Nestlé Pakistan, LUMS and Syed Babar Ali Foundation Launch Regenerative Agriculture Leadership Program
A new multi-year executive training program aims to build regenerative agriculture expertise among Pakistani farmers and agripreneurs, with Nestlé targeting 50% of key ingredients from regenerative sources by 2030.
Nestlé Pakistan, in partnership with the LUMS Rausing Executive Development Centre (REDC) and the Syed Babar Ali Foundation, has launched a multi-year Executive Training and Certification Program focused on regenerative agriculture. Titled 'Regenerative Agriculture: Leading the Nestlé Way,' the initiative aims to develop agricultural leadership in Pakistan while supporting resilient food systems, environmental stewardship and farm-level prosperity.
The program will run two cohorts each year, with 25 participants per session. Each cohort will complete a four-day course comprising three days of classroom learning at REDC, LUMS, and one day of field-based exposure. Participants will study soil health, water stewardship, crop nutrition, energy efficiency, emissions reduction and farm economics, with additional emphasis on innovation, agripreneurship and precision irrigation techniques.
Jason Avanceña, CEO and Managing Director of Nestlé Pakistan, said the program is intended to build a shared understanding and a network of informed advocates who can champion regenerative agriculture and help keep Pakistan competitive with other leading agricultural economies. He noted that for Nestlé, the effort is ultimately about creating shared value across its agricultural value chain.
Syed Babar Ali, commenting on the initiative, said the true value of education lies in what is passed on to future generations. He added that agriculture remains central to the country and that the challenges facing the sector require equipping a new generation of leaders. Dr. Tariq M. Jadoon, Provost at LUMS, said the program is designed to move beyond theory by combining scientific understanding, business considerations and field exposure, allowing participants to examine regenerative agriculture as an interconnected system and consider how its principles can be scaled in Pakistan.
Nestlé Pakistan is already implementing regenerative agriculture measures across its agricultural value chain, with around 150 farmers benefiting from interventions covering approximately 9,330 acres. The company is supporting farmers in adopting practices and technologies focused on soil health, water efficiency and climate resilience. Nestlé aims to source 50% of its key ingredients from farmers adopting regenerative agriculture practices by 2030, as part of its wider ambition to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
