• More than $850,000 contributed as founding sponsor of Rural Support Program
A Canada 150th anniversary commitment of $150,000 by Syngenta Canada to Food Banks Canada will help those in need in rural communities over the next three years. This latest contribution will bring the organization’s support to the Rural Support Program to more than $850,000 over a 19 year period.
“Hunger and nutrition are critical elements of our food security challenge,” explains Syngenta Canada president Jay Bradshaw. “We are working to address these challenges through The Good Growth Plan and other partnerships such as the Food Banks Canada Rural Support Program. In fact, our partnership with Food Banks Canada was the launching point for our Giving Back to Agriculture® program when Syngenta was formed in 2000.”
Syngenta is the founding sponsor of the Rural Support Program, and has been funding transportation grants to help rural food bank locations improve access to food donations since 2000. The program, originally known as the Syngenta Rural FoodShare Initiative, was renamed in 2011 to reflect an expanded mandate.
In 2016, 57 grants were awarded to food banks in seven provinces through the Rural Support Program’s Rural Transportation Fund. Through these grants, 26,000 people experiencing hunger in rural communities across Canada were helped.
Currently, 35% of all Canadian food bank locations are in rural communities and often face unique challenges due to isolation and other factors. Grants through the Rural Transportation Fund are aimed specifically at helping to address the higher transportation costs associated with getting food donations to these communities in need.
“In any given month, more than 150,000 Canadians living in rural communities will need to turn to a food bank,” says Mimi Lowi-Young, interim executive director, Food Banks Canada. “The Rural Support Program is essential funding that Food Banks Canada offers to rural, agricultural, and remote food banks across Canada. We’re very appreciative of the long-term commitment and support from Syngenta in this important area of our activities.”
Source : Syngenta