Read Time: 4 minutes
October 27, 2023
Solving hunger is one of humanity’s greatest challenges. Every day more than 800 million children and adults go without dependable access to food.
It takes a collective effort, community by community, to help people get the nourishment they need.
As a global food company, we have the ability — and responsibility — to get food where it is needed most. That is why, in response to wars, natural disasters and high food prices this past year, we contributed $115 million to partners working to strengthen food systems, support humanitarian relief efforts and build resilient communities around the world.
Our employees and partners are crucial to this effort.
During what we call “food season,” which runs from September (Hunger Month the in U.S.) through the end of the year, Cargill employees volunteer in the communities they call home — distributing food, donating personal care supplies, planting food gardens and providing education on nutrition.
Here is a visual tour of some of these efforts.
In Alajuela, Costa Rica, we supplied nutrition education to students at a local school, including through a virtual reality game. We also gave the school’s garden some much-needed care.
Students at State School for Deaf in Adjei Kojo-Tema, Ghana, shared a meal with Cargill volunteers who brought a large supply of food and snacks.
More than 6,000 students at 43 schools are learning how to grow their own food thanks to Thailand's School Lunch Project, sponsored by Cargill. Cargill volunteers helped to teach the kids about chicken and fish farming, hydroponics and vegetable growing.
Cargill volunteers packed nearly 7,300 meals for families in need at local food bank Second Harvest Heartland in Minnesota, United States.
The 35,000 annual visitors at the Little Sula Children's Museum in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, can now visit the Cargill-sponsored interactive supermarket, “Aquí+Frescos,” to learn about food.
A family-friendly farm event and food-related activities delighted kids and their families in Tai'an, China. Cargill volunteers made the experience fun for all.
In Nicaragua, Cargill volunteers taught students and parents about healthy food preparation.
“Ugly food” is food that doesn’t meet supermarket standards for appearance but is still fresh, delicious and nutritional. Instead of throwing it away, Cargill volunteers partnered with Fridge Restock Community to salvage four tons of fruits and vegetables from Pasir Panjang Wholesale Market. The food will be distributed to 800 families around Singapore.
A local food bank in Alberta, Canada, needed to organize its inventory to better meet clients’ needs. So, a Cargill team sorted through hundreds of pounds of food to help them out.
In Budapest, Hungary, we took a sweet approach to fundraising. A cookie fair at the Cargill office helped raise money for the Etesd.hu Foundation that serves children with disabilities.
Meeting the urgent needs of earthquake survivors in Türkiye
When major
earthquakes ravaged southeastern Türkiye near the Syria border last February, thousands were left unable to meet basic needs like food for themselves and their animals. Responding to the crisis, we gave both financial support and supplies. As the region transitions into a recovery phase, we are working with the Basic Need Association (TİDER) to launch the Adiyaman Food Bank, which will provide ongoing support to 1,500 families per month for the next two years.
Partnering to address the food security needs
To help address ongoing food security challenges and to be able to respond rapidly to future crises, Cargill joins with farmers, communities, governments, industry peers, and non-governmental organizations, including long-standing partners like:
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CARE, an international development organization that has made 34 agriculture and food projects possible in 12 countries.
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Feeding America, a network of food banks across the U.S.
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World Central Kitchen, a disaster relief NGO partner that provides fresh meals in response to crises.
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The UN’s World Food Programme a humanitarian organization that supplies health and nutrition to people globally.
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