ADM Gives US$10 Million to Found Institute to Reduce Global Postharvest Loss of Grains, Oilseeds
University of Illinois research center will work to preserve more of
what′s grown worldwide
Archer Daniels Midland Company (NYSE: ADM) today founded the ADM
Institute for the Prevention of Postharvest Loss with a US$10 million
grant to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The global
institute will work with smallholder farmers in the developing world to
help preserve millions of metric tons of grains and oilseeds lost each
year to pests, disease, mishandling and other factors.
'As we look ahead to the middle of this century, global population is
expected to reach more than 9 billion people, and the demand for
agricultural products is expected to as much as double,? said Patricia
A. Woertz, ADM chairman, CEO and president. 'Clearly, preserving what is
already grown is fundamental to feeding the world, and to making the
most of the land, water, energy and other inputs already used to grow
crops.
'Today, just 5 percent of all agricultural research dollars goes to the
study of postharvest handling and infrastructure,? Woertz added. 'The
ADM Institute for the Prevention of Postharvest Loss will focus on
helping farmers around the world preserve more of what they grow through
training, tools and technologies that can help eliminate pests and
disease, enable more efficient grain storage and handling, prevent
spoilage and improve crop quality overall.?
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United
Nations, about 30 million metric tons of corn, 20 million metric tons of
wheat, and nearly 3 million metric tons of soybeans ? with an aggregate
value estimated at more than US$14 billion ? went to waste worldwide in
2007, the latest year for which the FAO has made data available. The
University of Illinois has noted that the amount of wheat and rice lost
during that year could have satisfied the cereal-grain dietary needs of
more than 380 million people. Much of the loss occurs in developing
nations, which lack essential infrastructure, technology and training
needed to prevent spoilage and waste.
University of Illinois president Michael Hogan said: 'We are proud to
partner with ADM to help advance practical strategies to combat
postharvest losses. Our administration and faculty are committed to
making this institute a leading research hub for preserving the global
harvest of corn, oilseeds, wheat and rice ? staple crops that account
for a large percentage of the world′s food.?
The ADM Institute for the Prevention of Postharvest Loss′s educational,
research and outreach functions will include:
promoting technology advancements and improved supply-chain and
information systems;
establishing strategic partnerships with government organizations,
other academic institutions and NGOs to identify research needs and to
enhance implementation of research results;
developing courses to provide training on best practices and
technologies for minimizing postharvest losses; and
establishing an authoritative, Web-based postharvest loss data
clearinghouse and resource center to accelerate the transformation of
science into practice throughout the global corn, rice, wheat and
oilseed supply chains.
Funding for the ADM Institute for the Prevention of Postharvest Loss
will be provided by ADM Cares, a corporate social-investment program
that directs up to 1 percent of ADM′s pretax profits to initiatives and
organizations that drive meaningful social, economic and environmental
progress worldwide.
Steven T. Sonka, Ph.D., professor of agricultural management in the
Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics at the University of
Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, will serve as the global institute′s
faculty director. Sonka has authored or coauthored over 220 books,
articles and publications, and been recognized for distinguished
teaching by the American Agricultural Economics Association and the
National Association of Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture.
'ADM′s widely recognized expertise in crop storage, transportation and
handling will no doubt prove valuable to our global institute as we work
to advance the real-world applicability of promising research findings,?
said Sonka.
About ADM
Every day, the 29,000 people of Archer Daniels
Midland Company (NYSE: ADM) turn crops into renewable products that meet
the demands of a growing world. At more than 240 processing plants, we
convert corn, oilseeds, wheat and cocoa into products for food, animal
feed, chemical and energy uses. We operate the world′s premier crop
origination and transportation network, connecting crops and markets in
more than 60 countries. Our global headquarters is in Decatur, Illinois,
and our net sales for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2010, were $62
billion. For more information about our Company and our products, visit www.adm.com
About the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The
University of Illinois is a world leader in research and discovery, the
largest educational institution in the state with more than 76,000
students, 2,400 faculty and staff, and campuses in Urbana-Champaign,
Chicago and Springfield. The U of I awards more than 19,000
undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees annually.
ADM Media Relations, 217-424-5413
media@adm.com
or
Public
Engagement, University of Illinois, 217-333-9525
vcpe@illinois.edu
