Cargill Continues Support of Notre Dame’s Haiti Salt Project
The project’s next phase aims to bring fortified salt to 3 million Haitians.
For almost a decade, Cargill has partnered with the University of Notre Dame’s Haiti Salt Project to improve the health and nutrition of Haitians affected by iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) and lymphatic filariasis (LF) through the distribution of fortified salt. Now the partnership looks forward to expanding its footprint and reaching more Haitians through the development of a new salt distribution and processing facility in the northern Haitian city of Cap-Haitian.
Lymphatic filariasis is one of the most common disfiguring diseases in the world, and iodine deficiency disorders are the world’s leading cause of developmental brain damage. However, when salt is fortified with diethylcarbamazine-citrate and potassium-iodate, these two diseases can be slowed and possibly prevented.
Recognizing the life-altering impact of these diseases on Haitians and the opportunity for prevention, this collaboration has overseen the distribution of fortified salt in Haiti over the past nine years, producing over 14,600 metric tons of fortified salt. In 2014, guided by Cargill’s technical expertise and oversight, the Haiti Salt Project worked with the Congregation de Sainte Croix (CSC) to build a salt production and distribution facility in Port-au-Prince, not only providing Haitians with access to fortified salt but also stimulating the economy with local jobs. The production facility has become the leading Haitian supplier of packaged salt, under its “Bon Sel Dayiti” brand name, helping the Haitian Ministry of Health (MSPP) in its efforts to rid the country of these disabling diseases.
While the fortified salt is sold competitively in the retail and food service markets, many Haitians, especially children, receive the salt for free through nutrition programs such as those operated by the World Food Programme.
Continuing its collaboration with CSC and MSPP, Cargill and the Haiti Salt Project are now launching the next phase of the Haiti Salt Project: the Cap-Haitian Initiative. Over the next three years, the Cap-Haitian Initiative will strive to distribute fortified salt to 3 million Haitians in northern Haiti through a new distribution program and processing facility. As part of the newly extended agreement, Cargill will provide essential technical and operational consulting to support the development process. In addition, Cargill will support the project in vital advocacy efforts with common stakeholders to ensure a smooth and efficient transition of the new facility.
“At Cargill, we work to nourish the world in a safe, responsible and sustainable way, and initiatives like the Notre Dame’s Haiti Salt Project brings this purpose to life. We are proud to contribute with our knowledge in production planning, logistics, inventory management and other processes to help bring this fortified salt to those who need it most in Haiti,” said Sonya Roberts, head of Cargill’s salt business. “Through this partnership with Notre Dame, we are able to put into practice our values to do the right things and put people first.”
“Our collaboration with Cargill has been a fundamental part of the impact made so far in the fight against LF and IDD in Haiti,” said Jim Reimer, the director of the Haiti Salt Project. “We are thrilled to have the continued assistance of Cargill and look forward to further progress with fortified salt for the health and welfare of all Haitians.”
About Cargill
Cargill’s 155,000 employees across 70 countries work relentlessly to achieve our purpose of nourishing the world in a safe, responsible and sustainable way. Every day, we connect farmers with markets, customers with ingredients, and people and animals with the food they need to thrive.
We combine 155 years of experience with new technologies and insights to serve as a trusted partner for food, agriculture, financial and industrial customers in more than 125 countries. Side-by-side, we are building a stronger, sustainable future for agriculture. For more information, visit Cargill.com and our News Center.
About Cargill Salt
Cargill Salt produces, packages, and ships salt for five major market segment applications: agricultural, food, water conditioning, industrial and packaged ice control. Cargill makes more than 1,000 different salt products/package sizes and markets national and regional brands, including Diamond Crystal-branded household consumer food and water softener salt products and Champions Choice-branded agricultural salts.
About the University of Notre Dame
The Haiti Salt Project is a part of the University of Notre Dame’s Global Center for the Development of the Whole Child (GC-DWC). The GC-DWC collaborates with researchers and practitioners to ensure the wellbeing—physical, emotional, social, and cognitive—of children and adolescents in low-resource and conflict-affected settings. Using an innovative whole child development approach tailored to context-specific needs, the GC-DWC translates research into timely and thoughtful action, adapts research tools to improve the development of learning programs and policies, and activates systems such as families, schools, and communities to ensure that children and adolescents can thrive.
