Nestle testing Kit Kats with regeneratively farmed wheat

CRAWLEY, ENGLAND — Nestle UK has partnered with London-based regenerative farming and food company Wildfarmed to test regeneratively farmed wheat in Kit Kats chocolate wafers.

Nestle said farmers at Wildfarmed follow holistic farming practices such as limiting soil disturbance, maintaining year-round soil cover, promoting plant diversity and keeping living roots in the soil. The practices help increase field and farm biodiversity, improve soil health, minimize water pollution and reduce carbon.

Nestle will use the regeneratively farmed wheat in 1.5 billion Kit Kat bars made in the city every year after the company began conducting trials to use a proportion of the wheat in Kit Kats at its York facility beginning last year.

“We’re thrilled to be working with Wildfarmed,” said Emma Keller, PhD, head of sustainability at Nestle UK and Ireland. “This collaboration is all about making the Kit Kat everyone has known and loved for the last 90 years in an even more sustainable way, all while supporting British wheat farmers to adopt regenerative farming practices that are intended to support carbon reduction and increase biodiversity. With this partnership, it’s not just about growing crops a bit differently; it’s about working to grow and support a more sustainable future for farmers and the landscapes we depend on. 

“As a large food and drink company with a diverse supply chain underpinned by a network of farmers, collaboration is essential to help us achieve our sustainability goals. Wildfarmed is helping us lead the charge to ensure that our much-loved Kit Kat bars are made with sustainability at their core.”