Autumn meant a lot of learning for us. Our focus lied especially on how we best design our product for human and planet health.
Coffee is the most drunk beverage in the world - we consume more than 2 billion cups of coffee every day.
However, coffee is both a contributor and victim of the climate crisis, and coffee production has one of the most environmentally and socially exploitative agricultural value chains.
Our sentiment that things need to change is underlined by leading industry bodies. Just 2 days ago, the Food Foundation published 'The State of the Nation's Food Industry report 2023' (I linked it for anyone interested in having a read). This report underlines the importance of systematic change to our food system.
(Image taken from Food Foundation, The State of the Nation's Food Industry Report 2023)
Right now, the global food system accounts for 42% of global greenhouse gas emissions, leaving behind an enormous carbon footprint which is driving our climate crisis.
But not just our planet is suffering - our industrial food system is affecting our health in many ways: we are suffering an obesity epidemic, antibiotic resistance and diet-related and chronic diseases are on the rise. In the UK alone a quarter of people are obese and diseases like type 2 diabetes are increasing.
Our food system now relies on industrial farming practices that produce food grown specifically for high yield, ease of transport and fast growth. These practices deliver inexpensive, low-nutrient food in excessive quantities.
Our diets lack any nutritional diversity. And food retailers, brands and manufacturers need to play a big part in reshaping our diets and offering us better products.
With nihilo we are passionate to be part of this change and support the move towards positive nutrition, creating an alternative more sustainable coffee product while enriching our diets with nutrient dense products.
We are currently working on an exciting opportunity, which we hope to share with all of you soon!
