FAQ
HOW DO NESTLÉ DEAL WITH SOIL EROSION?
Nestlé is a major buyer of coffee in the Philippines where its agricultural experts work with the Ministry of Agriculture and with coffee farmers on questions of farm management. Although flat land is preferred for farming, due to a lack of such land in the Philippines, many coffee plantations are increasingly being established on hilly ground. In fact, over 60% of the country is classified as hilly or mountainous. Due to the heavy tropical rains, soil erosion can be a serious problem.

“Contour planting” has provided a good solution for planting in hilly locations. It incorporates a preliminary assessment of native eco-systems, along with other important factors, to ensure the system is properly adapted to local conditions. Often, this consists of planting that follows the contour lines and stabilizes the sloping borders with suitable vegetation such as vetiver grass. Contour planting has been shown to reduce soil erosion by up to 90%. It also has a number of other advantages: it improves soil fertility and moisture, and improves crop yields.

SALT (Sloping Agricultural Land Technology), as the programme in the Philippines is referred to, applies to coffee, but also allows simultaneous cultivation of other crops. By actively promoting good farming practices through programmes such as SALT, Nestlé contributes to protecting the environment in a significant way and, as well, helps to ensure green coffee supplies, in the right quantities and with the right quality.



WHAT IS THE NESTLÉ POLICY ON GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISMS (GMO)?
From its inception more than 130 years ago, Nestlé has built its business on successfully applying scientific breakthroughs and technological innovations while taking full responsibility for the quality and the safety of its products. Throughout these years Nestlé has been manufacturing and marketing products tailored to meet the diverse needs and preferences of consumers all over the world. This broad experience has provided Nestlé with thorough insight into and understanding of consumer demands, both in developing and developed countries. Clearly, consumers' perceptions and opinions differ in the various regions of the world. Hence Nestlé has always strived to respect these differences and to take them into account in its activities.

Gene technology in food production
With this vast experience, Nestlé recognizes the potential gene technology has in the longer term to improve the quality, availability and nutritional value of food. Gene technology has the potential to increase food production and to support sustainable agricultural practices. In some instances, positive health effects have been confirmed. For those reasons, Nestlé supports a responsible application of gene technology for food production based on sound scientific research.

Safety
The safety of our products and the integrity of the ingredients from which they are manufactured are paramount to Nestlé. Genetically modified crops, as all raw materials used by Nestlé, comply to strict regulatory and safety evaluations. WHO, FAO, OECD and numerous independent scientific bodies have concluded that genetically modified crops, including ingredients derived from them, that have passed food safety evaluation procedures, can be registered as safe for use in food production. Nestlé concurs with their shared opinion that such crops are as safe as their traditional counterparts.

Consumer information and labeling
Consumers' confidence in the food they are buying is supported by having access to information. Nestlé's Consumer Services are well equipped to provide this access and thus are the first source of information, including the use of ingredients, derived from genetically modified crops, in Nestlé products. Many governments now have implemented or are considering regulations for the use and labeling of these ingredients. In the absence of a global agreement on the labeling of ingredients, derived from genetically modified crops, and recognising governments responsibility for the regulatory process, Nestlé strictly adheres to national laws and regulations regarding their labeling.

Consumer perceptions and the future needs of society
As a global food manufacturer and marketer, Nestlé takes into consideration local needs, cultural differences and consumer preferences as well as attitudes concerning the use of ingredients derived from genetically modified crops. In some regions of the world, governments have expressed a keen interest in this technology as a potential tool to address their country's future food requirements. Nestlé's long term experience in food production can be a valuable resource in finding the right balance between these elements. This may well result in different solutions in various regions of the world, without jeopardizing in any way the safety and quality of its products. Provided their safety is proven, as required for all ingredients, Nestlé will continue to use ingredients derived from genetically modified crops wherever appropriate.