Direct grants will be awarded
to
World Food Program USA, One Acre Fund, and The Nature
Conservancy
MOLINE,
Ill., Oct. 26, 2023 /CNW/ -- Today, the John
Deere Foundation announced a series of grants totaling $19 million aimed at eliminating hunger by
increasing access to food, uplifting resource-constrained farmers,
and supporting global food systems. Awarded to World Food Program
USA, One Acre Fund, and The Nature
Conservancy, these are the three largest grants in the foundation's
history and strengthen John Deere's commitment to creating a world
in which food is a moral right for all.
These grants were announced today by Josh Jepsen, Senior Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer of John Deere, at the World Food Prize
Foundation's Norman E. Borlaug International Dialogue in
Des Moines, Iowa.
"We believe firmly that the world's farmers deserve our
collective support and advocacy if our goal is to realize the full
promise of the 'Green Revolution,'" Jepsen said during his remarks.
"The private sector, including specifically those businesses
involved in agriculture, have the responsibility to help close the
gaps in investment. Guided by concepts such as 'trust-based
philanthropy,' we can do better, particularly in honoring the work
of nonprofit organizations serving marginalized growers capable of
making leaps of their own."
- World Food Program USA
was awarded $5 million to strengthen
the capacity of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), the
world's largest humanitarian organization, to realize its vision of
a world without hunger. In 2022, WFP reached an estimated 160
million people with vital food, cash, commodity vouchers, and other
support, often during emergencies and within conflict zones.
Through its Innovation Accelerator, WFP also invests in technology
and digital transformation intended to eliminate the causes of
hunger and improve WFP's humanitarian responses.
"We thank our long-standing partner, the John Deere Foundation, for
their transformational investment. They have been committed to
supporting WFP's innovation and tackling the root causes of global
hunger. Not only are they helping fund innovations, but they are
lending their expertise and actively participating in co-creating
solutions. Together, we'll help make life better for millions of
people," said Barron Segar, World
Food Program USA President and
CEO.
- One Acre Fund was awarded $7.5
million to accelerate its work to ensure that every farm
family has the knowledge and means to achieve big harvests, support
healthy families, and cultivate rich soil. In 2022, One Acre Fund
served more than 4 million farmers through partnerships and its
full-service programs, equipping farmers to achieve $316 million in new profits and assets.
"As a result of the John Deere Foundation's grant, we will be able
to support more than 750,000 farm families across sub-Saharan
Africa over five years; unlocking nearly $65
million in new farmer profits and assets through increased
food crop, cash crop, and agroforestry productivity." said
Matthew Forti, One Acre Fund's
Managing Director. "Our relationship with the John Deere Foundation
allows us to provide farm families with pathways to prosperity and
food security, while building needed climate and ecological
resilience in the face of increasing challenges."
- The Nature Conservancy was awarded $6.5 million to promote natural climate solutions
in key regions across the globe. The grant will fund forest
restoration, conservation, and agroforestry projects in
economically and environmentally vulnerable areas of Argentina, Brazil, Indonesia, Mexico, and the
United States. In addition to the environmental benefits
offered by natural climate solutions, the projects will help
improve land use practices, boost climate resilience, and increase
productivity and profitability for marginalized and indigenous farm
households living in these areas.
"Natural climate solutions unlock benefits for people, nature and
agriculture by restoring soil health, increasing biodiversity,
improving the water cycle and building climate resilience, however,
they are often underfunded and underutilized," says Michael Doane, Global Managing Director for Food
& Freshwater Systems at The Nature Conservancy. "This landmark
grant will help The Nature Conservancy test natural climate
solutions in food landscapes around the globe, improving the lives
and livelihoods of farmers and illustrating the critical role of
nature in sustainable food production."
This series of capacity-building and operational grants help
commemorate the 75th anniversary of the John Deere
Foundation, which continues to be a powerful source of philanthropy
for nonprofit organizations serving John Deere home communities and
farm communities around the world.
About John Deere (NYSE:
DE)
Deere & Company (www.JohnDeere.com)
is a global leader in the delivery of agricultural, construction,
and forestry equipment. We help our customers push the boundaries
of what's possible in ways that are more productive and sustainable
to help life leap forward. Our technology-enabled products
including John Deere Autonomous 8R Tractor, See & Spray™, and
E-Power Backhoe are just some of the ways we help meet the world's
increasing need for food, shelter, and infrastructure. Deere &
Company also provides financial services through John Deere
Financial. For more information on Deere & Company,
visit us at www.deere.com/en/news/.
About the John Deere Foundation
The
John Deere Foundation helps bring to life
John Deere's higher purpose – "We run so life
can leap forward" – through investments that allow the
people we serve to overcome the challenges they face today and
create for themselves paths to a more prosperous tomorrow. The
foundation has committed at least $200
million from 2021-2030 to unlock economic, social, and
environmental value for smallholder and resource-constrained
farmers, marginalized families and youth in John Deere home
communities, and our workforce. Learn more at
https://about.deere.com/en-us/our-company-and-purpose/global-impact.
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