September 25th marks National Sustainability Day, a date that invites us to reflect on how we produce the food that reaches our tables every day. Behind every meal lies a long journey: soil that was cared for, hands that worked the land, factories that transformed it, people who made decisions. And it is by looking at this entire journey that we realize a simple truth: more resilient food systems are not built alone. They are built when farmers, industry, partners, and consumers decide to walk in the same direction.
This is a particularly important conversation in a sector like agri-food, which is a key pillar of the Portuguese economy and internationalization. More recently, AICEP reported that agri-food exports will represent approximately 13,3% of the country's total goods exports in 2025. More than reflecting the country's productive capacity, these figures show the importance of ensuring that economic growth is accompanied by practices that protect natural resources, support communities, and strengthen the resilience of food systems.
The quality of food begins long before it reaches the factory. It begins in the fields, in the hands of Portuguese farmers who, generation after generation, work the land and ensure the production of the raw materials that form part of the diet of millions of people.
This is where regenerative agriculture truly makes sense. It's not a fad or a buzzword. It's a different way of looking at the land. It's an approach that seeks to improve soil health, promote biodiversity, contribute to better water management, and support the reduction of emissions associated with agricultural production. More than an isolated practice, it represents a way to prepare agriculture to meet the climatic and productive challenges of the coming decades.
At Nestlé in Portugal, we have been building strong partnerships with farmers in the Alentejo region, an area marked by agricultural tradition and fundamental to the production of high-quality raw materials. This transition began three years ago with a small group of producers, and today we already have eleven farmers in Elvas, Castro Verde, and Évora. These partners cultivate their fields in a way that restores soil health, protects biodiversity, optimizes water use, and reduces greenhouse gas emissions, all with the company's support.
In 2025, these practices were implemented on approximately 1.550 hectares, which supplied approximately 2.800 tons of wheat destined for the production of CERELAC range infant foods at the Avanca factory. Based on the methodology used to evaluate the implemented practices, it was estimated that there was a reduction of approximately 40% in emissions associated with the production of this wheat.
These are concrete results that demonstrate how collaboration along the value chain can transform commitments into measurable impact.
The Avanca factory is one of the hearts of the company's operation in Portugal: for over 60 years, cereal-based drinks and food flours have been produced in Avanca, bringing together knowledge, production capacity and innovation developed in Portugal.
By valuing ingredients produced in the country and continuously investing in knowledge, technology, and production capacity, Avanca demonstrates how the food industry can contribute to the creation of economic value, the revitalization of territories, and the strengthening of national agri-food chains.
Also in industrial operations, the pursuit of greater efficiency has been a priority. Nestlé's factories in Avanca and Porto operate with electricity from 100% certified renewable sources, while operational waste is sent for recovery, recycling or reuse, avoiding its disposal in landfills.
With over a century of presence in Portugal, Nestlé has had the privilege of growing and evolving alongside the Portuguese people. This journey also brings an added responsibility: to continue creating shared value by investing in local production, national talent, innovation, and lasting relationships with the partners who are part of our value chain, these being essential pillars for sustainable development.
The sustainability of food systems is not built through a single initiative or a single stakeholder. It is built every day, in the fields where the ingredients are produced, in the factories where they are processed, and at the table where they are shared.
Advertise with us!
