Cargill's goal: Help improve more than 1 million people's lives by 2020

MINNEAPOLIS, June 14, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Through a broad set of programs focused on the intersection of food security, sustainability and nutrition, Cargill is awarding more than $13 million in grants that will improve the lives of more than 1 million people in 15 countries around the world.

Farmers and government agencies in Brazil will be trained to promote land management and restoration efforts that benefit both food production and forest protection. Small-holder farmers in Honduras will help supply locally grown food to local schools. Kids at a Spanish and English dual-immersion school in St. Paul, Minnesota, will grow their own produce and create recipe books with their parents.

"We're investing in scalable solutions that make a real difference for people and communities," said Vice President of Corporate Affairs Ruth Rawling. "The private sector can be a catalyst for lasting change by jumpstarting innovation and economic development."

The grants approved by Cargill and the Cargill Foundation comprise more than 20 partners. The grantees span the gamut from global non-governmental organizations to locally based food and nutrition assistance programs. Specific plans related to the grants are being finalized, however areas of focus include:

• Promoting sustainable agricultural practices
• Improving market access and productivity for farmers
• Supporting childhood nutrition and education
• Advancing healthy diets and preventing diet-related health issues in low-income communities

These partnerships are focused on scaling long-standing, successful projects. Other grants are designed to road-test promising new approaches. Details on individual grants will be announced over the coming months. Among the recipients are:

• CARE USA: Cargill will extend its existing partnership with CARE to support 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. 
• The Nature Conservancy: In support of its commitments to help end deforestation, Cargill will fund the Conservancy's projects that simultaneously boost agricultural output and strengthen conservation efforts in Brazil, Paraguay and the United States.
• Heifer International: The partnership will fund expansion of women-led, family-owned poultry farms in China. These 450 farming households will receive training and access to Cargill Animal Nutrition expertise in the region.
• 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. This program will support low-income kids and their families by encouraging participation in public nutrition programs and boosting connection to fresh foods.

"Cargill is committed to enriching the communities where we live and work," said Rawling.  "But we can't forget that some of our most important social impact comes through the work we do every day."

About Cargill 
Cargill provides food, agriculture, financial and industrial products and services to the world. Together with farmers, customers, governments and communities, we help people thrive by applying our insights and 150 years of experience. We have 149,000 employees in 70 countries who are committed to feeding the world in a responsible way, reducing environmental impact and improving the communities where we live and work. For more information, visit Cargill.com and our News Center.

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