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SAWiE & Zarea Partner to Advance Regenerative Agriculture and Digital Traceability in Pakistan’s Rice Sector
Islamabad, October 2025 — In a major step toward transforming Pakistan’s agriculture landscape, SAWiE and Zarea Limited (PSX: ZAL) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote regenerative agriculture, digital traceability, and sustainable rice production across the country.
The partnership combines SAWiE’s UK-based agri-intelligence expertise with Zarea’s innovative agricultural commodity marketplace, marking a significant milestone in modernizing Pakistan’s agri-supply chains. By integrating satellite monitoring, AI-driven analytics, and climate-smart advisory services, the collaboration aims to enhance farm productivity, soil health, and climate resilience, while promoting transparent, ethical, and sustainable sourcing practices.
Transforming Pakistan’s Agri-Food Systems
Through this collaboration, SAWiE’s advanced digital tools will be embedded within Zarea’s platform to enable farm-to-factory visibility, ensuring complete traceability of rice production from cultivation to processing. Geo-tagged field mapping, cultivation records, and harvest monitoring will help verify sourcing integrity and build trust across domestic and export markets.
The initiative will also strengthen rice sector, Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) framework, aligning with international sustainability standards and regenerative agriculture principles. Data-driven insights from SAWiE will quantify carbon reductions, soil organic matter improvements, and biodiversity outcomes, positioning Zarea as a leader in sustainable agri-commerce in Pakistan.
Innovation for Climate-Smart Rice Production
Sawie will lead on R&D and technology innovation projects that promote regenerative rice cultivation and optimize resource efficiency. This includes the promotion of:
- Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) irrigation techniques to reduce methane emissions by up to 70% and water use by 50%.
- Bio-based inputs, composting, and reduced pesticide use to enhance soil health and minimize chemical residues (MRLs).
- Zero-tillage practices to discourage paddy straw burning and protect soil carbon; and
- Collaboration with mechanization service providers to facilitate sustainable on-farm operations.
The initiative will particularly benefit smallholder and women farmers by improving market access, ensuring fair pricing, and enabling participation in traceable, climate-smart value chains.
Mr. Fritz Boehmler, Director at SAWiE, commented:
“This collaboration with Zarea is a milestone for regenerative agriculture in Pakistan. By merging European agritech innovation with local farming realities, we are empowering smallholders—especially women—to produce sustainably while earning fair returns. Together, we aim to reduce emissions, improve soil health, and create a transparent, ESG-aligned rice value chain that benefits farmers, industry, and the environment.”
About SAWiE
SAWiE is a UK-founded agri-intelligence platform promoting climate-smart and regenerative agriculture through satellite data, AI, and precision farming tools. Sawie Ecosystems is its Pakistan subsidiary. SAWiE works with farmers, agribusinesses, and governments to improve soil health, enhance biodiversity, and build climate resilience across agricultural landscapes.
About Zarea Limited
Zarea Limited (PSX: ZAL) is a technology-driven agricultural commodities marketplace committed to developing a digitally integrated, transparent, and sustainable agri-supply chain in Pakistan. The company connects farmers, processors, and buyers through data-driven insights and ESG-focused business practices