KUCHING: Nestle Malaysia has come up with a new product, KitKat Dark Borneo, using cocoa beans solely from Sabah and Sarawak.
It is the end result of the Nestle Borneo Cocoa Initiative (NBCI) initiated at the Malaysian Cocoa Board in Nilai, Negeri Sembilan.
At the launching Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Sri Johari Abdul Ghani stressed the importance of innovative initiatives in tackling industry challenges.
“Malaysia was once a thriving cocoa-producing nation, and there are vast opportunities for us to infuse technology and product innovation to elevate our production levels.
“Therefore, efforts such as this by Nestlé KitKat® to support Borneo growers in improving their lives and the quality of their products through Nestlé’s sustainability plan are crucial,” he added.
Nestle said the launch is part of the company’s commitment to advancing local and sustainable sourcing through Nestle Malaysia’s Farmer Connect programme which has now expanded into East Malaysia.
It goes beyond current engagements involving chilli, rice and coffee agricultural development.
“This initiative makes tangible our vision of ‘better farming, better lives, and better cocoa’.
“Our approach includes implementing Regenerative Agriculture practices like agroforestry and intercropping, which helps to ensure the soil health for the long run, as well as developing the crop yield, which helps in boosting the local farmers’ income.
“We believe that KitKat Dark Borneo, in addition to a great tasting and high-quality confectionery, is a great example of how private-public partnerships can bring about positive change and improved opportunities for economic development for the local communities,” it said.
According to a press release on Tuesday (May 7), NBCI represents a strategic collaboration between Nestlé Malaysia and the Malaysian Cocoa Board (MCB) aimed at extending the company’s Farmer Connect programme to East Malaysia.
Johari said the ministry and the Malaysian Cocoa Board are committed to not only revitalising, but also enriching the local cocoa industry.
“It is our task to re-energise the upstream and downstream sectors, ensuring that our approaches not only increase income generation but also instil environmental stewardship among our communities,” he said.
