US Government, General Mills Enter Into Public Private Partnership
Published:29-September-2009
By Staff Reporter
To improve the capacity of small and medium sized food businesses across sub-Saharan Africa
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton has announced a public-private partnership with General Mills, an US food company, the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) that will improve the capacity of small and medium sized food businesses across sub-Saharan Africa to produce healthy, fortified food products.
The partnership aims to improve the ability of these small and medium-sized enterprises to produce high-quality, nutritious and safe food at affordable prices. The partnership, which could potentially reach a value of $21m and will also benefit an estimated1.6m smallholder farmer who supply these businesses.
The partnership will link the technical and business expertise of General Mills and up to nine additional food companies with up to 200 small and medium-sized mills and food processors in 15 sub-Saharan African countries.
This partnership will strengthen that local market for small farmers and will enable the businesses to produce better quality food products at lower costs.
The partnership between General Mills and the US Government aims to engage multiple food companies and food industry-related associations to provide similar expertise to processors in Africa.
Reportedly, the core expertise of food scientists, process engineers, and operations managers will have a transformative effect on the African agribusinesses, making the beneficiary firms’ operations more efficient and expanding their potential markets and product offerings.
Minnesota based General Mills operates in more than 100 countries and markets more than 100 consumer brands, including Cheerios, Haagen-Dazs, Nature Valley, Betty Crocker, Pillsbury, Green Giant, Old El Paso, Progresso, Cascadian Farm, Muir Glen, and more.
