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 impro
