Our affiliation with Land O’Lakes, Inc.’s diversified agribusinesses gives our nonprofit a unique understanding of how to drive inclusive and sustainable change through agriculture. Combine this with our 40 years of agricultural development projects and we’ve got a powerful approach to transforming agricultural systems.

 

We partner with all agricultural players to drive market development, reduce investment barriers and strengthen farmer-to-fork agricultural systems.

 

We facilitate innovative,customized solutions using agronomic know-how, local insights, robust data, and cutting-edge technology.

 

We connect entrepreneurs and businesses to the resources they need to create transformational products and services that fuel long-term growth and profitability.
{ In 2022 }
+

ENTERPRISES SUPPORTED

+

JOBS CREATED

$ +

INCREMENTAL SALES OF SUPPORTED BUSINESSES

+

PEOPLE ASSISTED

{ Since 1981 }
+

LAND O’LAKES, INC. EMPLOYEES & MEMBER VOLUNTEERS

+

PROJECTS

+

COUNTRIES

+ Years

OF INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORK

Our areas of focus
We believe we must work together — across continents, cultures, and markets – to make abundant, nutritious food available so everyone can realize their full potential. That’s why we work alongside people operating farms and businesses to deliver integrated solutions that build and improve food and agriculture systems. We’ve got what it takes to support competitive markets, resilient systems, nutrition-secure communities, and inclusive societies that foster healthy livelihoods for all.
We believe that when economies thrive, people can realize their full potential. That’s why we are committed to working with our partners to improve market access and trade. Through catalytic access to finance and private sector investment and by advancing opportunities for entrepreneurs and businesses, we help our partners build effective enabling environments and transform food and agricultural systems.
 

Project Examples

EGYPT

Expanding domestic & international trade through food safety

The USDA Transforming the Inspection and Assessment of Food Business (TAIB) program is working to strengthen the capacity of the National Food Safety Authority (NFSA), provide NFSA workforce training, and improve policy and regulatory frameworks. In partnership with the NFSA, we designed a modern food import control system based on preventative management, expedited clearance and risk-based consignment sampling. To date, the project has supported the creation of 11 standards and regulations, ranging from maximum pesticide residue levels to management of food processors. The project aims to ensure a successful, modern food system that regulates food across Egypt and promotes greater U.S. export and investment opportunities.

MALAWI

Forging new opportunities and unlocking finance for horticulture

In collaboration with TechnoServe / Partners in Food Solutions, Michigan State University and the AHL Commodities Exchange, we are pioneering enterprise development and a structured trading system for horticultural products through the USDA Malawi Strengthening Inclusive Markets for Agriculture (MSIKA) project is. The project works across horticulture value chains to increase productivity and market access, catalyze finance for agribusinesses and other Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), and train farmers on improved agricultural techniques and technologies. By enabling linkages between buyers and sellers and improving market and trade infrastructure, MSIKA is making domestic trade more efficient and increasing long-term export opportunities for the horticulture sector.

KENYA

Addressing food insecurity through private sector solutions

The USAID Future Kenya Innovation Engine (KIE) served as an incubation-like mechanism to source cutting-edge technologies that address persistent challenges to food security, malnutrition and poverty. By identifying, nurturing and scaling innovations in agriculture, the project tested and piloted 24 diverse innovations, including the use of ICT to streamline various value chain challenges, increase smallholder revenue and improve on-farm productivity and market efficiency, supported 1,400 enterprises, facilitated over 70 business development services relationship, and spurred more than $25 million in incremental sales. In working with innovators, the project emphasized enterprise development and fostered financial sustainability through a blend of private sector techniques.

Equipping people and businesses with the capacities to manage during and after extreme shocks is vital to fostering healthy, resilient livelihoods. We work with our partners to strengthen household and community capabilities to respond to, adapt to, and recover from risks, shocks and stressors, like natural disasters, disease outbreaks, and conflicts. By promoting climate-smart agriculture practices and technologies, we are also able to help communities respond to increasingly severe and unpredictable weather events that threaten agricultural progress.
 

Project Examples

MOZAMBIQUE

Stabilizing households and communities through agriculture

Deeply rooted in local communities, the RAMA-BC has been at the forefront of promoting climate smart and regenerative agricultural practices to mitigate against persistent climactic shocks and stressors. We partner with private sector input suppliers and local research institutions to increase awareness and adoption of new seed varieties, promote resilient farming practices, and test the efficacy of our approaches season after season. Following Tropical Cyclone Idai, the MIRAR project helped to stabilize household food security by distributing 105 metric tons of diverse seeds to approximately 15,000 vulnerable households.

MADAGASCAR

Strengthening community and household resilience through livestock

In partnership with a variety of global and local partners, we are working across the livestock sector to build resilience for the most vulnerable people, households and communities. By building capacity in animal production and providing trainings on animal health and livestock development, we are able to prevent and reduce food insecurity while also increasing opportunities for economic growth. Our expertise on how to strengthen animal health systems is also equipping people with the resources to respond and recover to the effects of recurring shocks and stressors.

