Nestlé and Rainforest Alliance support young cocoa and coffee farmers

Nestlé Mexico and Rainforest Alliance Mexico, in collaboration with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), have signed an agreement to support young cocoa and coffee producers in Mexico. According to a statement, Nestlé donated a total of 250,000 US dollars in November 2022.

The new agreement will now see the funds channeled into the promotion of sustainable harvesting practices in the cocao and coffee sectors across at least 1,121 hectares in the states of Chiapas and Tabasco. Just under 500 young people will be offered training in best agroecological practices, while at least 30 of them will have the chance to train as local managers.

"To secure the future of the cocoa and coffee sector in Mexico, it is essential to support young people working in the field and equip them with the knowledge, tools and resources to apply new working techniques that canimprove their yields," Fausto Costa, CEO of Nestlé Mexico, commented in the statement.

The agreement will facilitate the creation of at least eight demonstration plots to strengthen best practices in sustainable agriculture. Additionally, there will be three exchange events between young local managers in Chiapas and Tabasco and a meeting with producers to share experiences.

The project complements Nestlé Mexico's Youth Initiative, which aims to use career guidance to reduce the school dropout rate of young people aged 15 to 29 and improve their employability. Since 2015, the initiative has provided more than 1.3 million young people with training and employment opportunities. ce/gba