Nestlé and UNESCO have announced a global initiative to support 100 teams of young social impact innovators with grants to develop solutions aimed at enhancing the resilience and sustainability of food systems. The focus areas include regenerative agriculture, climate change mitigation, and sustainable packaging innovations, with the programme expected to benefit 500,000 people directly or indirectly.
Building on a 2023 pilot in Latin America, which engaged 20 young leaders and impacted 130,000 community members, the Youth Impact: Because You Matter programme will now expand globally. One notable project from the pilot, Earth-IoT: Conectando el Campo, used digital tools to increase farmers’ income by 50%, reduce fertiliser use by 40%, and cut water and energy consumption by 30%, significantly lowering the agricultural carbon footprint.
Nestlé and UNESCO will provide training and mentorship to youth aged 18-30 to help them launch businesses that strengthen food production, processing, and distribution while creating employment opportunities. The programme will be delivered through Nestlé’s Youth Entrepreneurship Platform (YEP) as part of a six-month capability-building initiative.
“A highly qualified future workforce and a more resilient supply of raw materials are essential to Nestlé’s long-term success,” said Laurent Freixe, CEO of Nestlé. “We’re facing the challenge of feeding a growing population while tackling climate change. These critical challenges require decisive action, which is why we are supporting young changemakers in solving them.”
The initiative aligns with Nestlé’s Nestlé Needs YOUth programme, which has supported 10 million young people over the past decade, and forms part of the company’s strategy to help youth develop future-ready skills by 2030.
