PepsiCo Foundation sponsors regenerative agriculture projects to respond to climate change

PepsiCo Foundation funds 'New Crops: A Sustainable Agriculture Initiative' with a new focus on regenerative agriculture and climate change response.

On the sidelines of the Vietnam-US bilateral trade agreement negotiation trip from November 10-14 in Washington DC, PepsiCo Foundation, Partnership for Sustainable Agriculture in Vietnam (PSAV), National Agricultural Extension Center (NAEC) and Care Organization signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the project "New Crop: Sustainable Agriculture Initiative" (abbreviated as AgroNova), this is the second phase of the project "I am happy to sow" in Vietnam.

The AgroNova project marks the continuation of a successful partnership aimed at strengthening the economic , social and climate resilience of smallholder farmers in Vietnam.

The new phase of the project from January 2026 to December 2028 will be implemented in Dak Lak, Gia Lai and Thanh Hoa provinces, with a new strategic focus on regenerative agriculture and inclusive value chains to respond to climate change. The project is expected to directly support 13,600 smallholder farmers (including 8,160 women and 5,440 men) and indirectly impact 73,400 people.

Director of the International Cooperation Department, Director of PSAV Nguyen Do Anh Tuan, President of PepsiCo Foundation and Care Board Member Seema Jayachandran signed the memorandum of understanding witnessed by Deputy Minister Hoang Trung, leaders of PepsiCo, Care and representatives of the Vietnamese Embassy in the US and the US Embassy in Vietnam. Photo: PSC.

Mr. CD Glin, Chairman of PepsiCo Foundation, happily shared: "The AgroNova project demonstrates our strong commitment to equality in the global supply chain. By supporting female farmers and smallholder farmers, we not only support productivity growth but also empower women, promote financial independence, and build a more sustainable future for communities. This is how the group's pep+ (PepsiCo Positive) Strategy is realized."

The project’s success was driven by an effective Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model that connected ministries, research institutes, local partners and the private sector. Public partners included PSAV and NAEC under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, which provided technical support, created a favorable policy environment and coordinated with local departments in Dak Lak, Gia Lai and Thanh Hoa provinces.

The Western Highlands Agriculture and Forestry Science Institute (WASI) under the Vietnam Academy of Agricultural Sciences, a key research unit of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, will provide scientific expertise.

Mr. Hoang Trung, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment, said: "The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment is very pleased that PSAV and NAEC are meaningfully accompanying the project in the role of connecting and promoting the public-private partnership (PPP) model. The Ministry is committed to continuing to accompany, connect and closely coordinate with partners in implementing and expanding initiatives that have practical significance and far-reaching social impacts.

We believe that PepsiCo Foundation, CARE and the business community will continue to play a pioneering role – not only financially, but also in technological innovation, value chain governance and shaping sustainable consumption trends."

The project is implemented locally with the participation and support of the Department of Agriculture and Environment, Agricultural Extension Center, Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection, People's Committees of relevant provinces and communes, Dak Lak Community Development Center (CDC), Thanh Hoa Microfinance Organization, ...

The project is designed under the direction of the Partnership for Sustainable Agriculture in Vietnam (PSAV) and the Food Innovation Network in Vietnam (FIH-V) with the accompaniment and implementation support of local communities and partners in the value chain, ensuring consistency between implementation practices and state management policies.

Policy problems during the implementation process will be summarized and reported directly to the PPP policy forum of PSAV and FIH-V with appropriate adjustment recommendations to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment as well as relevant ministries.

The AgroNova project focuses on three interconnected objectives to build sustainable and climate-resilient food systems. First, through the Positive Agriculture objective, the project builds the capacity of smallholder farmers, especially ethnic minorities and women, to practice regenerative agriculture.

This will help improve livelihoods in response to climate change and enhance sustainable food supply. Secondly, the project aims to create inclusive value chains by providing producers with equitable access to essential resources such as inputs, finance, technology and market access opportunities.

Finally, to scale up the impact, the project will develop, document and disseminate successful regenerative agriculture models. These models will be encouraged to connect with FIH-V for further replication and sustainability.

“There is a strong need for a shift towards regenerative agriculture and climate change resilience,” said Seema Jayachandran, Board Member, CARE International. “The AgroNova project not only helps smallholder farmers increase productivity but also regenerates soils and protects livelihoods from increasingly complex climate change. This is an important step towards long-term sustainable development.”

New Crops: Sustainable Agriculture Initiatives

The project is part of the global She Feeds the World program implemented by PepsiCo Foundation and CARE to support smallholder farmers, especially women, to access resources, knowledge and confidence to increase productivity, improve nutrition and bring better lives to their families and communities. The implementation of the AgroNova Project marks a new and meaningful chapter in the journey of cooperation for gender equality and sustainable agricultural development in Vietnam.

Source: https://nongnghiepmoitruong.vn/quy-pepsico-tai-tro-du-an-nong-nghiep-tai-tao-ung-pho-bien-doi-khi-hau-d784402.html