SOUTH AFRICA – Nestlé is at the forefront of sustainable dairy farming in South Africa through an innovative zero-carbon partnership with Skimmelkrans Dairy Farm and 119 additional farms across the Western and Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal.
The initiative, which began with Skimmelkrans in 2020, is transforming the dairy industry by addressing its traditionally high carbon emissions.
Nestlé’s Nespray brand embodies this sustainable vision, promoting a farm-to-glass ethos. Milk sourced from Skimmelkrans and other farms is delivered daily to the Nespray factory in Mossel Bay, where advanced processes reduce carbon emissions and enhance biodiversity.
Rooiheuwel Farms, Oakdale Agricultural High School, and Grasslands Agriculture are among the leaders in this initiative.
Rooiheuwel’s 426-hectare farm sustains a herd of Jersey cows, each producing 21 liters of milk daily. The farm’s diverse pastures, enriched with ryegrass, plantain, and chicory, are nourished by organic fertilizers.
Oakdale Agricultural High School, with its registered Jersey stud, produces maize silage at an impressive yield of 70 tons per hectare. Grasslands supports 1,100 cows using a 48-point herringbone milking system, yielding 20 liters of milk per cow daily.
Nestlé’s commitment extends to regenerative practices that restore soil health, conserve water, and nurture biodiversity.
Skimmelkrans recycles 14.5 million liters of water annually and sequesters 6,000 tons of carbon. Initiatives like owl houses, earthworm habitats, and native flora cultivation foster balanced ecosystems, enhancing farm resilience.
Advanced irrigation techniques, including soil moisture probes and irrigation scheduling, ensure efficient water use.
Organic fertilization and biological pest control reduce chemical reliance, safeguarding water sources and farm ecosystems. Skimmelkrans processes up to 500 tons of manure annually, improving soil conditions in low-fertility areas.
Renewable energy is central to the initiative. Most farms are transitioning to solar power and LED lighting, with Skimmelkrans generating 285 kVA of renewable energy. These efforts significantly reduce the farms’ carbon footprints.
The impact extends beyond environmental gains. The Mossel Bay farms and Nespray factory provide over 1,000 jobs, supporting more than 13,000 individuals and bolstering the local economy.
Looking ahead, Nestlé aims to expand low-carbon farming across Africa, targeting net-zero emissions by 2050.
In Zimbabwe, 30 dairy farmers have already adopted regenerative practices, illustrating Nestlé’s broader vision for a sustainable dairy future.
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