Nestlé strengthens climate collaboration with WFO amid withdrawal from global methane alliance

UK – Nestlé has announced a new partnership with the World Farmers’ Organisation (WFO) to make food systems more resilient to climate change, even as it withdraws from the Dairy Methane Action Alliance, a global initiative launched to cut methane emissions from dairy farming.

Through this first-of-its-kind collaboration, Nestlé and the WFO will jointly advocate for fair agricultural policies and practical, science-based solutions such as regenerative agriculture to empower farmers worldwide. 

The partnership aims to enhance farmers’ resilience to climate change, strengthen their technical capacities, and promote awareness of climate-smart farming models that can attract the next generation of food producers.

Arnold Puech d’Alissac, President of the WFO, emphasized the shared vision behind the partnership, noting that farmers are both the first to experience the impacts of climate change and the first to innovate solutions. 

“Real change demands holistic approaches and collaboration across the value chain,” he said. “This partnership with Nestlé aims to lead by example, showing how farmers and industry can work together with trust and respect to build food systems that are fair, resilient, and sustainable for people and the planet.”

Nestlé’s Global Head of Public Affairs, Chris Hogg, highlighted that the company relies on more than 600,000 farmers globally for sustainable raw material supply. 

He affirmed that farmers’ knowledge and adaptability make them key drivers of transformation within the food system. 

“By partnering with the WFO, we want to put farmers at the center and share their insights to help inform food policies,” he said.

Nestlé’s exit from methane alliance 

While Nestlé builds new collaborations with farmers, it has simultaneously withdrawn from the Dairy Methane Action Alliance, an initiative launched in 2023 by the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) alongside companies such as Danone, Kraft Heinz, and Starbucks. 

The alliance’s members had committed to measuring, disclosing, and reducing methane emissions from dairy supply chains.

Nestlé did not specify its reason for leaving but reiterated its dedication to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, including methane, across its supply chains, and maintaining its net zero commitment by 2050. 

The company noted in its 2024 non-financial report that it had already achieved a 21% methane reduction since 2018.

Methane, nearly 30 times more potent than carbon dioxide, accounts for about 40% of human-caused emissions, with livestock being a major source. 

The EDF confirmed Nestlé’s exit but acknowledged the company’s continued work under its Dairy Climate Plan and Net Zero Roadmap.

By refocusing on ground-level partnerships such as the WFO collaboration, Nestlé appears to be emphasizing farmer-driven solutions and long-term agricultural resilience as central to its climate strategy.

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