7 julio 2026
PepsiCo reaffirms its support for Indonesia landscape programmes
A delegation of PepsiCo, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and Proforest, visited East Kutai, East Kalimantan, Indonesia in April 2026 to observe the progress under the Sustainable Landscape Initiative in East Kutai (SUSTAIN KUTIM) and its impact towards transforming and conserving sustainable landscapes.
The visit provided the delegation a platform to engage with stakeholders namely the local government and community members of Tepian Baru and Miau Baru on topics such as forest conservation efforts and supporting farmer livelihoods.
PepsiCo representatives who took part in the visit include Jim Andrew, Chief Sustainability Officer, Melissa DeBernardis, Legal Senior Vice President & Chief Human Rights Officer, Jaren Dunning, Employment Law Senior Director & Head of Human Rights, Dan Strechay, Corporate Communications Senior Director and Emily Kunen, Sustainable Agriculture Senior Director.
“PepsiCo needs resilient ecosystems, not just resilient supply chains,” shared Andrew during the visit.
He added that PepsiCo’s efforts in regenerative agriculture, nature, forests, water, and biodiversity are aimed at supporting resilient ecosystems over the long term.
“That is true here in Indonesia as we work with partners and villagers on the ground to drive systemic change that last generations.”
SUSTAIN KUTIM is a collaborative effort between the public and private sectors in East Kalimantan, Indonesia, coordinated by GIZ, Proforest and Tanah Air Lestari (TAL), aligning with the East Kutai District Government’s ongoing sustainability strategy.
Launched in 2023, SUSTAIN KUTIM aims to support the district government’s pledge to achieve sustainable agriculture production, particularly in palm oil.
The initiative focuses on enhancing the capacity of governments, communities, smallholders, workers, and plantation companies to cooperate in transforming East Kutai into a sustainable agricultural region.
Among the highlights of the visit was a dialogue session in Miau Baru village, one of five priority villages identified as a High Conversation Value (HCV) protection area. Villagers shared their concern and hopes for forest conservation, while emphasising the need for external support. The team also visited the nearby Mejang river, a main source of clean water and irrigation for the local community.
Meanwhile, Kunen shared following the visit that PepsiCo’s approach towards addressing deforestation goes beyond a number on a spreadsheet or certification labels.
“It is about understanding local context; working to support communities to protect nature while maintaining economic opportunity; and partnering for solutions to scale," she added.
SUSTAIN KUTIM has received funding from the Switzerland State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), PepsiCo, Nestlé, McDonalds, and Barry Callebaut, highlighting the significant role of both government programmes and private sector engagement in supporting sustainability efforts.
