Olam Agri and IDH, the Sustainable Trade Initiative, have strengthened their long-standing partnership with the signing of a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at advancing sustainable agriculture, improving rural livelihoods and building more resilient food supply chains across West Africa.

The expanded collaboration will focus on supporting smallholder farmers, promoting climate-smart farming practices and increasing market opportunities for agricultural producers in Ghana, Nigeria and potentially other African countries.

Partnership Targets Inclusive Agricultural Growth

The renewed agreement combines Olam Agri’s extensive agricultural sourcing network, processing capabilities and market reach with IDH’s expertise in developing sustainable value chains through public-private partnerships and data-driven solutions.

Together, the two organisations will develop country-specific programmes that strengthen farming communities, improve agricultural productivity and create new economic opportunities for farmers, cooperatives, rural enterprises and agricultural workers.

The partnership is designed to encourage more inclusive and sustainable agricultural development while improving the resilience of food and feed supply chains.

Ghana Initiative Supports Women and Climate-Resilient Wheat Production

One of the first initiatives under the expanded partnership will be implemented in Ghana through IDH’s Women in Sourcing and Enterprise (WISE) programme.

The project aims to strengthen the cultivation of drought-tolerant wheat varieties while improving market access for small and medium-sized enterprises operating within sustainable agricultural supply chains.

In addition, the initiative will empower women entrepreneurs in the bakery and food processing industries by creating greater economic opportunities throughout the wheat value chain.

Nigeria Programme Strengthens Soybean Production

The expanded partnership builds on an ongoing programme in Kwara State, Nigeria, where Olam Agri and IDH are already supporting around 5,000 soybean farmers.

The initiative provides farmers with technical training in climate-smart agricultural practices, strengthens connections to local markets and promotes farming systems that are both commercially viable and environmentally sustainable.

The programme aims to improve productivity while helping farming communities adapt to changing climate conditions.

Focus on Regenerative Agriculture and Value Addition

Beyond wheat and soybean production, the collaboration will support a wide range of sustainable agriculture initiatives across West Africa.

Priority areas include farmer training, youth and women entrepreneurship, guaranteed crop offtake opportunities, strengthening local processing industries, improving landscape governance and restoring degraded ecosystems.

These efforts are intended to accelerate the adoption of regenerative agriculture while enhancing food security, creating employment opportunities and increasing value addition within local agricultural economies.

Expanding Sustainable Supply Chains Across Africa

Speaking on the renewed partnership, Dr. Shailendra Mishra, Global Head of Sustainability for Food, Feed and Freight at Olam Agri, said addressing today’s agricultural challenges requires strong collaboration between industry partners, governments and farming communities.

IDH Chief Executive Officer Daan Wensing noted that linking sustainable sourcing with improved rural livelihoods is essential for building resilient agricultural landscapes and securing long-term global food supply chains.

Looking Beyond West Africa

Olam Agri and IDH also announced plans to identify additional sustainable agriculture projects in other African markets.

Future initiatives are expected to focus on expanding equitable market access for farmers adopting regenerative farming practices, strengthening climate-resilient agricultural landscapes, eliminating deforestation from supply chains, increasing local processing capacity and improving data-driven decision-making across agricultural value chains.

Through the expanded partnership, both organisations aim to accelerate the transition towards more sustainable, inclusive and resilient agricultural systems while supporting long-term economic development across Africa.