CHINA — Agricultural commodities trading giant Cargill and the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) have partnered to promote sustainable corn growing practices in China.
To achieve their goal, Cargill and the WFP have launched a Holistic Agriculture Risk Management Project which will train farmers on how to reduce and alleviate the risks associated with corn farming.
Farmers will be taught on how to implement the application of innovative financial risk transfer approach of “insurance + futures”.
They will also be exposed to sustainable corn growing practices in an effort to increase their productivity and income while at the same time making the food system resilient.
The project also will provide training opportunities for local corn farmers every year on agriculture risk management to improve farmers’ livelihood and promote holistic agricultural risk management in corn industry.
Cargill has contributed US$1 million to the three-year pilot initiative that will be based in the Songyuan, Jilin province of China.
“WFP is grateful for the generous support from Cargill,” said Sixi Qu, China representative for the WFP. “We have a shared vision to promote sustainable food system by helping reduce risk and vulnerability to shocks and achieving sustainable food security.
Jerry Liu, president of Cargill China noted that the project marks a major milestone in Cargill’s journey to continuously contribute to farmer prosperity, rural revitalization and sustainable agriculture in the country.
“I am sure this intervention will bring considerable value to the farmers and the corn industry in Songyuan and northeastern China,” added Liu.
Cargill wins case against Child Labour
Earlier, the US Supreme Court ruled in favor of Nestle USA, Inc. and Cargill in a case involving forced child labor on cocoa farms in the Ivory Coast.
In a lawsuit that originated more than 15 years ago, six individuals from Mali alleged they were taken to the Ivory Coast as child slaves to produce cocoa.
Nestle USA, Arlington, Va., and Cargill, Minneapolis, became parties of interest in the case as they buy cocoa from farms in the Ivory Coast and provide the farms with technical and financial resources.
The plaintiffs sued Nestle and Cargill under the Alien Tort Statute (ATS), which provides US federal courts jurisdiction to hear claims brought by aliens.
In response to the ruling Cargill said, “The Supreme Court’s ruling today affirms Cargill’s analysis of the law and confirms this suit has no basis to proceed.
“Regardless, Cargill’s work to keep child labor out of the cocoa supply chain is unwavering. We do not tolerate the use of child labor in our operations or supply chains, and we are working every day to prevent it.”
The company further noted that it will continue to focus on combating the root causes of Child labour, including poverty and lack of access to education .
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