USA – The global agribusiness giant, Cargill has joined forces with US based non-profit, Heifer International to launch a global initiative improve nutrition and bolster livelihoods among smallholder farmers.
Dubbed Hatching Hope Global Initiative, the program will engage women poultry farmers to tackle hunger and poverty ‘through the power of poultry’.
It aims to improve the nutrition and economic livelihoods of 100 million people by 2030 through the production, promotion and consumption of poultry.
Hatching Hope will work directly with women smallholder farmers, initially in India, Mexico and Kenya, working towards bridging the global food and nutrition security gap, while boosting local economies and providing nutrition education.
Cargill says the program is also hoped to aid farmers feed their families, eradicating hunger and poverty in the communities.
“Millions of people worldwide go hungry every day and lack access to nutrients they need to grow and thrive,” said Chuck Warta, president of Cargill’s premix and nutrition business.
“While donations of food and money provide short-term relief, we can create sustainable change by teaching and sharing what we know, and helping transform subsistence farmers into productive, successful entrepreneurs who have the economic means to feed their children, send them to school and lift their families and communities out of poverty.
“We believe the 800 million smallholder farmers around the world need to be part of the solution to help us feed 10 billion people by 2050.”
While Cargill brings in world-class expertise in animal health and productivity with deep knowledge in the poultry industry and global market, Heifer International reinforces its commitment to improving livelihoods of smallholder farmers.
Hatching Hope will drive awareness of the nutritional benefits of poultry and eggs and stoke demand through local and national education campaigns.
Farmers will be connected to markets and equipped with the goods and services they need to be successful participants in the poultry value chain.
Speaking on the initiative, Pierre Ferrari, president and CEO of Heifer International said: “We believe that the key to ending hunger and poverty is for farmers to be able to earn a living income.
“Through Hatching Hope, we’re investing in smart, resourceful women farmers, working with them to improve their products and access new markets.
We’re excited to launch Hatching Hope as it can be quickly scaled up, supporting more farmers around the world.”
In July 2016, Cargill and Heifer partnered on an initiative in China two years ago to equip 450 women-led poultry farms with chicks, training and access to nutritional expertise and other services.
Cargill says the success of that project became the inspiration for Hatching Hope.
