meet the required quality, they are rigorously controlled before their processing. For these analytical controls, close to DM 4.5 million was spent in 1999.
In 1999, the European Union (EU) published regulations for pesticide residues in foods for infants and young children for all Member States, based on the German requirements. Everything is now in place to extend this environmentally-friendly contract farming approach to similar types of Nestlé operations in the EU.
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