Nestlé is researching the potential environmental benefits and scalability of an innovative aquaculture approach

Nestlé Drives Sustainable Aquaculture: Research Collaborations for Marine 'Natural Recycling'

SWITZERLAND
Tuesday, November 04, 2025, 08:00 (GMT + 9)

The company partners with scientific institutes in New Zealand and the United Kingdom to study Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA), aiming to optimize food production and ecosystem restoration.

Nestlé is engaged in key research collaborations exploring the environmental benefits and scalability of an innovative aquaculture approach known as Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA). This method is based on the principle of "natural recycling," where the waste from one aquatic species serves as food for another, which helps to maintain water quality and potentially enhances biodiversity and income stability for farmers.

Strategic Research at Two Key Locations

The Nestlé Institute of Agricultural Sciences is leading the research alongside external partners in New Zealand and the United Kingdom, with the goal of transforming global food systems and operating within planetary boundaries.

1. New Zealand: Species Interactions and Marine Conditions

• Partner: Cawthron Institute, the country's largest independent science organization.
• Focus: Studying the interactions between different species of seaweed and shellfish (mollusks and crustaceans).
• Objective: To understand the best mix of species and optimal ocean conditions to maximize productivity and environmental benefits. This work is supported by local PhD research.

1. United Kingdom: Offshore Conditions and Advanced Monitoring

   • Partner: The startup Algapelago, at an existing aquaculture farm.

   • Location: North coast of Devon.

   • Focus: Research under offshore conditions where seaweed and mussels are grown together. Scientists use a combination of state-of-the-art monitoring technology and field data collection to evaluate biodiversity, water quality, and productivity. This research also benefits from the expertise of the University of Portsmouth and local PhD research.

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Sustainability Vision and Global Scope

Jeroen Dijkman, Head of the Nestlé Institute of Agricultural Sciences, highlighted the importance of these efforts: "This collaborative research will provide new, science-based insights on the contribution that integrated multi-trophic aquaculture can make towards sustainable food production, while optimizing marine ecosystem restoration and carbon sequestration."

Nestlé underscores its continuous commitment to innovative, science-based solutions to help advance towards more sustainable food systems. Beyond these initiatives, in 2023, the company signed a research agreement with the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (UC Chile), focusing on the potential of marine plants and other alternative sources of vegetable protein in Latin America. The potential of aquaculture extends beyond food, encompassing everything from low-carbon ingredients to algal bioplastics for packaging.

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