KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 1): Nestlé Malaysia has launched its first-ever 100% home-grown coffee, Nescafé Classic Kopi Kedah.

In a statement today, the food and beverage (F&B) manufacturer said the first edition of the product is made with 100% locally grown coffee beans under the Nescafé Grown Respectfully Programme, a sustainable coffee farming initiative launched last year in Kedah.

It said the coffee beans used for Nescafé Classic Kopi Kedah are grown with respect and selected with utmost care.

Nestlé (Malaysia) Bhd chief executive officer (CEO) Juan Aranols said for many years, the firm had been supporting rural communities in Malaysia.

“We have been engaged in chilli and rice farms across several states, and now we are so proud to revitalise coffee farming in Kedah to deliver our first Nescafé Classic Kopi Kedah,” he said.

Meanwhile, Nestlé Malaysia business executive officer of the beverages business unit Othman Chraibi said this is a great start to the Nescafé Grown Respectfully Programme, which to date had seen the participation of more than 100 farmers, planting close to 70,000 plantlets.

Nestlé Malaysia CEO Juan Aranols.

The Nescafé Grown Respectfully Programme is a collaboration with the Federal Land Development Authority (FELDA), the Kedah State Department of Agriculture (KSDA), the Kedah Economic Development Authority (KEDA), Pertubuhan Kami Anak FELDA (KAF), and the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI).

While providing technical assistance and support to farmers with a view towards improving their livelihoods and quality of life, the programme also aims at training them to have the latest sustainable agricultural techniques to ensure higher awareness of care and attention to preserve the environment and the ecosystem.

This will ensure a sustainable future for coffee farming in Malaysia, said Nestlé Malaysia.

At 10.54am today, Nestle Malaysia was 1.57% or RM2.10 higher at RM136.10, valuing the stock at RM31.92 billion.