The World Soy Foundation (WSF) and Cargill announce plans for Nicaragua’s first corporate responsibility conference focused on childhood nutrition. The organizations encourage businesses to join them for “Nutrition Solutions for Central America, An Alternative to Corporate Social Responsibility” on Feb. 15-16 at the Convention Center of Hotel Crowne Plaza in Managua.

Participants will explore a wide range of nutrition topics, including the role of corporate responsibility to improve health and nutrition. The event is sponsored by the Superior Council of Private Enterprise (COSEP) and the Nicaraguan Union for Social Responsibility.

Cargill’s sponsorship of a three-year World Soy Foundation project has already nourished 27,756 children and trained 251 care providers in Central America. This initiative has also mobilized greater CSR opportunities in Honduras and Guatemala, where similar CSR conferences were held in 2009 and 2010.

“Cargill’s sponsorship of the World Soy Foundation has benefitted thousands of children and helped the business community focus on opportunities to do even more good,” said World Soy Foundation executive director, Nathan Ruby.

Prior to the CSR Conference in February, Cargill will deliver textured soy protein to six Nicaraguan schools. Cargill’s corporate vice president, Alfredo Velez said, “Improving childhood nutrition in Nicaragua is a long-term investment. Food security is critical to our business. We support education, health and nutrition programs that make a positive impact on the communities where we live and work.”

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the most recent study in Nicaragua shows that in 1998, 12 percent of Nicaraguan children less than five years old were underweight and 25 percent were stunted.

“Soy offers much-needed protein and other nutrients that help kids grow and learn,” said Ruby. “Kids and adults love the taste of these fortified foods, too.”

Cargill invests in Nicaragua to improve and develop nutrition, health, education and sanitary conditions in school children. The company supports training for parents and teachers regarding the handling and preparation of school meals.

About World Soy Foundation

The World Soy Foundation is a 501c3 charitable organization that reduces malnutrition through the power of soy. An optimal source of protein, soy can play a powerful role in a child’s journey to health, happiness and a productive life. Therefore, the World Soy Foundation creates partnerships and builds alliances that deliver soy protein and nutrition education around the world. It is headquartered at the American Soybean Association. More information is available at www.worldsoyfoundation.org or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/TheWSF and Twitter at www.twitter.com/thewsf

About Cargill

Cargill is an international producer and marketer of food, agricultural, financial and industrial products and services. Founded in 1865, the privately held company employs 142,000 people in 66 countries. Cargill helps customers succeed through collaboration and innovation, and is committed to applying its global knowledge and experience to help meet economic, environmental and social challenges wherever it does business. For more information, visit Cargill.com and its news center.

World Soy Foundation

World Soy Foundation

The World Soy Foundation is a charitable organization that creates partnerships and builds alliances to deliver soy protein and nutrition education to communities around the world. The nonprofit is headquartered at the American Soybean Association in St. Louis, Mo.

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