[India, 5^th 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:

1. 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.

2. 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/.