SWITZERLAND – Swiss multinational food and drink processing conglomerate Nestlé has partnered with the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETH Zurich) to develop a new new research program aimed at reducing the carbon print of agriculture.
In a statement, Nestlé said the program will explore interdisciplinary solutions to mitigate the effects of climate change while increasing nutritional quality and yield in dairy and crop farming
Nestlé is investing CHF 2.8 million (about US$3.13 million) in this comprehensive research program to coordinate by the World Food System Center at ETH Zurich.
In an effort to develop sustainable crop farming, the research will focus on the nutritional value of crops including fibers, proteins and micronutrients.
Special attention will be given to identify crops which are most suitable as ingredients for tasty and nutritious plant-based alternatives to meat, seafood and dairy products, according to Nestlé.
The dairy farming research, on the other hand, will focus on the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in dairy farming.
Stefan Palzer, Nestlé CTO, said: “We’re delighted to extend our longstanding collaboration with ETH Zurich to the agricultural sciences, to reduce the carbon footprint of agricultural raw materials.
“The development of more climate-friendly ingredients and products is a key focus area for Nestlé to help reduce our global carbon footprint.”
The new research program complements a number of existing collaborations with the two Swiss Federal Institutes in Zurich (ETH Zurich) and Lausanne (EPFL), on topics such as food engineering, nutrition, and more recently, sustainable packaging.
Additionally, Nestlé and ETH Zurich were among the cofounders of the Future Food Initiative launched in 2019 to pool expertise in research and innovation and find innovative approaches for healthy foods and a sustainable supply, with Nestlé and ETH Zurich as two of the cofounders.
Nestlé Japan launches plant-based coffee lattes
Meanwhile in Japan, Nestlé has launched a range of Nescafé lattes crafted with plant-based ingredients, meeting the rapidly growing interest in plant-based food in Japan.
The Nescafé plant-based latte range in Japan includes ready-to-drink beverages to enjoy on-the-go or at home, soluble mixes that can be made by just adding hot water, and capsules for the popular Nescafé Dolce Gusto system.
The two varieties are oat latte and almond latte, both of which are blended perfectly with smooth Nescafé coffee.
The launch in Japan follows earlier launches of Nestlé plant-based coffee mixes across a number of countries in Europe, Latin America and Oceania.
The launch also follows a recent announcement by Nestlé that its popular chocolate bar brand KitKat will also be debuting a vegan variant to in response to demand from consumers.
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