Nestlé’s MAGGI Regenerative Farming Project Empowers 1,000 Farmers to Boost Yields and Restore Soil Health

As Nigeria battles worsening food insecurity, declining soil fertility, and the effects of climate change, innovative agricultural solutions are gaining traction through partnerships between the public and private sectors. One leading example is MAGGI’s Regenerative Agriculture (RegenAg) initiative, a Nestlé Nigeria project helping thousands of smallholder soybean farmers adopt climate-smart, sustainable practices to improve productivity and soil health.

Launched in 2023, the RegenAg project was designed to test how regenerative farming methods—which focus on restoring ecosystems and improving yields—could strengthen Nigeria’s food system. Implemented in collaboration with TechnoServe, IDH, and Ghana’s Centre for No-Till Agriculture, the pilot supported 1,030 farmers with training, inputs, and farming tools.

With an investment of over ₦100 million, the programme introduced low-cost, eco-friendly techniques such as cover cropping, minimal tillage, crop rotation, and hedgerows. These practices help retain nutrients, prevent erosion, and enhance soil productivity over time.

Speaking about the initiative, Funmi Osineye, Category Manager for Culinary at Nestlé Nigeria, highlighted the company’s long-term commitment to sustainable sourcing:

“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.”

At a ceremony marking the completion of the pilot phase, over 150 stakeholders from the agricultural, development, and industrial sectors gathered to celebrate the participating farmers. Five were specially recognized for their outstanding performance, including Engineer Lawan Abdul, who shared his success story.

“Since I started adopting these strategies, as we were taught in this project, my yields have increased by 100 percent. This was very encouraging, and I would like to thank MAGGI for bringing this to us,” Abdul said.

Encouraged by the pilot’s success, the initiative has now scaled up into a multi-partner project supported by AGRA (Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa) and Nestlé. The expanded programme aims to reach 25,000 smallholder farmers nationwide, targeting an annual output of 80,000 metric tonnes of soybean and other grains—grown using regenerative methods.

Alidu Amadu, Head of Agriculture Services for Nestlé Central and West Africa Region, emphasized the broader impact of the collaboration:

“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.”

The initiative supports Nigeria’s national food security goals and contributes to Nestlé’s global sustainability targets, which aim to source 20% of key ingredients through regenerative agriculture by 2025 and 50% by 2030.

Agriculture experts say projects like this could significantly transform Nigeria’s farming landscape—helping smallholders adapt to climate change, increase yields, and reduce dependence on imported food products.

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