Supporting Food Security in Africa
The Agilent Foundation recently committed $300,000 toward the cultivation of fonio, a tasty and nutritious grain that is only available in limited parts of Africa.
The Foundation’s grant will support SOS Sahel, a nonprofit that works with the people of the Sahel region of Africa to overcome hunger and poverty. The region is characterized by frequent drought, as well as food shortages resulting from the decline in grain exports from Ukraine.
The Foundation is supporting the agriculture of fonio, a cereal that is gluten-free, rich in amino acids, and easy to digest. It’s also drought-resistant and soil-enriching.
The Agilent Foundation grant is for $100,000 per year for three years. SOS Sahel will use the money to train 1,200 farmers (60% of whom are women) in farm management and best fonio-production practices.
The grant aligns with the Foundation’s mission to ensure air, food, and water security. Scientists have also used Agilent’s HPLC systems to study the nutritional composition of fonio.
SOS Sahel Visit
In an event at Agilent’s Little Falls, Delaware site recently, Rémi Hémeryck, the CEO of SOS Sahel, explained to employees what fonio is, where it’s grown, and how it benefits farmers.
Watch the video to learn more.
