Cargill Philippines, a local subsidiary of the global food and agribusiness leader, said it is investing $2.6 million to support existing and new projects as it celebrates its 75th anniversary of helping Filipino partners and consumers thrive.
Cargill Philippines vowed to plant a variety of 7,500 trees across the locations of where they operate to capture at least 25,000 tons of carbon. The initiative reflects the company’s commitment to sustainability and will be done along with its community partners from Asia Society for Social Improvement and Sustainable Transformation (ASSIST).
“Enriching local communities is embedded in Cargill’s purpose to nourish the world, driving progress in our efforts to deliver meaningful social and environmental impact where we live and work. We believe in supporting local communities to pave the way for a more inclusive and resilient food system and sustainable future for Filipinos,” said Cargill Philippines country president Sonny Catacutan.
The company said it is investing $2.6 million to support existing and new projects that advance farmer livelihood and the agriculture industry and drive environmental impact. The investment will launch the Adopt-a-River for Tigiro River project where Cargill aims to rehabilitate the river that runs beside their processing plant in Batangas.
Part of the investment will also be allocated to expand Cargill’s long-term efforts to support smallholder corn and coconut farmers through training on sustainable agricultural practices, improved productivity and market access, and increased income.
These efforts include the Agri-Sagana Project in partnership with ASSIST, which will create value for an additional 7,000 corn farming families and 10 cooperatives in Isabela and Cagayan; and the RISE Coco (Recovery Intervention for Severely Affected Coconut Farming Communities of Bohol by ST Odette) Project in partnership with CARE Philippines train an additional 300- 400 coconut farmers in Bohol.
Catacutan expressed optimism that Cargill would grow its businesses and give back to communities in the country.
“Cargill envisions a future marked by shared success with Filipino farmers, as well as our employees, customers, industry and government partners. By coming together, we can scale our impact in transforming the local agriculture sector and helping build vibrant and resilient communities that thrive,” said Catacutan.