AFRICA – Global food industry giant, PepsiCo is seeking to help 50 million people gain ready access to nutritious foods by 2030 as part of its PepsiCo Positive (pep+) journey.

Pep+ is a strategic end-to-end transformation, with sustainability at the center of how the company will create growth and value by operating within planetary boundaries and inspiring positive change for the planet and people.

The new goal will be achieved through its Food for Good food security program and the expansion of PepsiCo’s affordable nutrition offerings.

This is an addition to the company’s recently announced support for the Zero Hunger Private Sector Pledge, pledging US$100 million in positive agriculture and food security initiatives by 2030.

It also includes training farmers and helping strengthen agricultural production with plans to increase crop yields and help ensure a more resilient food supply.

Through the Food for Good, a childhood nutrition program founded in the United States, PepsiCo has fostered partnership with local leaders across the global, in a bid to develop community-centric solutions together.

Under the initiative PepsiCo plans to invest in solutions that increase equitable access to nutritious food, boost productivity and incomes of small-scale farmers.

Some of the investments include, a US$1 million grant to World Food Programme (WFP) to co-create a multi-country partnership in the Middle East and North Africa, focusing on improving long-term food security needs of communities affected by climate change, conflict, natural disasters and humanitarian crises.

Meanwhile, PepsiCo seeks to expand the She Feeds the World program in 2022 into Nigeria and other countries.

The program which is currently active in Uganda, Egypt and Peru is a partnership with CARE to ensure gender equality and economic empowerment for women agriculture workers.

Also, PepsiCo has committed to grow its portfolio of affordable, nutritious options in Africa. Under its Quaker brand, the company plans to launch a new, affordable nutritious product in Nigeria in 2022.

Still in the region, PepsiCo through its recent acquired South African entity Pioneer Foods will beef up the on-going nutritious school breakfast service for students.

“The world is facing a dire global hunger crisis, which has only been exacerbated by the pandemic. As a leading global food and beverage company, we have a critical role to play in realizing a more equitable global food system to ensure the communities we serve are free from hunger and malnutrition.

“We are proud to leverage our global capabilities in collaboration with local community partners in new ways, but it is just one step in a long journey toward realizing zero hunger and ensuring a sustainable future for all,” said Jon Banner, Executive Vice President, PepsiCo Global Communications and President, The PepsiCo Foundation.

PepsiCo turns focus across the globe

By bringing all its regional nutrition-related programs under Food for Good, PepsiCo will be able to better leverage their global capabilities and strive to reach their goal of making nutritious food readily accessible to more than 50 million people by 2030.

Additional Food for Good programs includes a meal delivery initiative spanning across Latin America, Europe, Sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East and Asia Pacific; a nutrition education program for students in rural China; positive agriculture programs in southern Mexico; as well as investment in increased capabilities of food banks around the world.

In Europe, programs include partnerships with food banks to nourish communities by donating meals and building critical distribution infrastructure; as well as development projects to provide long-term food security for regional agricultural workers.

The programs have already launched in Poland, Germany, Spain, Turkey and Russia with more to follow over the coming months.

These global commitments come at a critical time. Currently, roughly 800 million people around the world are suffering from hunger and recent estimates show that more than 40% of the world’s population cannot afford a healthy diet.

This increased number of people suffering from malnourishment are at a greater risk of COVID-19 infection and death.

“We are grateful to PepsiCo for their decade-long partnership and steadfast support as we work to defeat global hunger.

“PepsiCo’s critical investments in sustainable agriculture and building the resilience of small-scale farmers are helping us make great progress in addressing the root causes of hunger,” said World Food Program USA President and CEO Barron Segar.

During the pandemic, PepsiCo supported more than 1,000 communities across the world, providing more than US$71 million in funding and donations and more than 145 million meals to those in need.

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