UPL teams up with FIFA Foundation to promote sustainable agriculture

Global leader in sustainable agriculture solutions, UPL Ltd, has recently forged a groundbreaking partnership with the FIFA Foundation in a bid to revolutionize sustainable farming practices in Africa. This unexpected collaboration aims to raise awareness about sustainable development in agriculture and empower small farmers with cutting-edge technology to enhance their resilience and productivity. CNBC Africa's Makeda Mahadeo sat down with UPL's Global CEO, Jai Shroff, to shed light on the significant Memorandum of Understanding recently signed between UPL and the FIFA Foundation. With a strong belief in the transformative power of technology, Shroff emphasized that the key focus of this partnership is to reward and recognize farmers for their efforts, driving them to adopt innovative practices that contribute to soil conservation, water conservation, and increased productivity in agriculture. By leveraging football as a platform to engage schools and communities across Africa, UPL and FIFA Foundation hope to promote sustainable agriculture practices and introduce groundbreaking technologies that enable farmers to combat the adverse effects of climate change such as droughts and floods. One of the game-changing technologies that UPL is investing in is biotechnological solutions and stress management tools for agriculture. As a prominent player in bio-solutions, UPL aims to significantly reduce input costs for farmers, leading to a 30% decrease in expenses while achieving a 20% boost in productivity. By implementing these cutting-edge protocols, farmers stand to increase their earnings by up to 50%, thereby transforming their livelihoods and the agricultural landscape in Africa. While the collaboration with FIFA Foundation is set to span over a decade, the initial pilot programs will target regions across southern Africa, west Africa, east Africa, and other parts of the continent. Particularly focusing on rice production in west Africa, UPL plans to impact 600,000 hectares of farmland, with the goal of doubling yields and catalyzing further agricultural advancements encompassing an additional six million hectares. This ambitious project underscores the commitment of UPL and FIFA Foundation to drive sustainable development and food security in Africa. Reflecting on previous successful initiatives, Shroff highlighted UPL's partnership with Agra, which facilitated smallholder farmers' access to innovative agricultural technologies, resulting in tangible improvements in yield and income. Notably, in Kenya, farmers witnessed significant enhancements in output quality and income levels, signaling the positive impact of technology adoption on agricultural practices. Looking ahead, UPL is dedicated to strengthening collaborations with agriculture ministries and local governments to align their initiatives with national priorities. With a focus on boosting productivity and yields in key crops like cocoa, vegetables, rice, corn, and sunflowers, UPL aims to spearhead projects that drive sustainable growth and self-sufficiency in food production across Africa. In light of the ongoing pandemic and its implications on food security, the emphasis on enhancing agricultural practices is more crucial than ever, and UPL remains committed to supporting local communities and governments in addressing these challenges. As UPL continues to pioneer sustainable agriculture solutions and drive impactful change in farming communities, the partnership with FIFA Foundation stands as a testament to their shared vision of transforming agriculture through innovation and technology. By leveraging the universal appeal of football to promote sustainable practices and empower smallholder farmers, UPL and FIFA Foundation are poised to make a lasting impact on agriculture in Africa and beyond.