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DA, Nestle combine expertise to support the coffee industry
by Anna Marie Medrano - Friday, 24 July 2009, 12:08 PM
 

DA, Nestlé combine expertise to support the coffee industry

The Department of Agriculture (DA) and Nestlé Philippines, Inc. (NPI) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on Saturday that puts together their expertise and resources to further strengthen the Philippines’ coffee industry.

Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap and Nestlé Chairman and CEO Nandu Nandkishore led DA and NPI officials in signing the MOU at the Nestlé Experimental and Demonstration Farm (NEDF) in Tagum City, Davao del Norte. The agreement aims to implement the agriculture department’s vision for the Philippine coffee industry—a vision of self-sufficiency and sustainability; and of one day making the Philippines a coffee exporter.

“We are happy to partner with the Department of Agriculture in making the Philippines a self-sufficient and sustainable coffee-producing country,” said Nandkishore.

Nestlé, the world’s foremost nutrition, health and wellness company, is the manufacturer of NESCAFÉ, the Philippines’ leading coffee brand. NESCAFÉ sources its coffee from around 30,000 Filipino farmers and deals with around 100,000 people more who make a living out of planting, harvesting, processing, and trading of coffee.

The MOU represents the shared commitment of both the DA and NPI to address the decline in green coffee production in the Philippines and sets terms for programs that will support Filipino farmers in efforts to rehabilitate, rejuvenate, and plant coffee trees. Farmers will be provided with planting materials and competent agronomical expertise geared towards sustainable development.

Also present during the MOU signing were NPI’s Campo Van Beek, Executive Vice-President and Technical Director; Edith De Leon, Senior Vice President and Corporate Affairs Head; Joel Sarmiento, Green Coffee Purchasing Head; Jojo Torrente, Regional Sales Manager; Maria Odessa Lañas, Corporate Marketing Manager; and Carol Adolfo, Marketing Promotions and Events Executive.

Government officials Dr. Roger Chio, DA Regional Executive Director; Dr. Rene Espino, National Program Coordinator; Davao del Norte Governor Rodolfo Del Rosario; Compostela Valley Governor Arthur Uy; and Tagum City Mayor Rey Uy were also present during the event.

The signed MOU sets the foundation for a nationwide coffee development program. Under that program, the DA will provide appropriate coffee services that will improve farm productivity, profitability, market competitiveness and long-term sustainability.

NPI in turn will support the DA’s coffee development program through technical assistance in the areas of coffee production and post-production; including green coffee technology and training.

The MOU states that the DA and NPI will undertake a “joint technical and commercial cooperation and scientific exchange program that encompasses projects for the development of the coffee industry.”

These would include the joint development of green coffee production and marketing; expansion/development of areas for new coffee plantings; rehabilitation of coffee farms; establishment of coffee gardens and nurseries; and tissue culture centres for somatic embryogenesis.

Both parties have also agreed to work together in establishing a coffee institute or centre. This will serve as the hub for technical and training support to various coffee stakeholders, including farmers under the mentorship of local and international coffee experts.

After the MOU was signed, guests attended a video presentation that showcased several NPI’s initiatives that are helping the Filipino coffee farmer and the whole coffee farming industry.

These initiatives include: 1) Establishing Nestlé Nationwide Buying Stations; these stations purchase coffee farmers’ harvests at world standard prices; 2)The Nestlé Experimental and Demonstration Farm, which provides free training on the scientific methods of growing quality coffee; these methods also teach the importance of good crop management, among others.


(Source: http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/210882/da-nestl-combine-expertise-support-coffee-industryindustry)

(Edited by Jose Rey Alo - original submission Friday, 24 July 2009, 12:00 PM)

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