Alpro, Solae and Vitasoy Provide Support for Haiti
January 26, 2010...Further to a multinational effort to promote and facilitate soyfoods donations for Haiti, a number of major companies have already provided commitments. These include: Alpro NV, Europe’s leading soyfood company, Solae LLC, the world leader in soy-based ingredients, and Vitasoy USA Inc., the pioneer of soymilk in America.
Alpro and Solae have committed financial support for the effort, while considering further options, Vitasoy will be donating aseptic beverages. Other major soyfoods producers are expected to announce their contributions shortly.
With the ad-hoc international group dubbed ‘SHARE’ for Soyfoods Haiti Alliance Relief Effort, work is underway to solicit more donations as well as to facilitate logistics and distribution. In this regard, a number of NGOs have also emerged as potential partners to receive and distribute the soyfoods or other related aid. Contact with World Food Program is also underway and they have requested cooking oil and ready-to-eat foods.
Related good news is that the main seaport in Haiti has been re-opened and is beginning to receive and unload ships. Some reports indicate that 500,000 or more people will have to be moved to camps outside of Port au Prince. This scenario will require a massive and ongoing feeding program as well as the obvious need for shelter and medical support.
Further donations are needed. These should include protein-rich snacks, ready-to-eat foods, beverages and quick-cook products as well as cooking oil. Eventually, and on a longer-term basis, donations could include soybeans, soy protein ingredients and micro-nutrient supplements for value-added processing in Haiti.
Alliance partners, Malnutrition Matters in North America and Bridge2Food in Europe, are working to solicit and expedite soyfoods donations. The US-based World Soy Foundation is accepting financial donations and can issue US tax receipts.
For more information:
Malnutrition Matters: www.malnutrition.org/haiti
e-mail: matters@malnutrition.org
World Soy Foundation: www.worldsoyfoundation.org
e-mail: nruby@soy.org
Bridge2Food: www.bridge2food.com
e-mail: gkleinessink@bridge2food.com
