Agricultural sustainability through localised seed initiatives

LAHORE : A “Seeds to smiles” event was held here on Saturday to bolster agricultural ecosystem and food security in Pakistan.

Organised by the PepsiCo Foundation, the event focused on regenerative agriculture and fostering a positive value chain. The highlight was a ceremony celebrating the success of the She Feeds the World (SFtW) Pakistan programme.

SFtW, a partnership between the PepsiCo Foundation and CARE, aims to enhance food security and nutrition in rural households by empowering small-scale women farmers with regenerative agricultural practices. The programme has positively impacted 173,000 community members through training, economic inclusion, health and hygiene interventions, and financial literacy workshops.

The foundation also showcased its innovative approach to sourcing 100% of its potatoes locally. The company’s pioneering culture lab produces specialised potato variants with high yield and quality.

Other initiatives include capacity building for over 50,000 farming community members across 35,000 acres and modernising agricultural practices through cutting-edge technology.

The event featured a panel discussion with industry experts, including Eugene Willemsen, M Khosa, Anila Begum, Adil Sheraz, and Fatima Zaka. M Khosa emphasised PepsiCo’s commitment to localising the supply chain, providing a stable income for farmers, and fostering an inclusive agricultural ecosystem.

The event also included a digital exhibit showcasing the journey of potatoes from seed to crop and an interactive afforestation drive, resulting in a pledge to plant over 6,000 trees locally.