Nestlé: At the forefront of Research in Nutrition
“Research and Development is a key competitive advantage for Nestlé. Without our R&D Nestlé could not have become the food industry leader in nutrition, health and wellness.
Beyond sound nutrition, the future of foods will increasingly be driven by science. Nestlé scientists are looking ahead to the foods of the future. Nestlé R&D is translating nutrition and food science in two ways; from consumer needs into research priorities and; from emerging science into consumer benefits, and services.” Says Werner Bauer, Chief Technology Officer, Nestlé S.A, (Innovation, Technology and Research & Development)
To bring to the Equatorial African Region the benefits of its experience as the world leader in Health, Nutrition and Wellness, Nestlé EAR will take advantage of the expertise developed by scientists of the company’s Research and Development Centers. Today, our scientists and researchers are leading thinkers in nutrition science who pioneer advances, contribute to global scientific debate and illuminate the future direction of nutrition and health. Nestlé employs more than 5,000 people from 50 countries in its integrated network of research, development and product testing centers. This commitment demonstrates the extent to which science underpins our core business. In April 2009, Nestlé inaugurated a new Research & Development Centre in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. The new centre focuses on improving the quality of locally sourced raw materials, including cocoa, coffee and cassava. Better quality crops in Africa will allow Nestlé to source more raw materials locally, which in turn will raise the income of local farmers. Indeed, Nestlé’s fundamental, long-term business principle is to create value both for the company and the communities in which it operates. Nestlé’s first African R&D Centre will help the company address the problem of disease and ageing plantations affecting the West African cocoa harvest every year by helping to promote the propagation of millions of high yielding, disease-resistant cocoa trees across the region over the coming years. This centre will also focus on the study of indigenous foods in Africa and their nutritional values.
Nestlé Foundation
The Nestlé Foundation is yet another organization promoting research on health and nutrition. Based in Lausanne, Switzerland, the Nestlé Foundation for the Study of Problems of Nutrition in the World was established in 1966 by a donation by the Nestlé Company on the occasion of its centenary. The Foundation is independent and self-constituting and is managed by a Council consisting of at least 5 internationally well-known scientists as Council Members. The Foundation is and has been financially and operationally independent of the Nestlé Company since its inception. The results of the research provide a basis for implementation and action, that leads to sustainable effects generally applicable to the population at large. They should also enable institution strengthening and capacity building in a sustainable manner in the host country and further cooperation and collaboration between institutions in developed and developing countries. Many African projects have beneficiaries of the Nestlé Foundation. In Kenya, the Foundation is working in collaboration with the University of Nairobi on improving the Nutritional Status of Children between 6-18 months in semi arid areas. In Uganda, the Makerere University is studying the potential of amaranth grain seeds to improve the nutrition and health status of school children. In Malawi, it is sponsoring the University of Malawi, College of Medicine, to conduct a Mangochi Child Nutrition Intervention Study.
Nestlé Nutrition Institute
In Africa, the Nestlé Nutrition Institute will be of considerable help to Nestlé EAR in fulfilling its commitment to the advancement of nutrition in the region. The NNI is a multidisciplinary, educational organization dedicated to the science of nutrition for people of all ages. The institute provides information, guidance and support to use the latest scientific discoveries and their application to achieving optimal nutrition. It is the vision of the NNI to provide continuous access to the latest nutrition information to health care providers to empower them with knowledge, access and motivation necessary to promote good nutrition and healthy lifestyles, throughout the lifecycle of the populations they are serving. The Institute provides support in the following areas: scholarships, medical and scientific meetings, continuing professional development, conception of education materials, nutrition research awards.
“The vision of Nestlé R&D is long term. A glimpse of how Nestlé R&D is helping to shape the future of foods is provided through these internet pages.” He adds.
Read more http://www.nestle.com/randd