Innocent Drinks has awarded grants to 18 farming projects across 14 countries to improve the resilience of its fruit and vegetable supply chains. The initiatives receive funding through the company’s Farmer Innovation Fund, an annual program worth up to £1 million. It supports suppliers and growers adopting regenerative and sustainable farming methods.
Projects span four continents and key ingredients
The fund, now in its fifth year, backs projects focused on water management, carbon reduction, biodiversity, and climate-smart farming. These efforts target ingredients like oranges, apples, coconuts, grapes, strawberries, and mangoes.
Agriculture makes up over half of Innocent’s carbon footprint. Adjusting its supply chain plays a major role in reducing emissions. An external advisory board selected the projects based on alignment with the company’s goals, scalability, and potential carbon impact.
Brazil pilot tests new carbon measurement system
A funded project will trial a system for measuring greenhouse gas emissions and carbon removals on a citrus farm in Brazil. The initiative combines farm data, soil sampling, remote sensing, and carbon modeling to provide clearer insights into agricultural practices.
The pilot takes place on a farm verified to gold level under the SAI Platform’s Farm Sustainability Assessment. Its goal is to create a framework that could expand to more suppliers and ingredients, improving carbon reporting while helping growers adopt better practices.
Garett Stoll, a senior consultant at 3Keel, said the project aims to develop a scalable approach. “Oranges are a key ingredient, and building resilient citrus supply chains starts with understanding the real impact of actions taken on the farm,” he said. The long-term goal is to strengthen climate reporting and boost confidence in agriculture’s role in cutting emissions.
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Coconut farmers in the Philippines receive support
Another project assists coconut farmers in the Philippines, where Peter Paul Philippine Corporation works with smaller growers. The initiative introduces mulching techniques to improve soil moisture, fertility, and crop yields.
Demand for coconut water has grown, increasing the need for a stable and climate-resilient supply. Clarito Q. Ona, a fair trade officer at Peter Paul Philippine Corporation, said the project would help farming communities adapt to climate change by strengthening resilience at the farm level.
Five projects are repeat recipients of the fund. Innocent stated this reflects its focus on long-term partnerships that deliver lasting environmental and agricultural benefits. These relationships address challenges like climate resilience, water management, and biodiversity loss.
Nick Canney, Innocent’s chief executive, said the projects tackle major agricultural challenges. “Bringing fruit and veg to more people starts with the growers,” he said. “We’re supporting these innovative efforts and look forward to their impact.”
The program helps farmers protect natural resources and adapt to changing conditions. For small-scale growers, the grants offer a chance to test new methods without full financial risk. This support could determine whether they survive a bad season or lose their livelihood.
While immediate benefits may be small, the combined effect of these projects could change how Innocent sources ingredients in the future. Successful frameworks from Brazil and the Philippines might spread to other regions, creating broader effects beyond the company’s supply chain.
