Nestlé Launches Sweeping Reforestation Effort in Brazil's Coffee Heartland
July 19 - 2025
Coffee Geography Magazine
Pedro Pereira
In a significant move blending environmental action with supply chain security, global food giant Nestlé has unveiled ambitious new reforestation projects in partnership with Brazilian startup re.green and leading chocolatier Barry Callebaut. The initiative targets the restoration of vital ecosystems within key coffee and cocoa sourcing regions of Brazil.
The collaborative effort, announced this week, will see a combined 11 million trees planted across 8,000 hectares (19,768 acres) of land in northeastern Brazil. This large-scale undertaking is positioned as part of a burgeoning wave of corporate investment rapidly scaling up Brazil's reforestation industry. For Nestlé, the projects directly support its commitment to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 while simultaneously bolstering the resilience of the landscapes critical for its core ingredients.
The partnership manifests in two distinct projects:
• The re.green Initiative: Nestlé is fully funding a long-term, 30-year project managed by re.green to restore areas within the Atlantic Rainforest biome in Bahia state. This project focuses on planting 3.3 million native tree species, aiming to recreate biodiverse forest ecosystems. Beyond ecological benefits, the initiative is projected to generate approximately 880,000 carbon credits over its lifespan.
• The Barry Callebaut Collaboration: In a separate venture spanning the states of Bahia and Pará, Nestlé and Barry Callebaut are joining forces to restore 6,000 hectares. The primary focus here will be converting degraded land into productive agroforestry systems, blending tree cover with agricultural production to create more sustainable and resilient landscapes for crops like cocoa. Nestlé is covering 60% of the costs for this initiative.
A Nestlé spokesperson underscored the strategic rationale, stating, "Our goal is to regenerate areas precisely within the regions where we source essential ingredients. Investing in environmental restoration isn't just about ecology; it fundamentally increases the long-term resilience and security of our supply chains."
Thiago Picolo, CEO of re.green, highlighted the broader significance, noting, "These initiatives demonstrate a powerful evolution beyond simple carbon offsetting. Companies are now actively investing in restoring the actual landscapes that underpin their supply chains, creating shared value for nature, climate, and business continuity."
This focus on Brazil, the world's largest producer and exporter of coffee, is strategic. The projects form a critical part of Nestlé's global commitment to plant 200 million trees by 2030 within its sourcing regions for key commodities like coffee, cocoa, and milk.
The venture brings together significant players: re.green, backed by Brazilian billionaire João Moreira Salles and asset manager Gávea (founded by former Brazilian Central Bank Governor Arminio Fraga), provides specialized reforestation expertise. Barry Callebaut, the world's largest industrial chocolatier based in Switzerland, brings its deep knowledge of cocoa sourcing. Nestlé's investment and scale signal a major corporate push to integrate large-scale ecological restoration directly into core agricultural supply chains.