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How we will grow our ingredients in harmony with nature

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It’s not enough that we simply protect nature, we need a path that puts nature, climate and people in synergy. Our new Regenerative Agriculture Principles will help us do just that.

Field of crops bordering grassland lined with trees.

For the past ten years, we have been investing in sustainable agriculture to support our suppliers in adopting good practices. We have achieved tremendous progress but to really stop soil decline, preserve water resources, protect biodiversity, increase climate resilience and improve livelihoods, we know we need to do more.

This is why today we are announcing our Regenerative Agriculture Principles, a new approach to farming that works in harmony with nature to ensure the long-term viability and resilience of land.

As Dave Ingram, Unilever’s Chief Procurement Officer, says: “The ingredients for most Unilever products come from nature, so the future of our business is inextricably linked to the preservation and regeneration of natural environments. Initiatives like this do more than just benefit the planet. To be considered successful, they should also benefit and improve the livelihoods of our farmers, their families and surrounding communities, creating a cycle of prosperity on our journey to make sustainable living commonplace.”

Regenerative agriculture: taking things to a whole new level

In 2010, we introduced our Sustainable Agriculture Code, which has been the North Star for our sustainable sourcing programme and an important guide to sustainable farming for hundreds of thousands of suppliers, smallholders and farmers.

Building on that as a foundation, we are now adding a new layer of practices that aim to work with nature to regenerate it. Our Regenerative Agriculture Principles outlines the five priority areas we believe are in most urgent need of action and where we can achieve the biggest impact.

  • Regenerating soils

    It takes between 100 and 400 years to generate just 1cm of fresh, healthy soil because soil is slow to renew and requires certain conditions to thrive. Active soil management is critical to increasing productivity and resilience, and lowering emissions. We’re going to help farmers regenerate soil by supporting methods including keeping living roots in the ground, applying tillage practices that minimise disturbance to the soil surface and preventing erosion through cover cropping.

  • Protecting water

    Some 80% of the planet’s freshwater is used to produce crops and rear livestock. But temperatures are increasing globally, rainfall is unreliable, there are frequent floods and the demands for water are often in conflict. So farmers must adapt by using the resource more efficiently, managing irrigation and drainage better, and minimising water pollution. We will help farmers protect waterways from erosion and runoff, and select the most efficient irrigation technology and strategies.

  • Increasing biodiversity

    Natural ecosystems – which we need to support climate stability, water supplies, soil structure, and pest and disease control – have declined by an average of 47% in the last decade and continue to degrade at an unprecedented rate. Farmers are uniquely placed to help slow this decline, so we will support their efforts in various ways. These include creating conditions that increase plant and animal numbers, and habitats for insects that control pests.

  • Developing climate solutions

    As deforestation contributes to around 15% of global warming and farming is responsible for 24% of all greenhouse gases, addressing emissions from land use is critical. It’s estimated that 37% of the cost-effective emissions reductions the world needs by 2030 can come from natural climate solutions. We’ll keep carbon on the ground through avoiding conversion and by planting trees for different purposes such as timber, shade and animal feed.

  • Improving farmer livelihoods

    The world’s 500 million smallholder farmers face many challenges including limited training and lack of access to capital and technology. This leaves them vulnerable to poverty, hunger and the impacts of climate change. We will help improve their livelihoods through providing access to skills training, finance and markets, as well as supporting income diversification and women’s economic empowerment.

Putting the theory into action

To achieve the scale and pace of change we need to see, we will work with farmers, suppliers and partners on programmes across different geographies. We’ll prioritise our key crops – which include dairy, vegetables, grains, palm oil, soy, paper and board, coconut, cocoa and tea – because of their impact on land and their contribution to our greenhouse gas or human footprint. Here are just a few examples of programmes already underway.

Healthier soil

Pair of hands holding a bunch of ripe tomatoes.

Knorr is partnering with tomato supplier Agraz in Spain to help improve soil health with the use of cover crops and organic fertiliser and increase biodiversity in the landscape through the planting of native flora.

We’re also introducing more efficient irrigation in Agraz’s tomato fields.

In hot climates, irrigation is essential to ensure crops stay healthy and hydrated. But establishing how much water to use has always been difficult. Cutting-edge sensors and soil probes now let farmers know the exact amount of water necessary for the fruit to flourish. This enables the supplier to manage water use and make significant savings.

Less water and fewer emissions

Scenic view of a rice field at sunset.

Building on existing sustainable sourcing programmes, Knorr is working with US rice supplier Riviana to implement a suite of farming practices that enable farmers to grow rice while preserving water and decreasing methane emissions.

The water-saving practices we’re advancing reduce the time the soil is flooded which in turn reduces emissions.

The brand is partnering with the University of Arkansas to engage the farmers in the programme, and to create and measure impacts of regenerative practices on emissions and water capture.

Improving livelihoods

Farmer in an oil palm plantation looking up to the top of one of the trees.

Smallholder farmers manage around 40% of Indonesia's oil palm planted area, and as such our ability to empower them with regenerative agriculture practices is critical to delivering positive environmental outcomes and building supply chain resilience.

In Indonesia’s Riau province, we trained 1,800 independent smallholder farmers, together with our supplier PT Skip on good agricultural and regenerative practices, as well as no deforestation and better market access.

As a result of the project, the farmers have set up an association called Karya Serumpun, to continue activities within their community.

These outcomes will positively impact 10,000 hectares of land and improve the livelihoods of those involved in the project.

From ‘do less harm’ to ‘do more good’

We will continue to advocate for and lead the transformation of global supply chains towards more sustainable and regenerative models. This requires businesses like ours to work with governments and civil society to achieve sustainable development and make sustainable living commonplace.

As Hanneke Faber, President of our Foods & Refreshment division, says: “It is not enough for us to do less harm. We’re now seeking out opportunities to do more good. With our scale and influence, we have a crucial role to play in leading the systemic change our planet is crying out for.”

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