17 May 2024

Embarking on an enriching journey, four students from the University of Edinburgh Business School, representing both the MSc Climate Change, Finance and Investment (CCFI) and the Business-Community Collaborative for Sustainability (B-CCaS), were granted an exclusive glimpse into the heart of Nestlé's operations. Their visit to Nestlé's headquarters paved the way for insightful exchanges and collaborative dialogues, delving deep into the realms of ESG and sustainable leadership in commodities procurement.
MSc Climate Change, Finance and Investment Students with representatives from Nestlé's commodities procurement department

A special thank you to the University of Edinburgh Climate Change Finance & Investment program and Nestlé. We were fortunate to hear from ESG & Sustainable leadership in Nestlé's commodities procurement department, covering initiatives in the sourcing of dairy, cocoa, and coffee. These key decision-makers provided a detailed overview of Nestlé's net zero roadmap and their multifaceted approach to tackling environmental and social challenges across their businesses.

Nestlé's team shared their firsthand experiences collaborating with farmers worldwide. Their dynamic approach involves developing new programs and partnerships tailored to each region. We learned about innovative cocoa-farming programs that boost household income, promote household education and gender equality, and train farmers in regenerative agriculture. Additionally, they shared success stories in dairy farming that build resilience against climate change, demonstrating commitment to sustainability across upstream value chains.

The presentation of our research on physical climate risks and macro trends in global coffee production led to an insightful discussion about building resilience and protecting smallholder farmer livelihoods through innovative solutions. We are incredibly grateful to Nestlé and the University of Edinburgh for the opportunity to be involved in these critical conversations regarding the future of sustainable and responsible agriculture and look forward to continuing these discussions in our future research.