Food behemoth Nestlé is breaking new ground with a two-year UK pilot program that evaluates cocoa shells as a low-carbon alternative to synthetic fertilizers. The cocoa shells are sourced from Cargill's York facility, which processes the cocoa that ends in Nestlé chocolate bars like KitKat and Aero. Normally considered waste material, cocoa shells are now turned into pellets that farmers can use on their fields. Trials are underway at wheat farms in the region.
In the UK, over half of the carbon footprint of wheat production is attributed to fertilizer use. (Production and use of nitrogen fertilizers account for approximately 5% of global greenhouse gas emissions.) If Nestlé's pilot is successful, it could produce up to 7,000 metric tons of cocoa fertilizer, enough for 25% of wheat grown for the company in the UK. Preliminary findings from Rookery Farm in Norfolk indicate that the upcycled, natural fertilizer performs just as well as its synthetic counterpart.