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO

Facilitating adoption of Fall Armyworm pest management controll

In partnership with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and Villa Crop Protection, we are supporting the resilience of smallholder maize growers by promoting environmentally suitable and locally appropriate integrated pest management solutions to mitigate Fall Armyworm (FAW) infestation. This locally driven project utilizes on-farm research to validate solutions, incentivize private sector investment and drive smallholder awareness of FAW management strategies. Through customized, inclusive solutions, this project is building the capacity of smallholders to manage FAW and develop more sustainable and completive market systems.

We recognize that animal, plant, human, and environmental health are interconnected and must be addressed collaboratively to improve global wellbeing. We also recognize that without access to and safety of quality, affordable, and nutritious food, people cannot unlock their full potential. By applying a one health approach and promoting dietary diversity to increase access to nutritious, safe foods throughout our work, we are able to help global communities, from farmer to consumer, thrive through agriculture.
 

Project Examples

KENYA

Advancing animal and human nutrition

Through the Kenya Nourishing Prosperity Alliance (KNPA), we, in partnership with Corteva Agriscience, Forage Genetics International and the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), are empowering smallholder dairy farmers by increasing animal productivity and incomes, while increasing the supply of nutritional dairy products to local communities. Farmer trainings on how to effectively screen, report and treat animal disease help to strengthen local disease surveillance systems and proper procedures to keep all animals and their caregivers healthy. Improved production and storage of forage also enable farmers to prevent contamination of feed and mitigate the environmental impact caused by dairy farming.

ETHIOPIA

Increasing access to diverse, safe and quality foods

The USAID Growth Through Nutrition (GTN) project worked across all government and society levels to bring multi-sectoral nutrition programming to community levels. We, on collaboration with Save the Children, increased access to diverse, safe and quality foods by promoting more nutritious and productive varieties of vegetables, fruits, legumes, bio-fortified crops and small livestock, like poultry. Our approach also included trainings for extension agents, model farmers, and vulnerable households to empower them to become a source of knowledge and inputs for other farmers.

GEORGIA

Improving safety and quality in dairy and beef value chains

Alongside the local private sector, we work with the government of Georgia and dairy and livestock agribusinesses to improve food safety and quality protocols and build consumer awareness around food safety and quality through the USDA Safety and Quality Investment in Livestock (SQIL) project. This project improves the farm to fork management of livestock, including access to veterinarians, and the processing of products such as milk, cheese, and value-added meats. Through this approach, people have more options for high nutrient-dense foods and able to incorporate them into diets, expanding dietary diversity while increasing food security.

Inequity and inequality threaten progress and limit what we can accomplish together, which is why we value diverse societies, cultures, and identities. We inform our practices with social and cultural learnings to respectfully facilitate access to products and services that enhance food security and livelihoods for all. We aim to engage and empower all members of society, including women, youth, and marginalized populations, to help all people realize their potential.
 

Project Examples

RWANDA

Reducing gender disparity

The USAID Cooperative Development Program (CDP) is making measurable impacts on women’s earning potential and leadership in cooperative organizations in Rwanda. By following these five steps, CDP leads with a gender-inclusive approach that contributes to reducing disparity for women in agriculture: 1) Grounding: Defining gender and gender norms with all project stakeholders; 2) Assessments: Building an action plan based on a gender; 3) Recruitment: Recruiting women for technical and leadership roles; 4) Retention: Making women feel comfortable by fostering safe spaces and accommodating gender-specific needs; 5) Success Metrics: Measuring outcomes, such as engagement and leadership.

SRI LANKA

Creating sustainable livelihoods in conflict-affected areas

To promote economic growth and economic recovery in a post-conflict country, the USAID BIZ+ project is creating long-term jobs and income-earning opportunities by investing in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), specifically suppliers, agriculture producers, or other micro enterprises in a value chain. This approach grows the local economy, increase household income levels in the communities where the businesses operate, fosters entrepreneurship, and reduces the chance of these communities begin forgotten or relapsing. In total, BIZ+ leveraged $22 million in private sector investment, created over 8,000 full-time jobs, and 81% of partner businesses improved their capacity score through the effective use of business development services.

MOZAMBIQUE

Creating opportunities for youth and women

The USAID Mozambique Resilient Agricultural Markets Activity – Beira Corridor (RAMA-BC) supports smallholder farmers, 45% of whom are youth, in increasing agricultural productivity, profitability, and resilience through the adoption of sustainable and affordable agricultural technologies and practices. Opportunities for youth engagement include VSLAs where young women are establishing financial independence; agrodealers, young entrepreneurs, linked to larger input companies and seed suppliers; and university students, engaged in internships with exposure to climate-smart agriculture. The project is also focused on making agriculture more equitable by supporting crop diversity, introducing new practices to save women time, increasing women's decision-making power, and unlocking access to finance for women.