Planning and implementation in times of a pandemic – and the road ahead
The covid-19 pandemic challenged the ways we used to work and collaborate with each other. We have taken our current working systems for granted and believed that we will keep planning, learning, meeting and traveling the way we were used to. However, 2020 proved us wrong and we learned that we need to keep adapting and changing our ways of working – if we want to keep making a difference and support the transition to a more sustainable future.
For our Sustainable Sourcing Programme, we are further adjusting our ways of working with our partners and suppliers. A specific focus in considering our new ways of operating, is on further building and strengthening the capacity of local partners, producers and suppliers.
Offering different technological solutions paired with locally based support, combined with steady and open communication. This is in line with the programmes’ main purpose to implement focused approaches of the Nestlé Responsible Sourcing Standard requirements adapted to the local context.
Bringing our programme further, we have started the year by catching up with Indian spices suppliers online and agreed on key areas for intervention for 2021:
Social issues: child labor and payment of minimum wages.
Soil conservation and management: best practices to mitigate degradation and GHG.
Water use: transition to efficient irrigation mechanisms.
Worker's safety: use of PPE, access to sanitation and bathing facilities. 5.Biodiversity: enhancement of in-farm ecosystem services
Two new focuses
We have also included two new focuses for our work in 2021. In order to ensure that farms are more biodiverse and resilient to the effects of climate change, the first focus will be on “In-farm Biodiversity enhancement”. The second focus is on “Post-harvest Management”. Post-harvest loss is continuously being observed at farm level and, with the right actions, can be mitigated in order to minimize food (harvested crop) waste and ensure that famers’ have a steadier income.