Cargill Supports Snowstorm Disaster-Relief Effort
February 20, 2008
Contact:
- Catherine Zhang, 13910976776, catherine_zhang@cargill.com, Cargill Investments (China) Ltd
Beijing - Cargill, an international provider of food, agricultural and risk management products and services, initiated a disaster response to the severe snowstorms and harsh weather conditions that afflicted parts of China in early February. Cargill China businesses and corporate headquarters have donated RMB 200,000 to China Children and Teenager’s Fund (CCTF) to support the rebuilding of damaged schools in Hunan province. The donation will help children resume their education in safe environments and weather resistant schools. Furthermore, Cargill employees in Beijing engaged in clothing drives and donated warm clothing and blankets to a charity effort organized by MOFCOM. The severe weather afflicted millions of people throughout China, especially workers traveling home to their families during the Chinese New Year. Some of Cargill’s animal nutrition businesses were themselves afflicted and had to temporarily shut down operations.
Cargill’s purpose in China is to promote sustainable agriculture and a secure food supply in China; its businesses have trained over 1.5 million Chinese farmers in the past years in best agricultural practices. As part of its general citizenship efforts, the company has initiated “Cargill Cares Rural Education Program” and will build forty schools throughout China in partnership with China Children and Teenager’s Foundation. Furthermore, Cargill supports a biodiversity program in Yunnan province with The Nature Conservancy, and engages in significant volunteering activities with Junior Achievement and Students in Free Enterprise..
About Cargill
Founded in 1865, Cargill is an international provider of food, agricultural and risk management products and services with 158,000 employees in 66 countries. Its revenue of fiscal year 2006/07 amounted to USD 88.2 billion, which would have ranked the company No. 18 among Fortune Global?)) 500 Companies if Cargill were a listed company. Its vision is to become a world-leading corporate citizen. For over 140 years since its foundation in 1865, corporate citizenship has been an important part of Cargill’s corporate value and corporate culture. Cargill is committed to being a global leader in corporate citizenship. We define citizenship as our total impact on society and the environment. The 4 cornerstones of citizenship include: responsible business practices, promoting a sustainable environment, engaging our workforce and ensuring their safety, and providing a measurable, positive impact in our communities
As one of the important players in China’s rural economy, Cargill has been concerned with the development of the rural regions, particularly rural education. As one of the aspects of its corporate citizenship, Cargill also actively advocates environmental protection and community service. In 2004, Cargill donated RMB 8.3 million to The Nature Conservancy (TNC) for the conservancy of biological diversity in the Yangtze River, Amazon River and Mississippi River valleys. Notably, RMB 2.5 million in the above donation has been used for biological diversity conservancy in Yunnan, environmental education and the China Biological Diversity Conservancy Blueprint Program.
Cargill started trade with China soon after President Nixon’s visit in 1972, and made its first investment in the country in 1987. Cargill’s annual trade value with China today exceeds US$ 5 billion. Annual sales of Cargill businesses located in China exceed USD 1.2 billion. Currently, Cargill sells grains, oilseeds, steel products, sugar, cotton, fruit juices, essences, meats and other commodities to China while exporting Chinese commodities such as steel, apple juice and food ingredients. It also provides ocean freight carriers and risk management clients with services and clients in the food and industrial fields with integrated solutions.
Cargill operates 34 wholly owned companies and joint ventures in 20 provinces in China. Projects range from feed protein to vegetable oil, cornstarch, and sweeteners made of corn, food ingredients and farmer-oriented products, such as animal feed and chemical fertilizer. With a total investment of about USD 700 million in China’s agricultural and food industries, Cargill and its partners employ 4,400 people in the country.
Cargill promotes sustainable agriculture and a secure food supply in China. To meet these objectives, the company works to improve efficiencies and adds value to the production, processing, distribution and trade of agricultural products in China, which will ultimately lead to higher income for Chinese farmers and better food security for Chinese consumers. By training farmers, opening new factories and providing more job opportunities, Cargill extends benefits to rural areas in China, shares its experience in global agricultural operations with the Chinese Government and its clients, and provides service to local communities. Cargill actively seeks further guidance and support for its activities from the Chinese Government and partners to better understand the needs and the requirements of the Chinese market to ensure collaboration on achieving China’s agricultural goals.