World Grain - November 2020 - 12

NEWSREVIEW

Nobel Peace Prize goes to World Food Programme
OSLO, NORWAY - The United Nations World Food
Programme (WFP) was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for
2020 "for its efforts to combat hunger, for its contribution to
bettering conditions for peace in conflict-affected areas and
for acting as a driving force in efforts to prevent the use of
hunger as a weapon of war and conflict."
The announcement was made on Oct. 9 by the Norwegian
Nobel Committee.
The WFP is the world's largest humanitarian organization
addressing hunger and promoting food security. In 2019, the
WFP provided assistance to close to 100 million people in 88
countries who are victims of acute food insecurity and hunger. More recently, the organization has stepped up to provide
assistance during the global coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, which has contributed to an upsurge in the number of
victims of hunger in the world.
In the face of the pandemic, the WFP "has demonstrated

an impressive ability to intensify its efforts," the Norwegian
Nobel Committee said, adding that the WFP has taken the lead
in combining humanitarian work with peace efforts through
pioneering projects in South America, Africa and Asia.
"With this year's award, the Norwegian Nobel Committee
wishes to turn the eyes of the world toward the millions
of people who suffer from or face the threat of hunger,"
the Norwegian Nobel Committee said. "The World Food
Programme plays a key role in multilateral cooperation on
making food security an instrument of peace and has made a
strong contribution toward mobilizing UN Member States to
combat the use of hunger as a weapon of war and conflict. The
organization contributes daily to advancing the fraternity of
nations referred to in Alfred Nobel's will. As the UN's largest
specialized agency, the World Food Programme is a modern
version of the peace congresses that the Nobel Peace Prize is
intended to promote."

ADM, Marfrig receive approval for PlantPlus Foods
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, US - Archer Daniels Midland Co.
(ADM) and Marfrig received regulatory approval for their
PlantPlus Foods joint venture. It will offer a range of finished plant-based food products across North America and
South America.
"We're excited to take this important step forward as we
bring together the tremendous resources of two leaders in
nutrition," said Marcos Molina, founder and chairman of
Marfrig. "PlantPlus Foods is born of two companies that had
a common vision to create a new venture offering a complete
portfolio of delicious, sustainable plant-based foods for consumers across the Western Hemisphere."
Marfrig is a beef and beef patty producer that owns 70% of
the PlantPlus Foods joint venture and will be responsible for finished product production and distribution, utilizing its facilities

in South America, mainly in Várzea Grande, in the Brazilian
state of Mato Grosso, and its facilities in the United States.
"Consumers today are demanding food that is good for
the environment, for the body, for the mind, and for the development of a better you - while still being delicious,"
said Juan Luciano, chairman and chief executive officer of
ADM. "Backed by the vast capabilities of ADM and Marfrig,
PlantPlus Foods brings together a unique blend of innovation, scale, insight and expertise in this exciting, fast-growing market."
ADM owns 30% of the joint venture and will supply technical expertise, application development and an array of plantbased ingredients, flavors and systems from its specialty protein complex in Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, and its
network of US-based ingredient and flavor facilities.

Kopperud, former AFIA staff member, dies
ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA, US - Steve Kopperud, former
staff member of the American Feed Industry Association
(AFIA), died on Oct. 19 of a sudden and unexpected arrhythmia. He was 69 years old.
He was senior vice president of legislative affairs at the
AFIA for more than 20 years and was a government affairs
consultant for almost 15 years, before officially retiring in
2017. He also founded the Animal Industry Foundation, now
the Animal Agriculture Alliance, in the 1980s as a forum for
producer and industry organizations to counter the rising public relations and legislative challenges of anti-meat activists.
"Steve loved the association and its members and was
proud to represent them in DC for so many years, having accomplished many policy goals for the industry," said Leah
Wilkinson, vice president of public policy and education at
the AFIA. "His knowledge, leadership and mentorship will be

missed by all of the AFIA staff, his many, many connections
around town and throughout the feed industry."
Kopperud was also a reporter before joining the AFIA. He
reported for the Minneapolis Star and the San Diego Tribune.
He was also the former Washington bureau chief for Mill
Publishing/American Broadcasting Corp's publishing division where he wrote for Feedstuffs.
"Steve's knack for storytelling would only be outdone by
his talent as a journalist, demonstrated in his bi-weekly 8-page
Washington Update articles for FeedGram," Wilkinson said.
"His passion for all things politics, policy and agriculture
were second to none."
Kopperud had been working to establish a scholarship at the
University of Minnesota School of Journalism. The scholarship is expected to become final by the end of the year and will
be the primary designated memorial.

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November 2020 / World Grain / www.World-Grain.com

11/2/2020 4:07:21 PM

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World Grain - November 2020

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