The AGCO Agriculture Foundation (AAF) supports a holistic approach to the prevention and relief of hunger through sustainable agriculture development. We launched the Foundation to focus our philanthropy on building needed agricultural infrastructure to help feed the world sustainably and equitably.
Photo: Global Growers
Focus: Marginalized Farming Communities
AAF looks to extend our impact beyond AGCO’s typical markets and communities, in particular extending our educational efforts to support sustainable agriculture development around the world while maintaining a watchful eye on elevating marginalized and underserved communities. The Foundation is actively helping change the lives of smallholder farmers and marginalized farming communities by building agricultural infrastructure where it’s needed most.
Building on AGCO’s Growing Legacy
As a public company and global citizen, AGCO has been driving positive change for decades by providing solutions to farmers feeding the world. Particularly in the developing world, our efforts have had a powerful impact on local communities through improving farmer education and access to mechanization and agricultural projects.
Forward-Looking Approach to Meeting Nutritional Demands
DADAAB Refugee Project
The Foundation’s first project in 2019, in partnership with Kenya Red Cross Society, seeks to support the Dadaab Refugee Complex, Kenya, and over 200,000 inhabitants—helping refugee communities to feed themselves. The project is making sustainable agricultural mechanization service available, accessible and affordable to produce pasture for livestock and promote soil cover to reduce water loss.
Advancing Quality Education
Africa Agribusiness Qualification
A signature program for the Foundation provides ongoing support for the Africa Agribusiness Qualification (AAQ) at Strathmore University in Kenya, designed to develop agricultural expertise in Africa for Africa.
2019 Borlaug-Adesina Fellowship
AAF provides support for the annual Borlaug-Adesina Fellowships awarded by the World Hunger Fighters Foundation and World Food Prize Foundation. The fellowships, named for Dr. Norman Borlaug, the late Nobel peace prize laureate, and Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank, go to young Africans to develop new technologies, champion public policy, and develop viable businesses in the field of agriculture.
Advancing Community Development
AAF Award to Bahle Zondo Foundation
The inaugural AGCO Agriculture Foundation Award recognized Bahle Zondo Foundation, uMsinga Female Farming Project in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The Award included a $50,000 donation to the organization.
Partnering with Global Growers Atlanta
AAF has partnered with Global Growers Atlanta. The only organization of its kind in the State of Georgia, Global Growers connects the agricultural talent of the local refugee community to opportunities in sustainable agriculture. Its grower network includes 310 refugee and low-income local families, with eight farm and garden sites on 22+ acres of land around Atlanta. Within the network, 60 different languages are spoken.
空军联队也是我们rking with IoT.ATL Living Labs to promote smart urban farming in and around Atlanta, Georgia—particularly among marginalized communities.
Improving Treatment of Animals in Agriculture Supply Chains
AAF also promotes animal welfare and improved treatment of animals in agriculture supply chains across the globe. This includes support for local-to-local training in sustainable methods of animal husbandry and innovative protein production solutions at AGCO’s Future Farm and Training Centers in Zambia and Switzerland.