MalaysianUpdates

Tag: #FoodSecurity

  • Nestlé Malaysia Goes Fully Local with 100% Homegrown Chillies for MAGGI

    Nestlé Malaysia Goes Fully Local with 100% Homegrown Chillies for MAGGI

    Nestlé Malaysia has officially achieved a landmark milestone in its sustainability journey, announcing that 100% of the fresh chillies used in the production of its iconic MAGGI Chilli Sauce are now sourced entirely from local Malaysian farmers.

    This achievement was highlighted during an official working visit by the Minister of Economy, YB Tuan Haji Akmal Nasrullah Bin Haji Mohd Nasir, to the IPRINTAN Putrajaya Project. The visit showcased the success of well-structured farmer partnerships in strengthening national food security while simultaneously providing sustainable livelihoods for B40 communities.

    A Milestone in Self-Sufficiency and Economic Empowerment

    The project is powered by the Nestlé Chilli Club (NCC), a contract farming program established in 1995. Today, the initiative supports farmers across 12 strategic sites in Kelantan, Selangor, Putrajaya, and Johor, spanning 146 acres of farmland.

    During the briefing, the Minister was updated on the high-yield farming initiative’s socio-economic impact. Key highlights include:

    • Income Security: Participating farmers in the IPRINTAN Putrajaya project now earn an average monthly income of approximately RM3,000.
    • Economic Contribution: The current 2026 cycle (the project’s fifth) has yielded over 200 tonnes of chillies, with an estimated market value of RM1.5 million.
    • Traceability: By sourcing directly, Nestlé ensures a fully traceable and high-quality supply chain for its locally produced MAGGI products.

    Building a Resilient Food System

    Mr. Juan Aranols, Chief Executive Officer of Nestlé Malaysia, emphasized that the company’s “Creating Shared Value” (CSV) approach is the driving force behind these partnerships.

    “Supporting the livelihoods of local farmers is integral to both our value chain and the nation’s food security agenda. Long-term partnerships with farming communities and government stakeholders, such as our collaboration with IPRINTAN, reflect our shared responsibility to build a more resilient and self-sufficient food system while empowering B40 households,” said Aranols.

    Expansion and Regenerative Agriculture

    Nestlé Malaysia provides participating farmers with specialized training in eco-friendly regenerative agricultural practices. This modern approach focuses on soil health and farm productivity, ensuring sustainable yields for generations to come.

    Originally established in Kelantan in partnership with Pertubuhan Peladang Kawasan (PPK) Bukit Awang, the program expanded to Selangor in 2021 via PPK Kuala Langat. In 2025, the initiative advanced further with a specialized greenhouse project in collaboration with Chin Siam Chiap (CSS) Johor, ensuring a stable, year-round supply of fresh chillies.

    Broader Impact: The Farmer Connect Programme

    The success of the Nestlé Chilli Club is a cornerstone of the broader Farmer Connect initiative. This program supports hundreds of farmers across various commodities nationwide:

    • Kedah and Perlis: Sustainable rice cultivation and agronomy support.
    • Sabah and Sarawak: Responsible cocoa sourcing in collaboration with the Malaysian Cocoa Board.
    • Kelantan and Kedah: Dedicated coffee farming programs in Gua Musang and surrounding areas.

    By integrating locally grown ingredients directly into its manufacturing value chain, Nestlé Malaysia continues to provide consistent market access and long-term capacity building for Malaysian smallholders, paving the way for a more sustainable and food-secure future.

  • Unwavering Voices, Meaningful Transformation

    In conjunction with International Women’s Day, Taylor’s University shines a spotlight on three remarkable women whose work is shaping more inclusive, resilient, and compassionate communities. From climate-responsive design and dementia care to sustainable food innovation, their leadership reflects a powerful truth: transformative change begins with steadfast voices grounded in purpose, empathy, and evidence.

    At the forefront of climate and sustainability advocacy is Dr Praveena Nair Sivasankaran, Director of the Clean Technology Impact Lab. With over a decade of experience in clean technology, she founded ‘Cooling the Heat, Healing the Mind’ (CHHM) to examine how extreme heat affects mental health while exploring practical cooling strategies. Her conviction was strengthened after engaging with frontline personnel who described the psychological toll of working under prolonged heat stress. For Dr Praveena, climate resilience must go beyond infrastructure — it must account for the human nervous system. Collaborating with students from The Design School, she has proposed wearable cooling concepts and monitoring ideas informed by direct engagement with outdoor vendors. Her approach to sustainability is deeply human-centred, emphasising dignity, behavioural awareness, and inclusive participation, particularly ensuring women’s voices are meaningfully integrated into environmental decision-making.

    Championing cognitive health and dignified ageing, Professor Dr Rozainee Khairudin, Director of the Mental Health and Well-being Impact Lab, brings both professional expertise and personal experience to her work. Inspired by witnessing her late mother’s journey through stroke-related cognitive decline, she leads ‘ArtsProud: An Intervention Study Using Artistic Methods to Reduce Cognitive Decline in Normal Elderly and Individuals with Dementia’ in Malaysia. Building on the original ArtsProud social enterprise initiative, her research strengthens the evidence base for arts-based interventions, demonstrating that structured engagement in music, storytelling, movement, and art can activate neural networks and reduce cognitive decline. In a field often dominated by biomedical models, Professor Rozainee advocates for integrating behavioural science, empathy, and creativity into dementia care. She believes compassion is not a weakness in academia but a strength — one that deepens impact and builds trust across communities.

    In the realm of food innovation and nutrition security, Professor Ts. Dr. Chong Li Choo has earned international recognition, including the President’s Award from The Research Chefs Association and the Food Innovation Educator Award 2025. Yet for her, accolades affirm relevance rather than personal achievement. Through initiatives such as Nourish-U, she works with schools, meal providers, and community partners to design balanced, affordable meals while transferring practical nutritional knowledge to caregivers and educators. Her research journey, which began with developing high-fibre noodles from underutilised plantain and agricultural by-products, reflects her belief that small, thoughtful innovations can collectively address complex issues like the coexistence of obesity and malnutrition. As a mentor, she is especially committed to nurturing young female talents, encouraging confidence and resilience among students who may underestimate their own capabilities.

    Together, these three leaders embody a model of women’s leadership that is steady rather than loud, evidence-driven yet compassionate. Whether confronting climate stress, cognitive decline, or food insecurity, their work demonstrates that sustainable solutions must integrate technical expertise with human wellbeing. This International Women’s Day, their stories serve as a reminder that meaningful progress is not only about innovation — it is about inclusion, dignity, and the courage to lead with clarity and care.