Nestle_Nespresso

Nestle Nespresso, an operating unit of Switzerland-based Nestle Group, has decided to extend its support towards Nespresso AAA Sustainable Quality Program in Colombia by contributing $10m per year for the next five years.

Launched in collaboration with Rainforest Alliance in 2003, Nespresso’s AAA Sustainable Quality Program is used to protect the future of the highest quality coffee for consumers and secure the livelihoods of the coffee growers.

The company has now signed an agreement with The Colombian Coffee Growers’ Federation (FNC) for overall public-private investment of nearly $17m per year to drive productivity, quality and sustainability in coffee growing regions in Colombia.

According to the agreement, 75% of the Nespresso finances will be used to provide direct incentive premiums for farmers to adopt Nespresso AAA Sustainable Quality practices, while 25% will be used to provide technical assistance and training to improve quality, sustainability and productivity.

Since 2004, the program has been operating in five districts of Colombia – Cauca, Nariño, Caldas, Antioquia and Huila, and are currently helping over 37,000 coffee growers in those regions.

FNC CEO Luis Munoz said this new investment only confirms their joint commitment to Colombian coffee growers, to sustainability and quality and to Nespresso consumers all over the world.

"It also shows how confident Nespresso is on the future of Colombian coffee and of Colombian coffee growers," Munoz said.

Nestle Nespresso marketing and sustainability director Guillaume Le Cunff said the investment that they are making confirms the key role that Colombia and its farmers play in securing coffees of exceptional quality and how programs can be effectively implemented with a leading organization such as the FNC.

"We look forward to continuing to work with our partners in Colombia to create shared value, for both Nespresso consumers – by delivering the highest quality, sustainable coffee – and for coffee farmers, by helping to improve their livelihoods," Cunff said.

Image: Nestle Nespresso SA is a globally managed business of Switzerland-based Nestle Group that produces premium quality Coffee. Photo: Nestle Nespresso SA