social and food crises

A number of factors like the fast and ongoing increase in population recorded in many areas of the developing countries (especially Africa, the Middle East and, partly, Latin America too), the growth potential of countries like China and India and the reduced agricultural output per head have resulted in our world currently having to face a food-related and social crisis.

Demographic growth, urbanization, unequal distribution of lands, smaller plantations and an ongoing process of impoverishment affecting farmers in developing countries have all added up to the reduction of traditional food production in crucial regions. Hence, about 1.000 million people suffer from malnutrition, with 400 million who are chronically malnourished. A large-scale degradation of resources has paralleled the increase in the world’s population: right when more food was needed, land degradation and the excessive use of chemicals have reduced agricultural productivity.

The heart of such crisis is a fast multiplying population which amplifies its effects with global repercussions on land and food availability. Demographic growth is concentrated in the developing world, where over 90% of new births take place. Over the next ten years, the population of the industrialized world will grow by 56 million, while the number of people living in developing countries will expand to over 900 million. Such a dramatic growth does not only hamper people’s access to food and proper nutrition, but also to education and health services which, in extreme conditions, may cause outbreaks of violence.

In line with its social policy, poligrow has decided to grow its plantations on marginal lands not used for food crops located in partially desert areas, where health services, road infrastructures and new jobs are created to meet the needs of households that are directly or indirectly involved in the farming projects. poligrow allocate a portion of land for the production of food so as to guarantee the prosperity of local inhabitants.

To produce its vegetable oils, poligrow is committed to implementing policies based on respect for the environment and the promotion of improved life standards for the developing countries. To this aim, it has devised a thorough plan for the development of its Corporate Responsibility that put forward new oil production methods having a minimal impact on the environment and the maximum positive impact on the local society.

We can’t stop the development of humanity, but we can give development a human face.

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