PepsiCo Pakistan Cultivates Change: Localizing Seeds for a Brighter Agricultural Future
Islamabad: PepsiCo Pakistan hosted ‘Seeds to Smiles’, a thought leadership event underscoring the company’s support of Pakistan’s farmers, growing the agricultural ecosystem, and investing in Pakistan’s food systems security.
The event brought together a distinguished assembly of stakeholders, farmers, industry experts, partner organizations and PepsiCo leaders including Eugene Willemsen, CEO of PepsiCo Africa, Middle East & South Asia (AMESA) and CEO of PepsiCo International Beverages, and Mohammad Khosa, CEO of PepsiCo Pakistan & Afghanistan.Developed agricultural sector vital for economy: Ahsan
Their interactive dialogue centered on a target to develop regenerative agriculture and a positive value chain, brought to life through digital exhibits and a panel discussion, culminating in a ceremony to honor female farmer contributions to PepsiCo programs such as She Feeds the World (SFtW) and others.
These programs drive inclusivity by uplifting women in farming to become agents of transformation and improving the resilience of rural farming communities as a result. So far, 173,000 members of rural communities have been positively impacted through the provision of training programs, economic inclusion of smallholder farmers, health & hygiene interventions, and financial literacy workshops. The event magnified PepsiCo Pakistan’s role as a leading food company creating real impact for sustainable, long-term growth, rooted in the land.
PepsiCo Pakistan sources 100% of its potatoes locally. This is made possible through PepsiCo’s Tissue Culture Lab, the first of its kind in Pakistan, where specialized potato variants, high in yield and quality, are grown, used locally and exported. Other key interventions include the company’s capacity building initiatives, which support more than 50,000 farming community members managing 35,000 acres of cultivable land. Training was provided to modernize their practices by using cutting-edge technology like precision planters and impact recording devices in support of the target of a sustainable, resilient, and regenerative agricultural future for Pakistan. This was well applauded by the stakeholders present. Through such endeavors, PepsiCo Pakistan has been able to encourage growth, innovation, and climate resilience.
This was followed by an insightful panel discussion including Eugene Willemsen, Mohammad Khosa, Anila Begum – a farmer from Gilgit Baltistan and part of the Global Development Alliance program, Adil Sheraz – Country Director of Care International and Fatima Zaka – Founder of The Farmette.
The panelists focused on the complexities and opportunities within Pakistan’s agricultural sector, spotlighting the private sector’s instrumental role in propelling sustainable growth and empowering farming communities. “PepsiCo is proud to share a long-standing global aim to produce food in a way that revitalizes the earth, supports farmer livelihoods, feeds an expanding population and innovates how ingredients are grown. I am optimistic about the future of agriculture in Pakistan and reiterate PepsiCo’s support for the country’s food security ecosystem,” said Eugene Willemsen.
Mohammad Khosa further added, “As a leading food and beverage company, localizing our supply chain is of utmost importance to us. We aim to provide farmers access to markets, competitive selling rates, and a stable income. We focus on capacity building and improving livelihoods through programs like the GDA and SFtW that create an ecosystem of inclusivity in agriculture, introduce technology that is affordable to farmers, and educate them on agricultural best practice to encourage wise use of resources.”
Adil Sheraz highlighted the impact of women-centric programming, “Our work focuses on strengthening the resilience of those at the heart of food systems—particularly women farmers who face unique challenges. The She Feeds the World program, in partnership with PepsiCo, is about more than just increasing agricultural output; it’s about empowering women with the tools, knowledge, and support they need to transform their livelihoods. By fostering financial literacy, promoting climate-smart farming practices, and enhancing community health, we’re creating sustainable pathways for growth and inclusion. The individuals impacted by this initiative represent a promising shift towards a more equitable and food-secure future for Pakistan.”
The event also featured a digital exhibit educating the visitors on the journey of potato from seed to crop via innovatively showcased digital screens, inner workings of the Tissue Culture Lab and the various seed varieties used to ensure better yields for farmers across Pakistan. Moreover, guests also took part in a digital interactive afforestation drive under which they pledged to plant 6000 trees locally.
For more information, visit: https://www.pepsico.com.pk and https://www.instagram.com/pepsicopakistan/
