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Tree Planting Partnership With Nestlé 2026

We have partnered with a key customer, Nestlé, to help farmers turn less-productive land on farms supplying milk to Open Country into long-term environmental assets through native tree planting. These plantings help capture and store carbon, increase biodiversity, and improve resilience on farm, including where trees are planted along waterways or erosion-prone areas.

For every native tree an Open Country farmer plants, the project will fund a second tree – enabling farmers to plant more native trees on farm by effectively funding one tree for every tree they plant.

Once approved, suppliers purchase and plant the trees with their preferred nursery and are reimbursed by Open Country later in the season for 50% of eligible tree and planting costs, including some integrated planting services, up to $3.50 per tree (based on an average cost of $7 per tree).

Who is eligible?

  • The programme is open to all Open Country suppliers.
  • Farmers participating in this funding opportunity are expected to continue supplying milk to Open Country for at least five years from planting, in line with the programme Terms and Conditions.
  • This project has a capped number of trees available for reimbursement. As a result, not all applications may be successful. Farmers are encouraged to apply early to improve their chances of securing funding.
Farm Sustainability Planting 2

Reimbursement

Open Country reimburses 50% of eligible costs (paid as a rebate) once planting has been completed and verified in accordance with the approved application and programme requirements.

contact details v3

Timings - first in first served, apply today

Summer
Submit your application to us (see link below). This form requires details about the area to be planted, the number of plants and species. We recommend engaging with your nursery at this stage to help plan the planting area, species mix and expected upfront costs.

Application update
All farms who apply will receive a status update on their application via email once applications have been reviewed.

 

May – September
Trees are planted. Early planting helps ensure good root development and gives trees the greatest chance of survival through summer.

After planting, a representative from Open Country or a third party will visit your farm (arranged with you) to verify that trees have been planted in accordance with the approved application.

Once this visit has taken place, you can send your nursery invoices to [email protected] for reimbursement.

Reimbursement
Open Country reimburses 50% of eligible tree and planting costs (paid as a rebate), funded through our Tree Planting Partnership with Nestlé, once planting has been completed and verified in accordance with the approved application.

Useful Links

Open Country’s Commitment to Sustainability

Open Country is committed to creating a space where dairying and the environment can thrive.

Open Country has already made massive investments in building cleaner, more sustainable manufacturing plants including acquiring New Zealand’s largest wood pellet manufacturer. We are thrilled to have developed this venture to benefit our suppliers, our customers, and the environment around us.

Nestlé’s Carbon Neutral Plan

Nestlé is the world’s largest food and beverage company with dairy the single biggest ingredient, They have plans to be carbon neutral by 2050 and have partnered with their key suppliers around the globe to create projects and ventures that help to build a more sustainable dairying future.

As a significant buyer of Open Country’s dairy products, Nestlé are keen to be working alongside processors and farmers to help reduce carbon and create a more sustainable future, so that dairy can remain one of their key ingredients. Nestlé will be adding this project to many others and using this in their marketing and communications around the world.

Nestle OC Tree Planting Project Launch Feb 23 JC SK 01