Global agrifood company Olam Agri has expanded its partnership with international trade and development organisation IDH to strengthen sustainable agriculture, improve farmer livelihoods and promote climate-resilient food value chains in Ghana. The two organisations have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to launch a new collaborative initiative aimed at supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and farmers engaged in sustainable agricultural activities.
The new programme builds on the success of an ongoing collaboration between Olam Agri and IDH in Nigeria, where both organisations have worked together to improve farming practices, enhance market access and create more commercially sustainable opportunities for smallholder farmers.
Under the Ghana initiative, launched through IDH’s Women in Sourcing and Enterprise (WISE) programme, the partners will focus on developing inclusive and sustainable value chains. The collaboration will combine Olam Agri’s global sourcing capabilities, market connections and operational expertise with IDH’s experience in creating multi-stakeholder partnerships, digital platforms and data-driven solutions for sustainable development.
The initiative aims to empower farmers, local enterprises, cooperatives and communities by providing them with improved access to markets, knowledge, resources and opportunities for growth. Through stronger partnerships across the agricultural ecosystem, the programme seeks to build farming systems that are more resilient to climate challenges while enhancing economic opportunities for rural communities.
Building on Success in Nigeria
The Ghana project follows the positive outcomes of the partnership between Olam Agri and IDH in Nigeria. As part of their existing collaboration, the organisations supported around 5,000 soybean farmers in Kwara State by helping them adopt improved agricultural practices and establish stronger connections with markets.
The Nigerian programme focused on increasing productivity, strengthening farmer capacity and developing sustainable farming models that could deliver long-term economic benefits. The experience gained through this initiative will help guide the implementation of the Ghana project and enable both organisations to design solutions suited to local agricultural needs.
Speaking about the expanded collaboration, Saurabh Mehra, CEO of Food and Feed (Processing and Value-added) at Olam Agri, said that meaningful progress in agriculture can be achieved when farmers, businesses, communities and institutions work together towards common objectives.
He highlighted that the MoU would provide a foundation for scaling successful approaches by combining market access, operational knowledge and strong local partnerships. According to him, the collaboration will support the development of more inclusive, resilient and climate-smart agricultural value chains.
Focus on Sustainable and Inclusive Growth
Olam Agri and IDH stated that they plan to expand and implement country-specific programmes in the future to support farmers, workers, cooperatives and local businesses across different agricultural value chains.
The partnership reflects growing efforts within the global food and agriculture sector to address challenges such as climate change, market uncertainty and limited access to resources for small-scale producers. By encouraging sustainable farming methods and improving commercial opportunities, such initiatives can contribute to stronger rural economies and more secure food systems.
Olam Agri, headquartered in Singapore, is one of the world’s leading agrifood companies, operating across more than 30 countries. The company is involved in sourcing, processing, trading, logistics and distribution of agricultural commodities. In 2025, Olam Agri handled approximately 49.4 million tonnes of commodities, including grains, oilseeds, edible oils and animal feed products.
The company is majority-owned by the Saudi Agricultural and Livestock Investment Company (SALIC), which holds an 81.81% stake.
IDH, headquartered in the Netherlands, works with businesses, governments, financial institutions and civil society organisations to develop solutions addressing social and environmental challenges in agricultural markets. Through partnerships and innovative approaches, IDH aims to unlock sustainable growth opportunities while improving livelihoods.
The expanded collaboration between Olam Agri and IDH marks another step towards creating stronger agricultural ecosystems in Africa by combining private sector expertise, development partnerships and farmer-focused solutions.
Author: Shivam
Shivam Dwivedi is a senior journalist with extensive experience in research-driven journalism, policy communication, and multi-platform storytelling. His areas of interest include international relations, defence, science & technology, education, urban development, agriculture, spirituality, and environmental sustainability. His work focuses on in-depth analysis, public discourse, and impactful narratives across governance and development sectors, with a strong commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Contact: [email protected]
