MINNEAPOLIS — Cargill and the Cargill Foundation have committed to provide $13 million in grants to fund a multitude of programs focused on food security, sustainability and nutrition. The grants are part of Cargill’s initiative to promote sustainable agricultural practices, improve market access and productivity for farmers, support childhood nutrition and education, and advance healthy diets to prevent diet-related health issues in low-income communities.
 |
| Ruth Rawling, vice-president of corporate affairs for Cargill |
”We’re investing in scalable solutions that make a real difference for people and communities,” said Ruth Rawling, vice-president of corporate affairs. ”The private sector can be a catalyst for lasting change by jumpstarting innovation and economic development.”
The newly approved grants from Cargill and Cargill Foundation involve more than 20 partners. The beneficiaries of the grants range from global non-governmental organizations to locally based food and nutrition assistance programs. The partnerships emphasize scaling successful, long-lasting projects. Other grants are expected to be used to trial new approaches. Cargill said details on individual grants will be released in the approaching months.
Among the recipients are:
CARE USA: Cargill will further its existing partnership with CARE to advance community-led food security and sustainability approaches in Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua and Egypt. The partnership also will be expanded to Costa Rica and Indonesia, Cargill said.
The Nature Conservancy: Keeping in line with commitments to battle deforestation, Cargill said it will fund the Conservancy’s projects that both boost agricultural output and strengthen conservation efforts in Brazil, Paraguay and the United States.
Heifer International: The partnership will fund growth of women-led, family-owned poultry farms in China. The 450 farming households will receive training and access to Cargill Animal Nutrition expertise in the region, according to the company.
Feeding America: The nation’s largest hunger relief organization will invest in member food banks to advance innovative local food sourcing models, increase access to nutritious foods including protein, fruits and vegetables and support community health and nutrition programs.
Second Harvest Heartland: One in six children in Cargill’s home state of Minnesota is food insecure, according to Cargill. This program will support low-income children and their families by encouraging participation in public nutrition programs and improving access to fresh foods.
