[Member’s spotlight] PepsiCo Foundation funds address climate change

The PepsiCo Foundation funded the project ‘New Harvest: Sustainable Agriculture Initiative’, focusing on regenerative agriculture and climate change.

On the sidelines of the bilateral negotiations on Vietnam-U.S. countertrade held from November 10–14 in Washington D.C., the PepsiCo Foundation, the Vietnam Partnership for Sustainable Agriculture (PSAV), the National Agricultural Extension Center (NAEC), and CARE signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the project “New Harvest: Sustainable Agriculture Initiative” (AgroNova for short), marking Phase 2 of the project in Vietnam.

The AgroNova project marks the continuation of a successful partnership aimed at strengthening the economic and social capacity, as well as the climate resilience, of small-scale farming households in Vietnam.

The new phase, running from January 2026 to December 2028 in the provinces of Dak Lak, Gia Lai, and Thanh Hoa, introduces a new strategic focus on regenerative agriculture and inclusive value chains as a response to climate change. The project is expected to support 13,600 smallholder farming households directly (including 8,160 women and 5,440 men) and benefit 73,400 people indirectly.

Mr Nguyen Do Anh Tuan, Director General of the Department of International Cooperation and Director of PSAV; Ms Seema Jayachandran, Chair of the PepsiCo Foundation and CARE Board Member, signed the MoU in the presence of Vice Minister Mr Hoang Trung, leaders from PepsiCo and CARE, as well as representatives from the Vietnamese Embassy in the U.S. and the U.S. Embassy in Vietnam. Photo: PSC.

Mr C.D. Glin, President of the PepsiCo Foundation, shared: “The AgroNova project demonstrates our firm commitment to equity across the global supply chain. By supporting women farmers and small-scale farming households, we are not only helping improve productivity but also empowering women, strengthening financial independence, and building a more sustainable future for communities. This is how we bring our pep+ (PepsiCo Positive) strategy to life.”

The project’s success is driven by an effective Public–Private Partnership (PPP) model connecting ministries, research institutes, local partners, and the private sector. Public-sector partners include PSAV and NAEC under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, which provide technical assistance, create an enabling policy environment, and coordinate with provincial departments in Dak Lak, Gia Lai, and Thanh Hoa.

The Western Highlands Agriculture and Forestry Science Institute (WASI), under the Vietnam Academy of Agricultural Sciences, will provide scientific and technical expertise.

Vice Minister of Agriculture and Environment Mr Hoang Trung stated: “The Ministry is delighted that PSAV and NAEC are meaningfully accompanying this project as connectors and facilitators of the PPP model. We remain committed to collaborating closely with partners to implement and expand initiatives that are both practical and have deep social impact.

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

The project will be implemented locally with participation and support from provincial departments of agriculture and environment, agricultural extension centres, crop protection sub-departments, provincial and commune authorities, the Dak Lak Community Development Centre (CDC), the Thanh Hoa Microfinance Organization, and others.

AgroNova is designed in line with PSAV’s and the Food Innovation Hub Vietnam (FIH-V) ‘s orientations, with participation from local communities and value-chain partners to ensure coherence between on-the-ground implementation and state policies.

Policy challenges during implementation will be consolidated and reported directly to PSAV’s and FIH-V’s PPP policy forums, offering recommendations for adjustments to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and relevant ministries.

AgroNova focuses on three interconnected objectives to build a sustainable, climate-resilient food system.

First, through the “Positive Agriculture” objective, the project strengthens the capacity of small-scale farmers – especially ethnic minorities and women—to adopt regenerative agriculture. This improves climate-resilient livelihoods and enhances sustainable food supply.

Second, the project aims to build an inclusive value chain by ensuring equitable access to critical resources such as inputs, finance, technology, and market opportunities.

Finally, to scale impact, the project will develop, document, and spread successful regenerative agriculture models. These models will be encouraged to connect with FIH-V for wider replication and sustainable development.

Ms Crystal Lander, Vice President for Global Policy Advocacy at CARE, shared: “A strong shift toward regenerative agriculture and climate adaptation is essential. AgroNova not only helps smallholder farmers improve productivity but also restores soil health and protects livelihoods amid increasingly complex climate challenges. This is an important step toward long-term sustainable development.”

Source: M.A.E.