MAGGI Deepens Local Sourcing Drive with Regenerative Farming Initiative

MAGGI Deepens Local Sourcing Drive with Regenerative Farming Initiative

MAGGI, Nigeria’s leading seasoning brand under Nestlé, has reaffirmed its commitment to sustainable local sourcing through the successful completion of its Regenerative Agriculture (RegenAg) pilot project for soybean farming. The milestone initiative has now evolved into a broader program aimed at supporting 25,000 smallholder farmers across the country.

Launched in 2023 with an investment exceeding ₦100 million, the RegenAg pilot empowered 1,030 soybean farmers to adopt climate-smart agricultural practices designed to boost yields and restore soil fertility. The project, implemented in collaboration with TechnoServe and IDH, with technical support from Ghana’s Centre for No-Till Agriculture (CNTA), showcased the potential of regenerative farming to transform smallholder agriculture in Nigeria.

Through simple but effective techniques — including cover cropping, minimal tillage (ripping), crop rotation, and the establishment of hedgerows — participating farmers recorded improved productivity and healthier farmlands.

Speaking on the initiative, Funmi Osineye, Category Manager for Culinary at Nestlé Nigeria, described it as a key component of MAGGI’s mission to empower local farmers and promote sustainable food systems.

“Soybean is a key ingredient in MAGGI, and supporting local farmers to grow it sustainably is central to our mission. This initiative is more than a sourcing strategy; it’s an investment in resilient food systems. By equipping farmers, especially women and youth, with regenerative agriculture skills, we are improving productivity today while protecting the land for future generations,” Osineye said.

A celebration event marking the success of the pilot brought together over 150 stakeholders from the agricultural, industrial, and development sectors. Five outstanding farmers were recognized for their exceptional adoption of regenerative techniques.

One of the awardees, Engineer Lawan Abdul, shared his experience:

“Since I started adopting these strategies as taught in this project, my yields have increased by 100%. This has been very encouraging, and I want to thank MAGGI and the organizers for this life-changing initiative.”

Following the success of the pilot, MAGGI and its partners — including AGRA and Nestlé’s Central and West Africa Region (CWAR) — are scaling up the initiative to reach 25,000 farmers nationwide. The expanded program is projected to produce over 80,000 metric tonnes of quality grains annually, with a growing share cultivated using regenerative practices.

According to Alidu Amadu, Head of Agriculture Services at Nestlé CWAR, the project exemplifies the power of collaboration in building resilient food systems.

“This project shows what is possible when businesses, development partners, and farmers work together. Regenerative agriculture not only restores soil health but also builds long-term productivity and resilience for local communities,” he noted.

The RegenAg initiative aligns with Nestlé’s global ambition to source 20% of its key ingredients through regenerative agriculture by 2025 and 50% by 2030, while contributing to Nigeria’s food security and rural development agenda.