General Mills Corporate Communications

TechnoServe, a nonprofit organization that works to find business solutions to poverty around the world, last night in New York City honored Ken Powell, General Mills chairman and chief executive officer, for his leadership in supporting the company’s initiatives in Africa. 
 
To celebrate innovation and entrepreneurship, TechnoServe each year hosts an evening event honoring leaders who demonstrate a commitment to empowering people in poor communities. Powell was among three leaders to receive honors.

In the past four decades, TechnoServe’s work has led to the launch or expansion of thousands of businesses and transformed millions of lives.

“Under Ken Powell’s leadership, TechnoServe and General Mills entered into a partnership in 2010 that takes a new approach to creating opportunity,” said Paul Tierney, Jr., TechnoServe chairman. “Our initial work in Tanzania is opening doors for thousands to add more value to their crops – and to enjoy better incomes and better lives as a result. This is leadership in action.”

Initiative evolved
At the event, Powell highlighted the evolution of the company’s involvement in Africa: Moving from packing a million meals for Malawi to philanthropy projects such as construction of new wells and fish ponds. More recently, the effort has focused on Partners in Food Solutions (PFS), the new nonprofit designed to improve food processing and alleviate hunger in Africa.

PFS currently is working with 15 companies on about 40 projects in Kenya, Zambia, Tanzania and Malawi, reaching as many as 60,000 farmers. The key to the effort is the food technology expertise that General Mills employees have signed on to share.

“More than 300 (employees) have stepped forward to share what’s in their heads – and in their hearts – in the hopes that diets will be improved and lives will be saved,” Powell said in accepting the award.

The work ranges from:

• new product development to packaging
• plant design to fortification.

About 40 employees, for example, currently are helping Project Peanut Butter, which is saving the lives of thousands of children in Africa with its Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food. By leveraging General Mills expertise, Project Peanut Butter has been able reduce costs, increase project stability and advance new formulas.

General Mills and its employees developed Partners in Food Solutions in 2009. The initiative now is expanding rapidly with federal funding, new African partners and increased volunteer support. Just this week, two new corporate partners have signed on: Minneapolis-based Cargill and Dutch-based DSM.

PFS’s five-year goals call for as many as 10 corporate partners working with 200 food processors, sourcing from 600,000 farmers. 

 Inside General Mills