Nestlé enters research collaborations to explore innovative aquaculture approach

GLOBAL – Nestlé is partnering with leading marine science organisations in New Zealand and the United Kingdom to explore innovative aquaculture practices aimed at making global food systems more sustainable. 

The collaboration marks a significant step in the company’s broader effort to transform food production within planetary boundaries while safeguarding marine ecosystems.

Through its Nestlé Institute of Agricultural Sciences, the company is conducting research on integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA), a system that combines the farming of multiple aquatic species in a manner that mimics natural ecosystems. 

This method enables the waste produced by one species to nourish another, thereby promoting environmental balance, enhancing biodiversity, and improving the resilience of farmers’ incomes.

“In this system, different aquatic species from various levels of the food chain are cultivated together,” the company stated. “It’s a natural recycling process that helps maintain water quality while improving productivity and ecosystem health.”

In New Zealand, Nestlé is working with the Cawthron Institute, the country’s largest independent science organisation, to examine the ecological interactions between seaweed and shellfish. 

Supported by local PhD research and the Institute’s expertise in marine science, this project aims to identify the optimal combination of species and ocean conditions to maximise both productivity and environmental benefits.

Simultaneously, Nestlé is collaborating with UK-based start-up Algapelago and the University of Portsmouth to assess offshore aquaculture performance at a site off the coast of Devon. 

Here, seaweed and mussels are farmed together, and researchers are using advanced monitoring technology and field data to evaluate water quality, biodiversity, and other environmental indicators.

“This collaborative research will provide new, science-based insights on the contribution that integrated multi-trophic aquaculture can make towards sustainable food production while optimising marine ecosystem restoration and carbon sequestration,” said Jeroen Dijkman, Head of the Nestlé Institute of Agricultural Sciences.

The research partnerships are part of Nestlé’s global efforts to identify and scale innovative, science-based solutions for sustainable food systems. 

In 2023, the company signed a research agreement with Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile to study marine plants and alternative vegetable proteins in Latin America.

Nestlé invests in Ocean 14 Capital Fund I

In a related move in 2024, Nestlé committed to the Ocean 14 Capital Fund I, an investment fund focused on accelerating the blue economy, an emerging sector dedicated to sustainable ocean-based industries. 

The fund supports initiatives in aquaculture, alternative proteins, marine ecosystem protection, and the reduction of ocean plastic pollution.

Nestlé’s investment, made through its Sustainability Fund, aligns with its NetZero ambitions and includes opportunities to advance sustainability in its Nestlé Purina PetCare business. 

The focus is on using alternative, low-carbon proteins, improving responsible sourcing, and reducing reliance on traditional fisheries resources.

Dan Smith, Head of Nestlé Purina’s Global Business Unit, emphasised the urgency of protecting ocean ecosystems: 

“The world’s oceans have suffered from overfishing, pollution, and climate change, resulting in the dramatic loss of marine habitats. That’s why we are delighted to collaborate with the Ocean 14 Capital Fund I, a visionary partner that is at the forefront of exploring this field.”

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