Nestlé invests US$20M to revive specialty coffee in Congo
Published
CONGO – Nestle’s Nespresso has announced the investment of USD 20 million in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) with the aim of reviving specialty coffee production in the region by 2026.
This initiative is part of the Nespresso Reviving Origins program, established a decade ago, which focuses on restoring coffee production in areas facing threats to its sustainability.
Guillaume Le Cunff, CEO of Nespresso, expressed the company’s commitment to supporting coffee farmers in the DRC, particularly in the Kivu region.
He stated, “Kivu has the potential to be among the world’s great coffee regions, but has faced extremely challenging conditions in recent years.”
Le Cunff highlighted Nespresso’s collaboration with various partners, including the Eastern Congo Initiative (ECI)/ASILI, TechnoServe, USAID, Global Environment Facility (GEF), Clarmondial, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and Virunga Coffee, to uplift Kivu as a leading source of high-quality Arabica coffee.
The DRC, once a significant player in the global coffee market, experienced a decline in coffee production due to years of instability. However, Nespresso’s Reviving Origins program, launched in 2020, has already made strides in revitalizing coffee production in the Lake Kivu region.
William Warshauer, CEO of TechnoServe, commended Nespresso’s commitment, stating, “Nespresso’s deep commitment to Kivu is creating lasting change in communities across the region.”
He emphasized the transformative impact of coffee on Kivu’s communities and expressed optimism that Nespresso’s initiative would inspire other companies to invest in the region.
Abraham Leno, Executive Director of the Eastern Congo Initiative, highlighted the tangible benefits of Nespresso’s partnership, including the establishment of crucial infrastructure such as health centers and water systems in farming communities.
Leno emphasized the importance of sustaining this work to provide dignified access to clean water and healthcare for thousands of families in the region.
Nespresso’s sustainable sourcing program, the Nespresso AAA Sustainable QualityTM Program, serves as the foundation for the Reviving Origins initiative.
Over the past two decades, the AAA Program has fostered strong relationships with coffee farmers worldwide to promote environmental conservation and community resilience.
In the DRC, Nespresso will expand the AAA Program and support farmers in implementing regenerative practices such as crop diversification and agroforestry to enhance sustainability.
Through its investments and partnerships, Nespresso aims to rejuvenate the coffee industry in the DRC, empower local communities, and contribute to the conservation of biodiversity in the region.
This initiative is part of the Nespresso Reviving Origins program, established a decade ago, which focuses on restoring coffee production in areas facing threats to its sustainability.
Guillaume Le Cunff, CEO of Nespresso, expressed the company’s commitment to supporting coffee farmers in the DRC, particularly in the Kivu region.
He stated, “Kivu has the potential to be among the world’s great coffee regions, but has faced extremely challenging conditions in recent years.”
Le Cunff highlighted Nespresso’s collaboration with various partners, including the Eastern Congo Initiative (ECI)/ASILI, TechnoServe, USAID, Global Environment Facility (GEF), Clarmondial, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and Virunga Coffee, to uplift Kivu as a leading source of high-quality Arabica coffee.
The DRC, once a significant player in the global coffee market, experienced a decline in coffee production due to years of instability. However, Nespresso’s Reviving Origins program, launched in 2020, has already made strides in revitalizing coffee production in the Lake Kivu region.
William Warshauer, CEO of TechnoServe, commended Nespresso’s commitment, stating, “Nespresso’s deep commitment to Kivu is creating lasting change in communities across the region.”
He emphasized the transformative impact of coffee on Kivu’s communities and expressed optimism that Nespresso’s initiative would inspire other companies to invest in the region.
Abraham Leno, Executive Director of the Eastern Congo Initiative, highlighted the tangible benefits of Nespresso’s partnership, including the establishment of crucial infrastructure such as health centers and water systems in farming communities.
Leno emphasized the importance of sustaining this work to provide dignified access to clean water and healthcare for thousands of families in the region.
Nespresso’s sustainable sourcing program, the Nespresso AAA Sustainable QualityTM Program, serves as the foundation for the Reviving Origins initiative.
Over the past two decades, the AAA Program has fostered strong relationships with coffee farmers worldwide to promote environmental conservation and community resilience.
In the DRC, Nespresso will expand the AAA Program and support farmers in implementing regenerative practices such as crop diversification and agroforestry to enhance sustainability.
Through its investments and partnerships, Nespresso aims to rejuvenate the coffee industry in the DRC, empower local communities, and contribute to the conservation of biodiversity in the region.
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