Olam Agri Pushes Farm Resilience in APAC

Olam Agri’s Group Chief Operating Officer, N. Muthukumar, said the pandemic was a wake-up call that exposed how quickly logistics networks can become constrained. He added that since then, supply chains have faced a continuous wave of geopolitical tensions and extreme weather, making uncertainty a permanent feature of the landscape.

The summit highlighted that resilience is no longer a safeguard against disruption but a strategic capability. Muthukumar stressed that climate volatility is one of the greatest vulnerabilities in APAC agri-food supply chains, affecting crop production, trade flows and sourcing decisions. He noted that the production system is the most difficult part of the supply chain to redesign, especially when it relies on large numbers of smallholder farmers facing climate and market volatility.

Farmer-Focused Interventions

Olam Agri is investing in programmes that improve productivity and climate adaptation. In Thailand, the company works with thousands of rice farmers through climate-smart rice programmes supported by partners such as GIZ, the Thai Rice Department and projects backed by the Global Environment Facility. The initiatives focus on improved agronomy, climate-smart farming practices, access to inputs and stronger market linkages. Muthukumar said the aim is to help farmers improve productivity, use resources more efficiently and strengthen livelihoods while building more secure supply over the long term.

KPMG’s Global Head of Agribusiness, Ian Proudfoot, said rising production costs, pressure on farm incomes and growing exposure to droughts, floods and other extreme weather events are testing the economic viability of agriculture across the region. He added that technology could play an important role in improving resilience, but that farmers are unlikely to adopt new tools simply because they are available. “Farmers and growers have always invested strategically in innovations that deliver rapid payback,” Proudfoot said. He warned that many roll-outs are left to solution developers who try to force a solution into a system it is not designed to fit.

Nutrition Security Beyond Calories

Nestlé Malaysia Business Executive Officer for Nutrition, Yeoh She Shiang, highlighted the “triple burden of malnutrition” that co-exists within many Asian communities. She said that having enough calories does not automatically translate into having the right balance of essential nutrients. In countries like Malaysia, gaps remain in micronutrient intake, dietary diversity, nutrition literacy and access to affordable nutritious foods for vulnerable populations. Yeoh warned that maintaining the status quo risks widening the gap between food security and nutrition security, with long-term social and economic consequences.

From an industry perspective, Nestlé is working to improve existing and new products, using its widespread consumer reach to support nutrition security. The company focuses on product renovation and reformulation, responsible fortification, portion guidance and nutrition education initiatives. Yeoh said the future of nutrition innovation is not only about developing new products but also about understanding how those innovations can be scaled, reach underserved populations and contribute to better health outcomes throughout life.

AI for Supply Chain and Nutrition

Xiaofeng Ye, global VP for Planetary Health Biosolutions in Asia Pacific at Novonesis, said AI can play a direct role in planning supply to better meet demand and accelerate innovation in biotechnology. By using data generated daily from the agricultural field, AI can help develop more efficient ingredients and improve yield productivity and nutritional profiles.

The discussion also referenced the latest stats on regional supply chain disruptions and participants reviewed the current standings of food system resilience metrics. The summit will conclude with a session on scaling nutrition innovations.

Source: AG Navigator