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Simmons: “It is our opportunity”

Elanco Animal Health has announced an initiative to bring 100,000 families out of hunger globally.

In making the announcement of their commitment at their headquarters in Greenfield, Indiana, Elanco President Jeff Simmons said that hunger could be the issue of the century and that time is of the essence.

“This allows agriculture to come center stage,” said Simmons. “We need to step up to this issue, it is our opportunity, more than ever before in the history of this industry.”

Audio: Jeff Simmons, President, Elanco (6:10 MP3) 

The initiative to bring 100,000 families out of hunger is a unique partnership between Elanco and Heifer International, Pierre Ferrari, CEO of Heifer calls it a convergence of interests.

“There’s an ideological, cultural state of thinking that we may have some differences about some things, but very few with Elanco, but nonetheless, there is always some reluctance on the part of non-profits to operate with for-profit and we’ve transcended all of that,” Ferrari said.

Audio: Pierre Ferrari, CEO, Heifer International (4:50 MP3)

With projects already underway in Indonesia and Zambia impacting over 8,000 families, it was also announced on Thursday, June 2, that Hebei Province in China will become the third community to benefit from the initiative, adding another 800 families to the project.