Nestlé receives two sustainability awards at 29th SDC

ISLAMABAD: Nestlé Pakistan received two sustainability awards at the 29th Sustainable Development Conference (SDC) and Sustainability Investment Expo (SIE) in Islamabad, recognizing Nestlé Pakistan’s efforts on sustainability and advancing regenerative food systems and circularity across its value chain.

Nestlé Pakistan also co-hosted a high-level plenary titled “Transforming Pakistan’s Agriculture and Food Systems in an Age of Disruption: AI for Regenerative and Climate-Smart Agriculture” at the conference.

Opening the discussion on Nestlé Pakistan’s efforts and initiatives, Faisal Nadeem, Head of Technical, Nestlé Pakistan, shared, “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.”

Sharing the humanitarian perspective, Anita Hirsch, Country Director, World Food Programme (WFP), Pakistan, said, “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.”

Sharing learnings from Nestlé’s global experience in advancing regenerative agriculture, Katarzyna Grzybowska, Sustainability Delivery Manager, Nestlé S A Global, said, “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. 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.”

Dr Abid Qaiyum Suleri, Executive Director, SDPI, said, “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.”

Highlighting the importance of translating commitments into action, Sheikh Waqar Ahmad, Head of Corporate Affairs and Sustainability, Nestlé Pakistan & Afghanistan, also shared, “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.”

Dr Zaigham Shahzad, Associate Professor, LUMS, shared, “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.”

The two recognitions reflect Nestlé Pakistan’s sustainability efforts across its value chain. The company is scaling regenerative agriculture practices across 125 farms, supported by 135 solar systems and 25 biogas plants, alongside water-saving technologies including drip irrigation across 299 acres and smart soil moisture sensors across 722 acres. Advancing its focus on better systems and circularity, Nestlé Pakistan’s Clean Gilgit-Baltistan Project has also facilitated the management of over 11,000 tons of plastic and paper packaging waste.

Nestlé Pakistan’s efforts are in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026