Saskatoon, Saskatchewan – As a global leader in food security, Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan Inc. (PotashCorp) will join millions of people on October 16 to celebrate World Food Day. Led by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), this year’s theme is Sustainable Food Systems for Food Security and Nutrition.

“At our company every day is World Food Day, but it’s important for the world to take note of the challenge to end world hunger and to examine key issues surrounding agriculture and food security,” said Bill Doyle, PotashCorp’s President and Chief Executive Officer.

PotashCorp has a history of supporting food security issues and engaging others in learning about the topic. Three examples of the food security initiatives are co-founding the Global Institute for Food Security, partnering with the international charity Free The Children and supporting Saskatchewan’s food banks.

Global Institute for Food Security

In December 2012, the Global Institute for Food Security (GIFS) was founded by PotashCorp, the Province of Saskatchewan and the University of Saskatchewan to address increasing global demand for safe, reliable food. PotashCrop has committed up to $35 million over seven years to this academic research center.

As part of the province’s ‘bioscience cluster’ the Institute is dedicated to seeking economic and policy solutions to food security issues in a way that promotes Saskatchewan and its people. The Institute’s three research focus areas are building healthy soils and agricultural ecosystems, increasing crop resilience and maximizing Saskatchewan’s agricultural economy while benefiting consumers.  

Free The Children

In September 2012 PotashCorp announced a multi-year, up to $9.6 million, partnership with the international charity Free The Children. Since then, this partnership has thrived with initiatives both globally and locally, such as bringing We Day to Saskatchewan this November 6. We Day Saskatchewan has an agriculture and food security theme, inspiring youth to get involved and make a change.

As the founding partner of the new Agriculture and Food Security pillar of Free The Children’s established Adopt a Village development model, PotashCorp is highly engaged in the issues that surround this year’s World Food Day. In addition to founding the new pillar across all eight countries where Free The Children operates, PotashCorp also directly supports six communities (two in Kenya, two in India and two in China) on agriculture initiatives.

Colleen Crunican, a Grade 12 student from Denfield, Ontario, was one of 25 youth that PotashCorp sponsored to go to Kenya this year. “Having grown up on an apple farm all of my life, I’m really interested in studying agriculture sciences and international development at university. The Kenya trip definitely had an impact on what I will choose to do in the future,” said Crunican. “The work that PotashCorp has done in these Kenyan communities is amazing. It’s clear to see how much they are benefiting from the community farms and the agricultural knowledge they are gaining!”

Food Banks

On a local level, during the 2012 holiday season, PotashCorp again held a $1 million matching gift challenge to support Saskatchewan’s food banks. The result was more than $2 million raised to provide nutritious food and support services to vulnerable individuals and families throughout the province. Over the past three years PotashCorp has donated over $3 million to Saskatchewan’s food banks with the end goal of developing stronger, more resilient communities. 

“PotashCorp’s support has given us the ability to work more collaboratively with other non-profit organizations to increase awareness of the root causes of food insecurity in our communities. We believe these are the sort of initiatives, along with providing healthy food, that will one day help us to close our doors,” said Laurie O'Connor, Executive Director of the Saskatoon Food Bank & Learning Centre.

“As global populations keep growing and arable lands remain limited, PotashCorp will continue to provide the essential nutrients necessary for farmers to produce nutritious food,” said Bill Doyle. “With access to healthy balanced diets, people around the world and here at home are better able to thrive and maximize their own potential.”

World Food Day

Learn more about Global Food Security Institute, Free The Children partnership and the Trinidad Model Farm.

As the world’s largest crop nutrient company, PotashCorp plays an integral role in global food production. The company produces the three essential nutrients required to help farmers grow healthier, more abundant crops. With global population rising and diets improving in developing countries, crop nutrients such as potash, phosphates and nitrogen offer a responsible and practical solution to help produce the food we need, from the land we have.

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