Our response ability

Did you hear the story about the Winnipeg bus driver who gave away his shoes to a barefoot guy he saw on the sidewalk? It was pretty hard to miss. Perhaps the most enlightening aspect of that story, which was picked up exhaustively locally, nationally and then internationally, was that it was news at all.

Growing projects nearing completion

The final tally isn’t in yet, but 2012 may yet prove to be a record year for revenues generated by growing projects in support of the Canadian Foodgrains Bank. Good prices and good crops mean higher than ever grain incomes are anticipated, said Harold Penner, CFGB Manitoba resource co-ordinator. More soybeans and corn, and for


“Like” Nexera? Trigger a toonie for Canadian Foodgrains Bank

As the Grey Cup 100 Train Tour rumbles east to the big game in Toronto, Dow Agrosciences is teaming up with the Canadian Foodgrains Bank to raise funds for those who don’t have enough to eat through its Nexera Facebook page. “With all the hard work at harvest we wanted to thank Nexera canola growers

An innovative way to encourage agricultural development

Canadian Foodgrains Bank is always looking for creative ways to fight hunger. That’s why the organization welcomes a new idea announced by the G20 at its recent meeting in Mexico that offers rewards for companies that can solve certain food-related problems. Called AgResults, the new program offers incentives to the private sector to pursue new


Monsanto supports CFGB growing projects

Monsanto Canada has donated $60,000 worth of farm inputs to Canadian Foodgrains Bank growing projects his year. Community growing projects are a unique way for people to contribute grain and other agricultural commodities to help people who are hungry around the world. A typical project involves a group of people working together to farm a

Insured projects are covered for hail

Everything was going fine for the Canadian Foodgrains Bank (CFGB) Share growing project near Morden, Manitoba in 2011. Then it hailed. “We had a beautiful crop of wheat,” recalls Ben Friesen, who helps organize the Share project for CFGB, a partnership of 15 churches and church agencies working to end global hunger. “Then the hail


Pork council honours Rempel and Flaten

The Manitoba Pork Council has honoured Marg Rempel of Ste. Anne with its award of distinction in recognition of her outstanding contributions to agriculture through her passionate commitment and tireless efforts. “Her accomplishments and vast contributions have had far-reaching global impact, but perhaps it’s the motivation to her work that impresses most,” the council’s citation

“Every time it rains, God cries”

Since January, Canadian Foodgrains Bank resource co-ordinator Harold Penner and his wife Marianne have been at a Growing Nations project at Maphutseng, Lesotho, in southern Africa. Before leaving for Ethiopia, Harold sent photos of what should be a welcome event for farmers — the arrival of rain. His comments follow. In the last few days


Sights, sounds and smells in a far-off land

The sun was just peeking above the horizon as the Boeing 777 banked south just over Cairo, Egypt and headed for Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital that serves as the hub for all of Africa. We’d been travelling ahead in time, losing a night as we left Washington, D.C. at around 11 a.m. on Saturday,

Without January rains, one of two heifers will be sold

Co-operator editor Laura Rance is travelling on a media food study tour with the Canadian Foodgrains Bank. Updates are being posted on the Co-operator website at www.manitobacooperator.ca. The highway southwest of Addis Ababa to Wolayto-Soddo is wide and smooth, but there is no such thing in Ethiopia as setting the cruise control and just cruising,