Nestlé Pakistan has received two sustainability awards in recognition of its efforts to promote regenerative agriculture, strengthen food systems and advance environmental sustainability across its value chain.
The awards were presented at the 29th Sustainable Development Conference (SDC) and Sustainability Investment Expo (SIE) held in Islamabad, where the company also joined industry stakeholders, development partners and academics to examine how technology and innovation could transform Pakistan’s agricultural and food systems.
As part of the conference, Nestlé Pakistan co-hosted a high-level plenary session titled “Transforming Pakistan’s Agriculture and Food Systems in an Age of Disruption: AI for Regenerative and Climate-Smart Agriculture.”
The discussion focused on the growing impact of climate change, declining soil health and pressure on agricultural land, while highlighting the role of artificial intelligence (AI), partnerships and sustainable farming practices in building more resilient food production systems.
Speaking at the session, Faisal Nadeem, Head of Technical at Nestlé Pakistan, emphasised the urgency of adopting regenerative agriculture to address the challenges confronting farmers and food production.
“With cultivable land under increasing pressure and soil health declining, the need to transition towards regenerative agriculture has never been greater. The encouraging part is that soil health can be restored. At Nestlé, we are working with farmers and partners to scale regenerative practices that improve soil health, improve water efficiency, and strengthen resilience to climate pressures,” he said.
From the humanitarian perspective, Anita Hirsch, Country Director of the World Food Programme (WFP) in Pakistan, highlighted the importance of ensuring that vulnerable communities continue to have access to food amid growing climate and economic disruptions.
“As climate and economic disruptions increase, we need to ensure that food continues to reach the people who need it most. By working with local communities and integrating AI and supply-chain solutions, we can help improve food security while creating more predictable income opportunities,” she said.
Sharing insights from Nestlé’s global experience in regenerative agriculture, Katarzyna Grzybowska, Sustainability Delivery Manager at Nestlé S.A. Global, disclosed that the company was making progress towards its target of sourcing half of its key ingredients from farmers adopting regenerative agriculture practices by 2030.
“At Nestlé, we have committed to sourcing 50 percent of our key ingredients from farmers adopting regenerative agriculture practices by 2030, and we are already about halfway towards this ambition,” she said.
She stressed that successful implementation of regenerative agriculture would require approaches tailored to local conditions, with farmers' economic interests placed at the centre of the transition.
“Regenerative solutions need to be adapted to local realities, with farmer economics at the centre. Scaling this transition also requires the wider food system to come together, share risk across the value chain, and invest for the long term,” Grzybowska added.
Also speaking, Dr Abid Qaiyum Suleri, Executive Director of the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI), noted that Pakistan's agricultural and food systems were increasingly vulnerable to climate change and economic instability.
“Pakistan’s agriculture and food systems are increasingly exposed to the challenges of climate change and economic disruptions. Harnessing AI and smart agriculture, alongside stronger public-private partnerships, can help accelerate the transition,” he said.
On the need to translate sustainability commitments into measurable outcomes, Sheikh Waqar Ahmad, Head of Corporate Affairs and Sustainability, Nestlé Pakistan and Afghanistan, said collaboration with farmers and other stakeholders remained central to the company's strategy.
“Building more resilient food systems requires moving from ambition to action. For Nestlé, this means working with farmers and creating new partnerships to advance regenerative agriculture across the value chain,” he stated.
Similarly, Dr Zaigham Shahzad, Associate Professor at Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), highlighted the role of education, research and innovation in strengthening agricultural practices.
“By bringing education, research and innovation together, we can contribute to a more resilient agricultural system in Pakistan. Our recently launched certification program with Nestlé is a step to accelerate this transition while securing the future of agriculture,” he said.
Beyond the conference discussions, Nestlé Pakistan's sustainability initiatives have recorded progress in regenerative farming, renewable energy, water conservation and waste management.
The company is currently scaling regenerative agriculture practices across 125 farms, supported by 135 solar systems and 25 biogas plants. Its water conservation efforts also include the deployment of drip irrigation technology across 299 acres of farmland and smart soil moisture sensors covering 722 acres.
In the area of environmental protection and circularity, the company's Clean Gilgit-Baltistan Project has facilitated the management of more than 11,000 tonnes of plastic and paper packaging waste.
The two awards further underscore Nestlé Pakistan's efforts to integrate sustainability into its operations while promoting responsible resource management and supporting communities across its value chain.
The company's initiatives are aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 13 on Climate Action, SDG 2 on Zero Hunger and SDG 12 on Responsible Consumption and Production.