Regeneration Starts to Show: Bringing in Stakeholders Across the Value Chain

Farmers, processors, logistics teams, food scientists that research taste… these are the moving parts of a large co-creation process that delivers a product from the field to consumers kitchens. A well-structured regenerative agriculture program holds benefits for all these parties, and the 2026 France local partners meeting for Nestlé’s Responsible Sourcing Program (RSP) was as clear proof for this case.

Samples of the onions at different points of the processing stage were shown to the participants.

The visit was hosted by Sodeleg, one of the largest onion processors in Europe — and an active RSP participant of six years. During a field visit in Laon to farmers who supply Sodeleg, a conversation was struck about the success of implementing RegenAg techniques and how they have resulted in better produce quality and predictable yields.

The top embraced practices by these farmers have been the application of organic matter to improve soil health, cover cropping, and the planting of flower strips and hedgerows to improve biodiversity. Furthermore, farmers have started experimenting with eco-robotics — machinery that can scan the field and identify weeds to be targeted with precise herbicide applications, saving time, money, and agricultural inputs.

“We are getting a better produce for less effort”, summarized Mr. Luc Simphal, one of the participant onion farmers.

Hedgerows are a relevant practice that demand forsight and commitment to the RegenAg techniques. These living fences are expected to grow for years, hosting biodiversity and improving ecosystem services.

Regenerative agriculture practices also have improved the relationship between farmers and the community. In rural France, the onion fields start right next to the houses, some of them even visible from the town church. A colorful flower strip separating the fields from the neighboring houses, accompanied by an explanatory sign, has engaged community members to discuss their town’s impact on nature and rally their support for regenerative practices.

A corporate outlook

Nestlé brought to the meeting representatives from the French baby food division, the corporate social responsibility department, and product development. For them, the visit was an opportunity to look at the process that goes behind the scenes way before the product arrives to their factories, to reflect on the qualities that French consumers expect from onions produced under regenerative practices and to speak directly to the farmers and processors that stand at the base of their value chain.

The host company explained how the onions are processed to different textures and flavor profiles, resulting in a wide variety of products for food scientists to work with.

This visit was convened by the Sustainable Agriculture Network and Fundación Global Nature —implementing partners of the RSP— with support from Preferred by Nature as the local partner in France. The program will continue to support French onion farmers to maintain regenerative practices as well as test the new techniques.