Each year, the United Nations’ World Food Day is a moment when communities around the globe pause to raise awareness of world hunger.
It is also a time when organizations recommit to the ongoing need to prioritize the right of all people to food and nutrition. At General Mills, we believe everyone should have access to good food.
World Food Day is a moment we can all come together – communities, governments, companies, individuals -- to focus on this important commitment. Because we all have a role to play in achieving this vision.
As a global food company, we have a responsibility and opportunity to leverage our scale and influence to reduce hunger and food insecurity, as well as contribute to decreasing food waste.
General Mills works to strengthen the reach and impact of school meal programs, grow the capacity of food banks to rescue and redistribute more food, and to help key hunger organizations take aim at racial disparities in food access. We are at work every day to alleviate hunger.
Here are a few examples of the progress made:
Partners are key to enabling these efforts. We work with a variety of organizations around the world to increase equitable food access and enable food recovery.
One such partner is the nonprofit organization Partners in Food Solutions (PFS). They work to strengthen food security, improve nutrition, and increase economic development across Africa through employee volunteerism from food companies like General Mills.
"As the founding member of Partners in Food Solutions, we celebrate General Mills on this World Food Day for their vision and support for over 14 years,” says Jeff Dykstra, CEO and co-founder of Partners in Food Solutions. . “With some of the world’s top experts in food safety, marketing, product development, packaging, and more, General Mills is an amazing resource for our clients across the continent. Their employees go above and beyond every day to share their skills and knowledge with those in the best position to address food security in Africa – local food companies. We're incredibly grateful for General Mills and its employees who make this work possible.”
Since the start of our partnership with PFS, nearly 900 General Mills employee volunteers have contributed over 89,000 volunteer hours, with 349 African food companies.
General Mills leaders Kofi Bruce, Dana McNabb, and Purbita Ray serve on PFS’s Board of Directors.
“This program is near to my heart. My father and mother ran a “no tillage” farm, and as a family we spent time in Africa sharing best soil practices. So I’ve seen the food needs of communities there first-hand. Partners in Food Solutions is serving those needs in unique and impactful ways,” says Dana McNabb, chief strategy and growth officemr, General Mills. “As a board member, I continue to be impressed by the impact of their work. My own journey as a mentor within the program has been incredibly rewarding, and I look forward to continuing to play a role.”
This October, longtime PFS volunteer and General Mills employee, Chris Majors, alongside PFS board members and other volunteers, took a trip to Africa to connect directly with the businesses and farmers supported by PFS, and to learn more about the food system in Africa.
“General Mills remains committed to making the world food secure because no family, child or individual should have to worry about where their next meal is coming from,” says Mary Jane Melendez, chief sustainability and global impact officer, General Mills. “I am grateful for our network of longtime non-profit partners like Partners in Food Solutions who share our dedication to making a difference and alleviating hunger, as well as our passionate employees, who show up every day to stand for good.”
There is more progress to be made as General Mills, PFS, and so many organizations work together to alleviate hunger. Today we are thankful for the impact made so far and we are optimistic about the road ahead.
To learn more about how we’re ensuring G stands for Good, visit www.generalmills.com/gstandsforgood
