The Department of Agriculture (DA) and Nestlé Philippines signed an accord to scale up local production of Robusta coffee, the variety used in instant coffee.

In a statement on Friday, Nestlé Philippines said the agreement involves the implementation of the Mindanao Robusta Coffee Project, which aims to scale up Robusta coffee output to 1,000 kilograms/hectare by 2027.

The partnership covers five components: research, fertilizer support, upskilling of farmers, establishment of coffee centers and logistics and marketing.

Nestlé Philippines and the University of Southern Mindanao will conduct a productivity assessment in several Robusta farms in Mindanao, according to Nestlé Philippines.

It also calls for the creation of an integrated coffee center in Sultan Kudarat, a shared facility for the development and distribution of good quality varieties of coffee plantlets, as well as a demo or training site, post-harvest facility and buying station.

"Nestlé is also reaffirming its commitment to be a ready market for locally grown Robusta green coffee beans, which is the sole ingredient to manufacture NESCAFÉ, its leading soluble coffee brand," it said.

Nestlé's buying stations are currently open in Valencia, Bukidnon and Tacurong, Sultan Kudarat for suppliers to deliver their coffee.

"The Mindanao Robusta Coffee Project is a public-private partnership that aims to create a more robust and globally competitive coffee industry through programs that will increase farmers' volume production and improve the quality of their green coffee beans," said Agriculture Senior Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban.

"As one of the country's top five high-value crops, coffee sits high on the national economic agenda and is one of the DA's urgent priorities for development and support," added Panganiban. INQ