Olam Agri in Nigeria, an agribusiness in food, feed and fibre, has been recognised for its impactful sustainability investment.
The agribusiness’ Seeds for the Future (SFTF) initiative emerged as a Sustainability Initiative of the Year at the African Food Awards 2023, held on June 16 in Nairobi, Kenya.
The Africa Food Awards recognises and celebrates the best companies and individuals in Africa’s rising food manufacturing, retail, academia, and food service sector. The award celebrates excellence and encourages adopting world-class practices and technologies in Africa’s food manufacturing, retail, and service sectors.
As one of the winners of the Sustainability Initiative of the Year Award, the Olam Agri Seeds for the Future Initiative was launched as Olam Agri in Nigeria’s wheat value-chain social sustainability investment vehicle in 2021 and is driven by five key levers, which are supporting farmers and farming communities, enabling broader education and skill development for young people, empowering women (farmers and bakers), promoting health and nutrition, and reducing carbon emissions in business operations.
Founder and Chief Executive Officer of FW Africa, Francis Juma, the organiser of the awards, said: “After evaluation by our judging committee, Olam Agri’s sustainability investment through the Seeds for the Future Foundation met all criteria of reach, depth, and impact, and towers above competition in the sustainability investment category and deserves to receive one of the Sustainability Initiative Award for the year 2023.”
He congratulated the business for its exceptional leadership and focused investment, which aim to drive impactful economic growth across operating markets.
Speaking on the award recognition, the Country Head of Olam Agri in Nigeria, Ashish Pande, explained: “We will keep scaling up investment in projects that positively impact farming communities, consumer health, the environment, and government’s economic growth agenda.
“The Seed for the Future Foundation is a major vehicle for driving wider investment actions. The Sustainability Initiative of the Year Award recognition underscores our impact level.”
He thanked the award organiser for the recognition, reiterating that the business would not rest on its oars. He maintained that it would keep investing in strengthening the Nigerian food production and processing segments.
