How Gerber is Harnessing Regenerative Agriculture Practices
Gerber, a subsidiary of Nestlé, has been dedicated to providing high-quality, nutritious and safe baby food for over 95 years. Its commitment to quality begins at the farm, where they work closely with trusted growers, many of whom have been partners for generations.
Gerber focuses on advancing regenerative agriculture practices to improve soil health, enhance biodiversity and reduce climate change impacts while minimising heavy metals in its products.
A legacy of quality
In an article on Nestlé's website, Dr. Todd DeKryger, Sustainable Agriculture Manager at Gerber spoke about its drive to put quality at the forefront of "everything we do", with that commitment starting on the farm.
As it grows and sources ingredients for its baby food with care, working along its trusted fruit and vegetable growers â with many of those growing having been a part of Gerber for generations.
"Together, we are helping advance regenerative agriculture practices that can improve soil health, enhance biodiversity and reduce the impacts of climate change, all while helping minimize the presence of heavy metals," says Todd.
Many of the company's fruit and vegetable growers can be found in Michigan, where Todd is also based. Here he sees first-hand the hard work the agriculture experts and farmers are putting in to grow quality fruits and vegetables.
Nurturing soil for future generations
There are a number of ways Gerber is working to grow food that's safe and delicious for babies, while also protecting the land where its ingredients grow.
Through partnerships with the growers, Gerber encourages the adoption of regenerative agriculture practices â this includes planting cover crops, reducing tillage and using fewer pesticides.
These practices both improve soil health while also enhancing biodiversity and help combat the impacts of climate change.
The team also offers assistance both technically and financially to allow its growers to adopt certain practices, continuously measuring and assessing the impact of farmers who are adopting regenerative agriculture.
"We've seen some positive outcomes so farâmany of our growers are already advanced in utilising these methods, meaning they are well-established in regenerative agriculture and implement multiple practices on their fields," Todd adds.
"For example, our fruit growers are adopting natural control strategies in their orchards that help reduce pesticide use and preserve beneficial insects, and they leave tree trimmings in their orchards to help increase carbon and nutrients in the soil."
Science-driven solutions for pure ingredients
Gerber also works to prioritise growing locations for conditions which are optimal for climate and soil, while also rotating the crops according to the best available science.
Gerber also takes advantage of regular soil sampling for heavy metals and approves, prior to harvest, all fields growing root crops as they are more likely to absorb heavy metals from the soil â this process ensures that what is harvested meets Gerber's strict standards.
"Gerber is all about continuous learning and finding new solutions," Todd adds. "We invest in research and team up with leading institutes, universities and experts to actively explore new farming practices, technologies and insights on soil health and nutrient uptake. These efforts inform our work and help our network of growers thrive."
As Gerber continues its mission to pursue uncompromising quality, it is continuously working to deliver on its mission of helping generations of families grow.
Through its expertise in agriculture and strong relationships with its farmers, the ones growing its ingredients, who are playing a vital role to reach this objective.
"I'm excited to build on the years of progress we've made, so we can continue protecting the land where our ingredients grow and ensure we can deliver quality baby food for generations to come," Todd concludes.
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