Coca Cola India aims for fruit circular economy
Coca Cola India Fruit Circular Economy | Coca-Cola India has committed an investment of $1.7 billion towards creating a Fruit Circular Economy to aid the Indian Agri-ecosystem till 2023, the company said. The Coca-Cola India system provides direct employment to 25,000 people and indirect employment to more than 150,000 people.
India is the 2nd largest horticulture producer in the world exceeding the food grains production for sixth consecutive year. However, farm productivity levels remain low, around 30% post-harvest fresh fruit is wasted and farmers’ incomes need to improve.
Fruit Circular Economy is Coca-Cola’s endeavor to make a concerted difference in the Indian fruit ecosystem. We plan to leverage our capability of building demand as well as ensuring surplus availability of Indian fruits, thereby meeting both local and export requirements. With a focus on increasing farm productivity through Innovation and technology, we support the cause of doubling farmer incomes over the years’. The surplus fruit supply shall be processed to create high value fruit juices by integrating farm supply with the consumer needs, thus propelling the fruit economy of India.
Asim Parekh Vice President, Fruit Circular Economy at Coca-Cola India Pvt Ltd
Coca-Cola India’s Fruit Circular Economy initiative is a step towards addressing these issues by harnessing the higher productivity potential of fruits – both at farm level as well as processing industry. We see ourselves as perfectly placed to accelerate the fruit processing industry in India by creating demand through new specialty fruit based beverages, ultimately generating new opportunities for farmers, local suppliers and retailers. It spans across our juice supply chain, from grove to glass, and also contributes towards the National Vision to double farmers’ income by 2022.
PROJECT UNNATI
Launched in 2011, Project Unnati is our initiative to catalyze economic growth and create new opportunities for farmers and local suppliers in India. The project encourages sustainable, modern agricultural practices and help increase fruit yield, thereby increasing the income of farmers. It also creates a positive impact across many of our other sustainability focus areas, including women’s empowerment, community well-being and water stewardship.
Unnati Orange
Reiterating its commitment as a ‘Total Beverage Company with strong local roots’, Coca-Cola India continues to invest in the essence of India by advancing beverage localization, celebrating farmers and catering to the evolving needs of the Indian consumers.
Expansion of brand Minute Maid with introduction of the new beverages also underlines Coca-Cola India’s focus on the ‘Fruit Circular Economy’ initiative, enabling farmers to increase their yield by sourcing fruits to launch fruit-based beverages, the company said.
Launched in 2016, Orange Unnati is an outcome of a tripartite partnership between CCIPL, the State Government of Maharashtra, and Jain Irrigation Systems Limited. The integrated agricultural development project aims to augment the quality, productivity and profitability per unit of land used for citrus cultivation.
Orange Unnati encourages the adoption of newer international varieties with almost 50% higher juice content than the traditional mandarin (Nagpur Santra) varieties. To create a holistic impact, the project also emphasizes on knowledge dissemination, easy availability of saplings and demonstrated impact through demo farms.
The project is operational across the water-stressed regions of Vidarbha and Marathwada in Maharashtra the districts ofAmravati, Nagpur, Wardha, Akola and covers the ‘Orange Belt’ of India across Agar and Chhindwara in Madhya Pradesh.
Unnati Mango
Unnati Mango was launched in 2011 as a 15-year project to realize the potential of mango farming in Chittoor district across Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. The program benefits farmers through Ultra-High-Density plantations, use of drip irrigation to reduce water stress, increase crop yields and overall community development. International Finance Corporation (IFC) as an integral partner supports the farmers training program, impact assessment and hydrological assessment.
Going forward, Coca-Cola India aims to bring in more fruit varieties under our Fruit Circular Economy and Unnati initiatives to enable more efficient and productive farming community.
However, it is also worth mentioning that in 2019 Coca Cola was was found for the second year in a row to be the most global plastic polluter brand in a global audit 2019 of plastic trash conducted by the Break Free From Plastic global movement. The global giant soda company was responsible for more plastic litter than the next top three polluters combined.
Coca Cola India Fruit Circular Economy | Coca Cola India Fruit Circular Economy | Coca Cola India Fruit Circular Economy | Coca Cola India Fruit Circular Economy
