Cargill Mexico and CIMMYT award the best food security and sustainability projects in Mexico
Cargill Mexico and CIMMYT promote long-term solutions that foster a greater production of sustainable and affordable foods for Mexican families.
(Texcoco, State of Mexico), July 24, 2018 - For the third consecutive year, Cargill Mexico and the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) carry out the awards and recognition ceremony for the winners of the three categories of the 2017 Cargill-CIMMYT Award for Food Security and Sustainability.
The award seeks to promote actions and projects aimed at addressing the challenges of food security in the country, in order to find long-term solutions to the problem of hunger and accessibility to safe, nutritious and affordable food for the population.
The first places were awarded to the most innovative projects in the categories, Researchers, Producers and Opinion Leaders. The winners of the third edition of the Cargill-CIMMYT 2017 Award for Food Security and Sustainability were:
- Mario López Rodríguez, from the category of Researchers with the project Technology of production of bean cultivation, an initiative that increased the production of fresh bean from 2 to 9 tons per hectare, disseminated the production technology and managed to increase the use of improved seed.
- Ing. Carlos Barragán García of the Producers category with the "From the milpa to your plate" project, a proposal that promotes food security and sustainability in small-scale production systems in Oaxaca.
- Mexican Foundation for Rural Development, AC of the category of Opinion Leaders with the Educampo project, which aids small corn producers who live in poverty conditions, in high and very high marginalization localities, so that they can resume the agriculture as a productive and profitable activity.
To support these projects, Cargill awarded a total of $25,000 USD: $10,000 USD for the winner project of the Researchers category; $10,000 USD more for the Producers category, and $5,000 USD to the Opinion Leader selected.
Thirty projects from different states of the Republic were evaluated internally by jury conformed by Cargill and CIMMYT. Subsequently, the winners were selected by an Expert Committee of the agricultural and food sector.
The president of Cargill Mexico, Marcelo Martins mentioned that, "Once again we are very proud to present the Cargill-CIMMYT Award, an occasion in which we reaffirm our commitment to increase nutrition and food security in the country, while developing innovation of food systems and improve the livelihood of agricultural producers."
Martin Kropff, CEO of CIMMYT, considered that the leadership and innovation in the Mexican agri-food sector are extraordinary. "The Cargill - CIMMYT Award for Food Security and Sustainability has become an important stimulus to develop that leadership and innovation capacity," said the representative of the international organization.
Finally, the undersecretary of Agriculture, Lic. Jorge Luis Zertuche mentioned that "The agriculture that we have today and that we must have tomorrow cannot be understood without the participation of the researchers, the producers and also the work they do. opinion leaders. " Also, the undersecretary stressed "the commitment of Cargill and CIMMYT have made this award possible, whose results give the conditions to promote innovation in the agricultural sector." Additionally, the representative of SAGARPA referred to the impact of MasAgro and PROAGRO Productivo as an example of programs that contribute to the sustainable productivity of the Mexican countryside.
The award event was held at the CIMMYT facilities in Texcoco, State of Mexico, with the presence of Jorge Luis Zertuche Rodríguez, Undersecretary of Agriculture of Sagarpa; José Guadalupe Sáenz, Advisors Coordinator of the Ministry of Economy; Dr. Martin Kropff, Director General of CIMMYT; Marcelo Martins, General Director of Cargill México; David Hernández, Director of Global Purchases of Bimbo Group; Bosco de la Vega, President of the National Agricultural Council; Gloria Abraham, Representative in Mexico of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture; and Dr. Miguel Adolfo Guajardo Mendoza, Deputy Director of Planning and Evaluation of the National Council of Science and Technology.
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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.
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About Cargill Mexico
Cargill Mexico aims to contribute in improving agricultural productivity, satisfying and fulfilling the expectations of the domestic industry. In addition to adding value to human and animal nutrition and thus encourage economic development, Cargill Mexico reinvests its profits in several new businesses in the country. Cargill has 9 business units that have operations in Mexico, it employs more than 1,750 people in 13 states and has a total of 25 facilities, including a corporate office in Mexico City. For more information, visit Cargill.com.mx, and our News Center.
About CIMMYT
CIMMYT (http://www.cimmyt.org/es/) - The International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center is the world leader in research on corn, wheat and associated agricultural systems financed with public funds. Headquartered near Mexico City, CIMMYT works with hundreds of partners throughout the developing world to sustainably increase the productivity of corn and wheat farming systems, improving global food security and reducing poverty. CIMMYT is a member of the CGIAR System and directs the CGIAR Research Programs on Corn and Wheat and the Platform for Excellence in Improvement. The Center has the support of national governments, foundations, development banks and other public and private organizations.