MAGGI, a brand from Nestlé Nigeria Plc, stated the successful completion of its Regenerative Agriculture (RegenAg) pilot for local soybean sourcing, a milestone that has inspired a broader program now supporting 25,000 smallholder farmers across Nigeria. Launched in 2023 with an investment of over N100 million, the pilot supported 1,030 soybean farmers to adopt climate-smart practices that improved their yields while restoring soil health. Implemented in partnership with TechnoServe and IDH, with technical guidance from the Centre for No-Till Agriculture (CNTA), Ghana, the project demonstrated the potential of regenerative farming to transform smallholder agriculture in Nigeria. The pilot introduced simple but effective techniques such as cover cropping, minimal tillage (ripping), crop rotation, and hedgerows, leading to healthier soils and higher yields.The category manager for Culinary, Nestlé Nigeria, Funmi Osineye said, ‘Soybean is a key ingredient in MAGGI, and supporting local farmers to grow it sustainably is central to our mission.’ She stated that “this initiative is more than a sourcing strategy; it is 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. This is how MAGGI continues to nourish Nigerian families while helping build a stronger agricultural economy.” At a celebration event held to mark the pilot’s success, over 150 stakeholders from agriculture, development and industry came together to recognise five award-winning farmers for their outstanding adoption of regenerative practices. One of the farmers, Engineer Abdul said, “Since I started adopting these strategies, as we were taught in this project, my yields have increased by 100 per cent. This was very encouraging, and I would like to applaud the project organizers and thank MAGGI for bringing this to us.”
The pilot’s success has paved the way for a larger, multi-partner scale-up initiative, now backed by AGRA and MAGGI’s parent brand, Nestlé, to reach 25,000 smallholder farmers across Nigeria. The program aims to produce at least 80,000 metric tonnes of quality grains annually, with a growing share cultivated using regenerative practices.
The head of Agriculture Services, Nestlé Central & West Africa Region (CWAR), Alidu Amadu noted that, “this project shows what is possible when businesses, development partners and farmers work together,” said “Regenerative agriculture not only restores soil health but also builds long-term productivity and resilience for local communities.”
This initiative contributes to Nestlé’s global ambition to source 20 per cent of key ingredients through regenerative agricultural methods by 2025 and 50 per cent by 2030, while supporting Nigeria’s broader food security and rural development goals.
