[India,
5th December 2024] : HarvestPlus and Cargill are excited to
announce the NutriHarvest project, a transformative 36-month initiative. Supported
by Cargill and executed by HarvestPlus and HarvestPlus Solutions, this $3
million multi-year project is dedicated to increasing access to nutritious food
by delivering 17 million nutritious meals in India, Kenya, Tanzania, and
Guatemala. In India, NutriHarvest will improve the capacity and skills of over 100,000
famers and provide 1.4 million nutritious meals in Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra,
and Bihar.
India
is the world’s largest producer of millets, and the Government of India has
been actively promoting both cultivation and consumption of millets by
including this powerhouse of nutrition in government run programs. Adding to
the momentum created through these programs, the NutriHarvest project will
promote the production and consumption of nutrient-rich foods—such as biofortified
crops (iron pearl millet and zinc wheat), and animal-sourced foods (poultry).
Overall,
the NutriHarvest project will help improve farmer livelihoods, food security,
and access to nutrition in the communities served in India and is focused on two
pillars of impact:
- Home Grown
School Feeding:
By increasing farmer capacity to produce iron pearl millet and zinc wheat
and integrating these nutrient-dense crops into local school feeding
programs, NutriHarvest aims to improve dietary diversity for children. Through
the NutriPatshala (nutri-school) program students will be reached with
nutritious meals and provided nutrition education, including complimentary
topics like hygiene practices. The program will lead increase in the
overall availability, production, and consumption of iron pearl millet and
zinc wheat in the country.
- Hatching Hope: NutriHarvest
will help enhance the capacity of poultry farmers through the Hatching Hope global initiative,
which was launched in 2018 by Cargill with founding partner Heifer
International. The project will expand the Hatching Hope initiative to provide
training and support additional farmers, especially women, on adopting
better and more sustainable poultry farming practices to improve their
household protein consumption and drive local economic impact.
NutriHarvest
aims to create lasting impact for communities around the world by empowering
farmers to grow and market nutrient-rich crops, proteins and other foods and
improve their livestock production practices. This will make nutritious meals
more accessible and affordable in local markets, driving a broader
transformation to more secure global food systems.
- "Our
partnership with Cargill on NutriHarvest project in India marks a
significant stride towards our goal to combat malnutrition. By ensuring
access to locally produced, nutrient-dense foods and enhanced poultry
farming practices, we are creating a sustainable food system that is
healthier and resilient " said Binu Cherian, Country Manager of
HarvestPlus India.
- “NutriHarvest
represents a critical step in addressing both malnutrition and farmer’s
livelihoods. By integrating biofortified crops into school feeding
programs and empowering women through the Hatching Hope initiative, we are
creating sustainable pathways for improved health and economic resilience.
This project is a testament to the power of aligning agriculture with
nutrition to drive lasting, transformative change,” said Ravinder Grover,
Global Business Manager of HarvestPlus Solutions.
- “As a
connector of the global food system, Cargill is uniquely positioned to
address the most pressing challenges and help improve food security.
Through our work with the NutriHarvest project and Vision for Adapted
Crops and Soils Initiative (VACS), we are deepening
our commitment to increasing food access and building long-term resiliency
in communities, by that improving nutrition and farmer livelihoods,” added.
Simon George, Country President Cargill India.
For
more information about the NutriHarvest project or to join the initiative,
please visit the project page.
About
Cargill:
Cargill
is committed to providing food, ingredients, agricultural solutions, and
industrial products to nourish the world in a safe, responsible, and
sustainable way. Sitting at the heart of the supply chain, we partner with
farmers and customers to source, make and deliver products that are vital for
living.
Our
160,000 team members innovate with purpose, providing customers with life’s
essentials so businesses can grow, communities prosper, and consumers live
well. With 159 years of experience as a family company, we look ahead while
remaining true to our values. We put people first. We reach higher. We do the
right thing—today and for generations to come. For more information, visit Cargill.com and our News Center.
About
HarvestPlus:
HarvestPlus
improves nutrition and public health by developing and promoting biofortified
food crops that are rich in vitamins and minerals and providing global
leadership on biofortification evidence and technology. HarvestPlus works
across CGIAR as part of the International Food Policy Research Institute
(IFPRI). For more information, visit www.harvestplus.org.
About
HarvestPlus Solutions:
HarvestPlus
Solutions (HPS) is a purpose-driven, global networked organization
headquartered in Washington, DC. HPS’ primary goal is to accelerate the scaling
and commercialization of innovative solutions from HarvestPlus and the CGIAR.
For more information, visit https://harvestplus.solutions/.