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Cargill charitable giving tops $58 million in FY2009

Food and agricultural leader plans to continue efforts despite economic downturn

Date: October 28, 2009

Contact: Jackie Renner, (952) 742-6245, jackie_renner@crgl-thirdparty.com

MINNEAPOLIS–This year 12-year-old Abigail Osei is going to school. Until recently, Abigail had been out of school because her parents, who are cocoa farmers in the Ashanti Region of Ghana, couldn't afford books or a uniform, and didn't want her to go. But Abigail's father had a change of heart after attending meetings, organized by Cargill and CARE (a leading international organization that fights global poverty) where he learned about the benefits of education. Since then, Abigail has attended school regularly and even participated in a trip to meet role models.

Abigail's story is just one example of the impact of a record $58.2 million in charitable donations made by Cargill in 50 countries during its 2009 fiscal year which ended May 31. Cargill's 2009 giving increased 24 percent over the previous year. "We recognize our continued success depends on the growth and health of our communities and partners," said Greg Page, Cargill chairman and chief executive officer. "We are committed to investing in communities where we live and work to promote vibrant, stable communities and growth that improves living standards."

Cargill focuses its giving primarily in the areas of nutrition and health, education and environmental stewardship targeting programs that provide long-term solutions, engage employees and leverage their expertise, and provide opportunities to collaborate with others. In FY 2009, Cargill committed to new and/or expanded partnerships around the globe, including:

  • A $2 million donation to CARE, a leading international organization that fights global poverty. This year's gift is part of a five-year, $10 million commitment to help 100,000 people in rural areas lift themselves out of poverty in India, Brazil, Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire, Honduras and Guatemala. Among this year's achievements: an average increase in cocoa production rates among program participants in Ghana from 30 (65-kilogram) bags to 50 bags per farmer, a sixty percent increase. "My income has doubled and I am using this money to support my (six) children," notes Akosua Bempah, a 52-year old cocoa farmer from Kunsu Cam.
  • A $1 million gift to the World Food Programme is bringing food, medication and improved hygiene, and safe drinking water to schools serving more than 30,000 children in Indonesia. Five-year old Zainal Abiding of Madura village, East Java, says, "Before the WFP biscuits, I used to feel hungry during class breaks, so it was hard for me to concentrate on the subjects. But when I eat the biscuits, I never feel hungry anymore. I can focus more and get good grades." The three-year, $3 million effort builds on an earlier commitment that brought school feeding and de-worming programs to hundreds of thousands of children in Central America and Africa.
  • In response to economic downturn, Cargill donated $5.5 million for emergency hunger relief in 10 countries. The contributions helped Feeding America make 19.2 million pounds of fresh produce available to people in need and enabled the Global Foodbanking Network to expand its school feeding programs in Argentina, Colombia, India, Jordan and South Africa. Both the Salvation Army and Second Harvest Heartland in Minneapolis, the company's headquarters community, received $500,000 contributions.
  • As part of its ongoing commitment to help protect and improve the environment, Cargill gave $1 million to The Nature Conservancy for programs in China, Brazil and the U.S. A portion of this gift was used to establish the "Cargill Green Leadership Fund" to help strengthen environmental non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in China as well as promote the development and maintenance of nature preserves adjacent to several large cities.
  • Cargill joined the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and other industry partners to improve the livelihoods of 200,000 cocoa and 265,000 cotton farming households in Africa. Both projects will help farmers increase yields and improve the quality of their crops.
  • Around the world, Cargill is leveraging its leadership in food and agriculture to help to tackle complex, environmental and social challenges by making contributions to local organizations, including:
    • $250,000 to the Global Initiative for Food Systems Leadership to support the first of a five-year food safety program for Chinese officials to see and experience first-hand the implementation of food safety systems in the U.S. and Europe.
    • More than $5.5 million to support United Way organizations in Cargill communities across North America.
    • A $500,000 contribution is helping Cargill continue its commitment to improving the education and welfare of China's children by refurbishing existing rural schools and building new schools near Cargill facilities throughout China.
    • A $1.2 million donation is supporting the refurbishment of the Efremov Hospital and other community projects in Russia.
    • Cargill invested more than $3 million in two programs that foster science, technology, engineering and math learning in Minneapolis and suburban area schools.

"The economic downturn has affected virtually all of us in one way or another," notes Page. "But, in times like these, Cargill's long-term commitment to investing in communities through contributions and employee community service becomes even more important. So we will continue collaborating with others to help address critical economic, environmental and social challenges in communities where we have a presence."

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About Cargill

Cargill is an international producer and marketer of food, agricultural, financial and industrial products and services. Founded in 1865, the privately held company employs 159,000 people in 68 countries. Cargill helps customers succeed through collaboration and innovation, and is committed to applying its global knowledge and experience to help meet economic, environmental and social challenges wherever it does business. For more information, visit www.cargill.com.

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